Tests and Results
If your doctor asks you to bring a specimen for laboratory testing, it must
arrive at the Surgery by 11:30 a.m. Always ensure that you have the
correct container for your specimen, these are available from Reception.
Specimens in inappropriate containers such as baby food containers or jam jars
will not be accepted. Neither will containers that have leaked or are not
securely fastened. This may cause a delay in the treatment of your problem. Our
staff have also been instructed not to transfer samples from one container to
another. If in doubt as to the suitability of your container please ask at
Reception before you bring your sample. Your container must also be labelled
with the doctor's name; your name and date of birth before you hand it in.

If you have been requested to contact the Surgery for the results of a
test, please only do so between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. It is unlikely that the
doctor will have had an opportunity of reviewing the day's test results before
this time. Please do not telephone before the date you have been told the
results should have reached us.

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Health Visitor Clinics

• Eczema Clinic is held on the 4th Wednesday of the month at Chipping Norton Hospital 1.00pm - 3.30pm.
  Please contact Sharon Doar for an appointment.
  
  Child and Family consultation clinic is once every 6 weeks.
  Please contact the health visitors for further information.

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Family Planning

• All the doctors and nurses offer advice about family planning, including the 'Pill'. Coils are fitted in the surgery by Drs Elliott, Pargeter or Hall, but you should discuss this with them at a normal surgery appointment first.

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Care During Pregnancy

• All the doctors provide antenatal care and work closely with the midwives and health visitors to care for you and your baby. Some mothers deliver under the care of the midwives in Chipping Norton, and those who have babies in Banbury and Oxford often return to Chipping Norton Hospital for postnatal care.

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Aquanatal Classes (Exercises In Water)

• These are run at Penhurst School and are specifically designed for pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Please contact the midwives on 01608 641682. Group antenatal classes are run by the midwives on topics including labour and preparation for parenthood.

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Cervical Smears

• This is a simple painless test to detect cells on the neck of the womb which are always treatable if dealt with early, but may turn into cancer cells if left untreated. The smear test is usually done by one of our nurses. All sexually active women are recommended to have a test every 3 – 5 years (depending on age) from 25 years of age until aged 65 (the disease almost never occurs in women who have normal smears to age 65). Most women who have had a hysterectomy do not need smears.

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Mammograms

• There is a national breast cancer screening service which visits Chipping Norton every three years. The service is offered to women aged 50-65, because this is the age group for which it has been shown to be beneficial - if you are in this age group you will be sent an appointment.

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Child Care

• This is shared between the health visitors and the doctors. For general advice on feeding, minor illnesses, immunisation, play and general safety please contact the health visitors. For immunisations you will be sent appointments for the Well Baby Clinic. Child development screening by health visitor or doctor takes place at six to eight weeks, seven months, three years and four and a half years. You can see the schedule in your Child Health Record Book.

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Travel Immunisations

• You should ensure your primary courses of the British Vaccination schedule are up to date and/or completed before travel. For more information on this visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk
  
  If you are travelling outside Western Europe you may need other immunisations and/or antimalarial prophylaxis. We recommend you gather as much information as you can from organisations like:
  www.masta.org
  www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk
  
  The telephone number for the Masta traveller helpline is 09068 224 100.
  When you have your immunisation recommendations make a 20 minute appointment in a general nurse clinic for your jabs. There is also a Travel Clinic on a Wednesday afternoon which is especially useful for those who have a difficult vaccination schedule.
  
  It is recommended you make your vaccination appointment 6 – 8 weeks before you are due to travel.

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Other Immunisations

• Influenza: please contact the surgery in mid September to find out where and when our clinics will be held.