The clinics and other services offered by our practice

Lyngford Park Surgery
Fletcher Close
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 8SQ
Tel: 01823 333355

News:

MISSED APPOINTMENTS

Please remmber to cancel an appointment if you no longer need it - it really helps us maximise our potential.

Out of Hours
0845 408 8000

This service is for emergencies only.

We offer appointments up until 20:00 hours on Monday evenings and from 9-12 twice a month on a Saturday morning. This is aimed at our working population who find it difficult to come to to the surgery during working hours. To make an appointment telephone the Surgery on 333355 or come to Reception.

Remember, you can see any doctor of your choice, subject to availability. You can book an appointment up to 6 weeks in advance or, if you prefer, ring on the day.

You can book your appointments online and order repeat medication. Register with us online. We want to offer you more choice and more convenience.

Announcements

01 Sep - 01 Oct
NHS Smokefree

Find out about all of the free NHS services available to support you as you go try to give up smoking.

01 Aug - 01 Oct
NHS Summer Health

Stay safe in the sun, including sunscreens, sunburn relief, heat exhaustion, eczema and moles. Summer holidays are great fun for children, but can bring risks. Find out more

01 Jul - 01 Oct
Change for Life

Would you like loads of tips and help to make changes for a healthier future? As part of Change4Life, you will receive tons of helpful information, recipes, tools, tips, and games for the kids.

BBC Health

UK radiotherapy 'lagging behind'

Too few UK cancer patients are receiving state-of-the-art radiotherapy care, experts from Cancer Research UK say.

Non-stick pan 'cholesterol link'

Scientists are concerned that exposure to chemicals used in non-stick frying pans could raise cholesterol levels in children after finding a link.

Bipolar 'not linked to violence'

People with a mental illness are no more likely to be violent unless they abuse drugs or alcohol, a study suggests.

Diabetes drug advice 'not heeded'

A type two diabetes drug is still being prescribed in the UK two months after it was recommended for withdrawal, BBC Panorama learns.

Junior medics 'leaving training'

Nearly one in four junior doctors drop out of their NHS training after two years, figures show.

Gum and heart link 'breakthrough'

Scientists say they have established one reason why gum disease may increase the risk of heart disease.

Reading Arabic 'hard for brain'

Israeli scientists believe they have identified why Arabic is particularly hard to learn to read.

'No evidence' implants are toxic

Tests on a type of breast implant filled with an unapproved gel have shown no evidence they are unsafe, UK experts say.

Research into age-related illness

Edinburgh scientists are attempting to find the trigger which leads older people to develop dementia.

Clue to egg flaws in older women

British scientists say they are closer to knowing why older women trying to fall pregnant are more likely to produce abnormal eggs.

Yahoo Health

FDA relents from midodrine withdrawal plan (AP)

AP - Federal regulators have backed off a plan to remove a Shire PLC low blood-pressure treatment from the market after warning in August that the drug has not been proven effective.

Picking right blood pressure medicine challenging (AP)

AP - It's hard to predict which pills will best lower which patient's high blood pressure, but researchers are hunting ways to better personalize therapy — perhaps even using a blood test.

Cholera outbreak in Cameroon 'worst in 20 years' (AP)

AP - UNICEF says more than 300 people have died in the West African nation of Cameroon from the country's worst cholera outbreak in 20 years.

WHO wants faster, more flu vaccine production (AP)

CVS employee Mambo Muntanga, left, receives a flu shot from nurse practitioner Susan Brown, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, in Rockville, Md. It's flu-shot season again, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated — and people 65 or older even can choose to try a new high-dose version. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

AP - The vaccine used to contain the recent swine flu pandemic was effective, but health authorities will need to ramp up the speed and volume of production during the next global outbreak, a World Health Organization official said Monday.

Expert warns of complacency after swine flu fizzle (AP)

Robert Webster, chairman of the Department of Virology and Molecular Biology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., attends the Options for the Control of Influenza conference in Hong Kong Sunday, Sept. 5, 2010 in Hong Kong. Webster urged health authorities around the world to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadlier than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

AP - A leading virus expert urged health authorities around the world Sunday to stay vigilant even though the recent swine flu pandemic was less deadly than expected, warning that bird flu could spark the next global outbreak.

Cholera kills 41 in Central African nation of Chad (AP)

AP - Health officials in Chad say an outbreak of cholera in the Central African nation has killed at least 41 people.

Lack of Sleep May Be Linked to Childhood Obesity (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Infants and preschoolers who don't get enough sleep at night are at increased risk for later childhood obesity, a new study suggests.

For Bonobo Males, Mom Is the Best Wingman (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - To most human males, the thought of your mother anywhere near your sex life is probably horrifying. Not so for the bonobo, one of our closest primate relatives. A new study confirms that hanging out with mom boosts male bonobos' chances of getting intimate with a fertile female.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 3, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Keep Health in Mind When Planning School Day Menus (HealthDay)

HealthDay - MONDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- As parents prepare for their children's return to school, they need to remember that healthy meals and snacks are essential for learning.

MedPage Today

Sitting at Work Not Hazardous to Your Health (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Adverse health outcomes including cancer and cardiovascular disease can't be blamed on prolonged occupational sitting, at least not until additional clarifying research is done, a systematic review concluded.

Low-Carb Diet is Better When Rich in Veggies (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Eating a low-carbohydrate diet in which more fat and protein sources come from plants than animals may be protective against death, researchers say.

Parental Depression Common After Birth of Children (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- More than a third of mothers and a fifth of fathers experienced at least one episode of depression in the 12 years after the birth of a child, British researchers found.

Childhood Obesity Woes Linked to Too Little Sleep (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Late bedtimes may exact a hefty price by contributing to childhood obesity, results of a prospective longitudinal study showed.

'Magic Mushrooms' Possible Tx in End-Stage Cancer (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- The active ingredient in "magic mushrooms" -- psilocybin -- may be useful to treat the anxiety and stress associated with end-stage cancer, researchers suggest.

Nonstick Cookware May Raise Kids' Cholesterol (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Kids who eat food cooked in nonstick pots and pans may have higher levels of LDL cholesterol, a large cross-sectional study found.

Males at Greater Risk of Cognitive Impairment (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Mild cognitive impairment may be more common in men than in women, a new study shows.

Investigation Reveals More Woes for Rosiglitazone

On July 15 (MedPage Today) -- a day after the FDA completed two days of hearings on rosiglitazone (Avandia) -- a British advisory commission on drugs concluded that the product should be withdrawn from the market, according to an investigation conducted by BMJ.

Washington Week: Insurance, State Actions Top News

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Several studies highlighting insurance issues were released this week, including one on federal programs for kids and two others focused on employer-provided medical coverage.

FDA Approves New Eye Pressure Drop Formulation

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA approved a new formulation of the drug bimatoprost (Lumigan) in a 0.01% solution as a first-line treatment to reduce elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Clinics

Other Services

Travel Clinic

Clinics

Appointments for all our clinics are made via the receptionist. Alternatively you can now book an appointment on-line.

Asthma Clinic

Asthma clinics are held on a Wednesday afternoon with the respiratory nurse.

Antenatal Clinic

The midwives hold a clinic on a Thursday afternoon.

Doctors see patients for antenatal care during normal surgery hours.

Baby Clinic

An open clinic is held weekly on a Thursday, from 1.30 – 3.00 pm at Hillside Children's Centre, Eastwick Road Taunton. Tel 01823 322124. Health Visitors, based at the surgery, can be contacted on 01823 253462.

Counselling

The practice has its own trained counsellor, fully accredited with the British Association for Counselling. Where appropriate, your doctor will refer you.

Diabetic Clinic

Clinics are held on a Wednesday and Thursday afternoon with the diabetic nurse.

Dietician

Available in the surgery, you can see the dietician by referral from your doctor. The clinics are held once a month, and are by appointment.

Family Planning

All the doctors and nurses are happy to discuss this and nearly all forms of contraception can be provided from the surgery.

Emergency and confidential advice is available at all times, by appointment.

Immunisations

Children are notified by the Patient & Practitioner Services at the Primary Care Trust.when they need to come for immunisation or check–ups. Clinics are held on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

Adults should have a tetanus booster at about the age of 25 or later.

If you plan to go abroad please contact us well in advance as it may take 2 months, or more, to fit in a full course of immunisations (see the travel page).

Minor Surgery

Minor surgical procedures are carried out in the practice under local anaesthetic. Your own doctor will arrange this for you.

Menopause and HRT

All the doctors are able to give advice on these topics.

Parentcraft

This is organised through the midwife and the health visitor.

Physiotherapist

Weekly clinics are held at the surgery. Patients need to be referred by the doctor.

Additional Services

The following professionals also provide services for our patients:

Health Visitors
tel 253462

District Nurse
tel 344904

Midwife
tel 342581

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required. There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse. PLEASE RING TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT AS WE NEED TO ORGANISE THEM ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WITH A SPECIFIC NURSE.

clock2 Travel Questionnaire

Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct