The following is a guide to the many services that we provide for our patients. Most clinics are by appointment only. Please ask at reception for details of clinic times and appointment bookings, as times may vary.
Cervical Screening Tests
All women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should attend for regular cervical screening. You'll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment. If you missed your last cervical screening test then you do not need to wait for a letter to book an appointment.
When you'll be invited for cervical screening:
| Age |
When you're invited |
| under 25 |
up to 6 months before you turn 25 |
| 25 to 49 |
every 3 years |
| 50 to 64 |
every 5 years |
| 65 or older |
only if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal |
Cervical screening is not recommended:
If you're under 25;
- Cervical cancer is very rare in people under 25
- It might lead to having treatment that you do not need – abnormal cell changes often go back to normal in younger women
If you're 65 or older;
- You'll usually stop being invited for screening once you turn 65 as it's very unlikely that you'll get cervical cancer. You'll only be invited again if 1 of your last 3 tests was abnormal.
- If you're 65 or older and have never been for cervical screening, or have not had cervical screening since the age of 50, you can ask your GP for a test.
If you have had a total hysterectomy;
- You will not need to go for cervical screening if you've had a total hysterectomy to remove all of your womb and cervix. You should not receive any more screening invitation letters.
Non-urgent advice; see a GP if you're worried about symptoms of cervical cancer such as:
- Bleeding between periods, during or after sex, or after you have been through the menopause
- Unusual vaginal discharge
If you experience these symptoms or have any other concerns, please contact the surgery and do not wait for your next cervical screening appointment.
Child Health Surveillance
Child development checks are performed in accordance with national guidelines.
Chronic Disease Management
The practice offers chronic disease management in areas such as asthma and diabetes. Patients are asked to attend for reviews in order to provide support, and in order to monitor and help manage their conditions.
Contraception
We employ a specialist Contraception and Sexual Health (CASH) nurse, who is able to provide advice and support on a range of contraction methods, including coils and implants, pills, patches and injections. Regular clinics are held at Hemsworth every Wednesday and Friday, and coil-fit clinics are held once a month. Please speak to reception if you wish to book an appointment.
Stop Smoking
The NHS Yorkshire Smoke Free Service is in place to help people quit smoking for good. Quitting can be hard but it’s easier with their NHS specialist support. They can help in lots of different ways depending on your preference and what’s available in your area. They can offer telephone support, face to face sessions, and an online quit program.
Their services are free, friendly and flexible and you will always have access to their specialist advisors who have helped 1000s of people to go smoke-free.
Many people who quit smoking relapse at some point. Don't be put off trying again. The key is to learn from what went wrong so you're more likely to succeed next time.
If you're tempted to start smoking again, call their FREE Smokefree helpline on 0800 612 0011 to get support from a trained adviser.
When you quit smoking, it's important to be positive and really believe that you'll be successful. You shouldn't expect to start smoking again, and a slip-up shouldn't mean that you'll return to smoking the way you did before. Instead, it's an opportunity to learn a bit about yourself and what will help you to be more successful in the future. If you do relapse, don't worry. It can take a few tries to quit smoking for good. It can be helpful to commit yourself to the "not a single drag" rule. Promise to yourself and others that you'll not even have a single drag on a cigarette. By sticking to this simple rule you can guarantee that you won't start smoking again. Patients can self-refer to Yorkshire Smokefree, or you can leave a message with our reception team and one of our practice nurses will arrange the referral for you.
Yorkshire Smokefree can be contacted in the following ways:
There’s a new way to quit! Visit Yorkshire Smoke Free's website for more information.
Travel Advice and Immunisations
If you are planning to travel abroad please contact the practice for advice.
Vaccinations
The practice provides vaccinations in line with current national guidelines, and invitations will be sent out to patients as appropriate. These include:
- Age appropriate childhood immunisations
- Influenza vaccinations
- Pneumonia vaccinations
- Pertussis vaccinations (for pregnant ladies)
Minor Surgery
Minor surgical procedures can be carried out at the practice. This will be through a referral by a GP.
Theatre Surgery
We have a dedicated operating theatre suite where day-surgery procedures including ophthalmic operations and vasectomies are performed.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound services are provided by Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust here at the surgery. Appointments are made through referral from a GP
Endoscopy
We have a dedicated endoscopy suite at our Hemsworth site, where we carry out gastroscopy, colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy services via a referral process. These procedures are carried out by consultants from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Foundation and Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Audiology
Audiology services are provided to patients by Novus Health for all patients registered with an NHS Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership General Practice and aged over 19 years old.
Secondary Care Clinics
The practice offers outpatient consultant clinics at our Hemsworth site. These clinics are run by specialist consultants whom you would otherwise have to travel to a hospital to see. Gastroenterology services are provided by Consultants from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Appointments are via GP referral.
Podiatry
Podiatry services are provided by staff from Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This service is accessed through a referral process.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy services are provided by staff from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Novus Healthcare. This service is accessed through a referral process.
Musculoskeletal First Contact Physiotherapy Clinics
Neil Haigh is a physiotherapist working within a first contact role in the practice, enabling you to access assessment and advice regarding the management of any muscle, ligament, joint or bone problems you may have.
Neil is registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); he is a valuable resource in helping us maintain the best patient care around managing musculoskeletal conditions and has extensive experience in working with musculoskeletal conditions.
If appropriate, you will be offered an appointment by our reception team.
Speech and Language Therapy
Speech therapy services are provided by staff from Mid-Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. This service is accessed through a referral process.
Maternity Care
Antenatal clinics are run by the community midwives at all three surgery sites. Please contact our reception team to book an appointment.
Mental Health Practitioner
This is a new service which aims to help people from this area who experience emotions and feelings that may impact on their Mental Health in everyday life. Some of which are listed below.
- Low mood, worry and anxiety: about issues such as family, housing, employment and or benefits.
- Over thinking, stress and or panic: about not being able to cope, struggling with day to day living and expenses or caring for others.
- Issues around sleep: getting to sleep, staying asleep or waking up early or during the night and not being able to get back to sleep.
- Thoughts of wanting to harm yourself: either as a release of pressure or through feeling numb and wanting to feel something.
- Fleeting thoughts of suicidal ideation: thinking you are so low that life is not worth living any more or believing that you have no one to confide in or talk to about these feelings/emotions.
If you are experiencing any of these aspects and you are aged over 18, you can contact your GP practice who can arrange an appointment with your Mental Health Practitioner.
This service is for new presenting symptoms, and which are low to moderate nature.
If you are experiencing extreme symptoms and are in crisis there are contact details to services which will be open for you to access either through phone contact or if you need support your Mental Health Practitioner can help you self-refer on to these kinds of services.
Getting Support for Children and Young People in a Mental Health Crisis or Emergency
A mental health crisis is where a person is currently unharmed but needs urgent mental health support. For more information and support details please visit:
www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/service-users-and-carers/in-crisis/getting-support-for-children-and-young-people-in-a-mental-health-crisis-or-emergency
Turning Point Talking Therapies
One in four of us will be affected by a mental health problem at some point in our lives. Turning Point Talking Therapies provides free talking therapies for anyone who is experiencing elements of:
- Low mood and Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
Turning Point Talking Therapies (Wakefield) can help you. If you are aged 16 years or older and are registered with a GP surgery in the Wakefield District, you can access NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommended therapies at Turning Point Talking Therapies via self-referral.
You can access the free support from their service via telephone, face to face or online. Turning Point Talking Therapies provide treatments for a range of more specific issues, including:
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep problems
- Panic attacks and panic disorder
- Low self esteem
- Health anxiety or Hyperchondriasis
- Social anxiety or Social Phobia
- Phobias
- Post-natal depression and anxiety
- Body dysmorphia
- Long term physical health conditions and chronic pain
- Complicated grief
Online - To self-refer online please use the quick and easy self-referral form found on the website - talking.turning-point.co.uk/wakefield/refer-yourself.
Once your completed form has been received, Turning Point will email you to give you the option of completing your assessment yourself online. If you chose to complete an online assessment, they will give you a short call back to review your answers and discuss treatment options with you. If you do not want to complete your assessment this way, they can book an appointment for a full telephone or face-to-face assessment.
Telephone - Contact them on 01924 234860 between 8.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday, 9.00am and 4.00pm on Saturdays and 10.00am and 4.30pm on Sundays.
In person - Drop into one of their ‘Talking Shops’ any time between:
- 8.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday
- 9.00am and 4.00pm Saturday
- 10.00am and 4.30pm Sunday (Wakefield only)
The 'talking shops' are informal venues where you can pop down to find out more about the service, engage in online treatment modules, take away self-help materials, sign up to groups or workshops or attend an assessment. One-to-one treatments are also delivered from here. Carers and loved ones are also able to access support from the talking shops.
Talking shops are located at:
Wakefield Town Centre
57 Kirkgate
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 1HX
The shop is located opposite the bottom entrance of The Ridings Shopping Centre, next to Fulton’s Foods. There is a bus stop outside, and Pay and Display parking close by in the Ridings Shopping Centre or outside Wilko's.
Castleford Town Centre
133 Carlton Street
Castleford
West Yorkshire
WF10 1EF
The shop is located between Admiral Casino Amusements & Adams Discounts - 300 metres from the bus station and Carlton Lanes Shopping Centre and 50 metres across the road from Wilko's.
Please contact Turning Point Talking Therapies directly for further information. Their website also provides detailed information on:
How they can help with the problems you might be experiencing
- Who they can support
- How to book onto their groups and workshops
- Information about self-help materials
- How to get in touch – phone, drop-in or email a referral form
Drugs and alcohol counselling
Drugs and alcohol counselling is provided by Turning Point Inspiring Recovery Shared Care. Shared Care Recovery Workers are based in the community and deliver clinics Monday to Friday from seventeen named GP surgeries across the Wakefield District. Recovery Workers work with service users who want to access psychosocial interventions and prescribing services to support their recovery from substance misuse. Recovery Workers, alongside other professionals and agencies, work with individuals aged 18 and over to help them integrate patients back into the community, re-engage with their family and friends and promote outcomes that support improved quality of life and a drug free status. Workers will deliver both short-term and long-term programs, depending on the patients’ needs. Recovery workers support, enable and empower individuals to change their behaviours and to achieve goals which will then reduce the harm that individuals experience associated with substance misuse.
Any patients seeking help for drugs and/or alcohol misuse should contact 0300 123 1912; the caller will be provided with instructions on how to make a referral into the service. This usually involves a brief assessment to ensure that the patient is signposted to the most appropriate professional within the service.
Lifestyle information
Healthcare professionals play an important role in providing information to patients who need to change lifestyle behaviour which is placing their health at risk. The practice will ensure that a variety of leaflets and posters on lifestyle advice are available in all of our waiting areas. Please ask at reception if you require information on a particular subject that may not be displayed. If you require information in an alternative language or format, then please speak to our reception team.
Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership
For further details of medical services within the area please contact:
Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership
White Rose House
West Parade
Wakefield
WF1 1LT
Tel: (01924) 213050
Non-NHS Services
Some private services such as private medical certificates, insurance forms and passport forms are carried out by the practice, and a charge is made for these services. A list of fees is available on request from the administration team. You should expect to have to wait up to 28 days for the GP to complete private forms and documents.
Marie Stopes
Marie Stopes UK is a leading reproductive health charity with over 60 clinics throughout England. Every year they support more than 70,000 women and men with their reproductive health.
Call their free support line for a confidential chat to talk through your options and/or book an appointment. Further information can also be found online at mariestopes.org.uk.
Marie Stopes provide counselling services for terminations as well as carrying out vasectomy procedures at our Hemsworth site.