Melissa Marsden and Tessa Matthews can help a wide range of people, including those:
with one or more long-term conditions
who need support with their mental health
who are lonely or isolated
who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing
who need help with housing, benefits and financial problems
who need advice with jobs, training and education
Hannah Karai can provide help and support to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle.
The appointments will be available to you on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and you will have the choice of a telephone call or a face-to-face appointment at Towcester Medical Centre.
You can now self-refer to social prescribers for health, wellbeing and lifestyle support ,and to the ageing well team for people aged 65+ looking for more support whilst staying at home.
See more details about social prescribing below:
Physiotherapist at Towcester Medical Centre
We are pleased to have a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) in the surgery.
The first contact practitioner is an exciting role delivered in primary care (GP surgeries) that allow patients contacting the surgery with musculoskeletal (MSK) pain to be seen quickly by a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist. They assess, diagnose and provide first line management for the patients’ individual problem and can refer patients for a course of physiotherapy treatment, order investigations or make referrals into secondary care services as deemed required
They work alongside the GP’s, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and the practice staff to ensure that patients get the best level of care quickly. This will improve your access to the Right Care, at the Right Time, from the Right Person.
Why is this helpful?
It is estimated that 10-25% of all GP consultations are for MSK related conditions, and that a First Contact Physiotherapist could see up to 50% of these patients, hopefully helping to reduce waiting times for you to be seen. An early specialist assessment with advice and intervention based on the best available evidence provided by Physiotherapists can enhance patient recovery and self-management.
What can be seen?
✓ Patients aged 18 or over.
✓ MSK problem (which you are not already under treatment for)
Please contact your GP practice as normal and the receptionist will guide you through the process
Family Planning
All our doctors and nurses provide routine family planning advice including emergency contraception (the ‘morning after’ pill) and oral contraception.
We also offer advice about Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) and have specialist doctors who can fit coils and contraceptive implants.
For further general information about coils see IUD Coils
For our Patient Information Leaflet re: Coil Fitting click here Coil fit leaflet (self-swab). We now ask you to self-swab prior to your coil fit to check for infection. The leaflet explains how you can do this.
If you would like to discuss having LARC you need to make an appointment with a doctor. Please be aware that the fitting of coils and implants is done by special appointment which your doctor will advise you about.
Meningitis ACWY Vaccine
Meningitis Rash – Glass Test
Meningitis can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can be very serious if not treated quickly. It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
Vaccinations are available that offer some protection against meningitis. Babies and children are vaccinated as part of the childhood immunisation program. For details about the vaccinations babies and children are given click here Childhood Immunisations
Cases of meningitis caused by Men W bacteria have been increasing in recent years due to a particularly deadly strain.
The Men ACWY Vaccine is offered to teenagers, sixth formers and students going to university for the first time around the ages of 14 – 18. It is given in a single injection in the arm and protects against four different strains of the bacteria that cause meningitis (Men) A, C, W and Y.
Older teenagers and new university students are at high risk of infection because many of them mix closely with lots of new people, some of whom may unknowingly carry the bacteria that causes meningitis at the back of their noses and throats.
We have recently written to all of our registered patients who are in Year 13 inviting them to have the MEN ACWY Vaccination.
Students registered with us who are in school Years 11 & 12 should be getting the vaccination at school. If for some reason this has been missed they should book an appointment with us to have it done at the surgery.
Anyone registered with us aged between 18 – 25 who for any reason has not had MEN ACWY Vaccination is also eligible and should book an appointment with one of our nurses to have the vaccination at the surgery.
It is very important that all babies and children keep up to date with their immunisations. Below is a list of what they need to have and at what age they are given.
8 Weeks
Pneumococcal Infection(1st dose)
Rotavirus Vaccine
Men B Vaccine (1st dose)
DTap / IPV / HIb5 in 1 Vaccine(1st dose)This is a single jab for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough), Polio and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (known as Hib which is a bacterial infection that can cause severe pneumonia or meningitis in young children). These immunisations are given as a 5 in 1 single jab which is know as
12 Weeks
Rotavirus Vaccine (2nd dose)
DTap/IPV/HIb 5 in 1 Vaccine (2nd dose)
16 Weeks
Pneumococcal Infection (2nd dose)
DTap/IPV/HIb 5 in 1 Vaccine (3rd dose)
Men B Vaccine (2nd dose)
The above vaccinations must be given at least a month apart, we are unable to give these earlier.
One Year
Pneumococcal Infection (3rd dose)
Hib/Meningitis C (Booster)
Men B (3rd dose)
MMR (1st dose) This is for Measles Mumps and Rubella
3 Years & 4 Months
MMR (2nd dose)
DtaP/IPV (pre-school booster) This is a 4 in 1 single jab for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio
2-6 Years (including children in school years 1 & 2)
Childrens Flu Vaccine (annual)
12-13 Years (Girls)
HPV This is a cervical cancer vaccine. Two jabs are given between six months and two years apart
Around 14-18 Years
Td/IPV (booster) This is a 3 in 1 single jab for Diphtheria,Tetanus and Polio
Meningitis ACWY Vaccine
We are advised when scheduled immunisations are due, and will contact you to book an appointment. Alternatively, if you know that your child’s vaccination is due, you can ring us to book them in. If your child is ill or has a temperature then the vaccination will need to be delayed until this has resolved. Immunisations need to be given four weeks apart so the timing of immunisations will depend on when the first set were given, i.e. if the first set were given at 9 weeks of age subsequent vaccinations will be at 13 and 17 weeks.
Flu Vaccination
For the latest information about Flu Vaccinations for children please see the following link Flu Vaccine for Children
For further information about NHS Vaccinations please see the following link NHS Vaccination Schedule
Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service
Do you need to talk to someone about DOMESTIC ABUSE?
Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service 24/7 Helpline – 0300 0120154
NDAS are now able to better support the needs of male victims of domestic abuse in their newly opened male refuge. This refuge is one of only nine in the whole of the UK that is solely designated for male victims only. See link below for more:
Sexual Health Clinic – Northampton General Hospital
Northampton General Hospital – (Area R)
Telephone – 01604 637 203
They offer full screening for all sexually transmitted infections including HIV
The service is confidential
A letter of referral from your doctor is welcomed but is not essential – you may attend without your GP sending you
All treatment is free
Male patients should not pass urine for least 3 hours before their visit to the clinic
For enquires and appointments telephone – 01604 637 203
Spirometry Test Information
Spirometry is a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) which measures the volume and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. Spirometry is a tool used in assessing conditions such as asthma, COPD cystic fibrosis and other lung disorders.
Before you attend a spirometry appointment with the Practice Nurse please read this information.
In order to obtain the best results from your spirometry test you should avoid:
smoking for 24 hours prior to test
consuming alcohol for 4 hours prior to test
vigorous exercise for 30 mins prior to test
eating a substantial meal for at least 2 hours prior to test
taking your reliever inhaler (blue or grey) for at least 2 hours prior to test
wearing clothing which restricts your chest movements
Please be aware that you need to allow ONE HOUR to complete your spirometry test as the nurse needs to undertake a series of checks over a period of time. You will have an initial 30 minute consultation followed by a second 15 minute consultation with a break of 15 minutes between the first and second consultations.
Ultrasound Bookings
If your doctor has referred you for an ultrasound scan, your referral will be sent via a computer link to the ultrasound service.
You then need to call the Ultrasound Booking Team to book an appointment for your ultrasound to be done.
In order to give the information time to go through the system you need to wait three working days from the doctor making the referral for an ultrasound before calling to book yourself an appointment.
The number for the Ultrasound Booking Team is:
01604 545 636 – Option 4
Women’s Health
Cervical Screening
A cervical screening test, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. It is not a test for cancer, it is a test to detect the health of the cells of the cervix.
Most test results show that everything is normal but 1 in 20 will show abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. This doesnt mean that these changes will lead to cervical cancer and the cells may just go back to normal on their own. However in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.
All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening. Women aged between 25 and 49 are invited for testing every three years, and women older than this are invited every five years.
It is estimated that early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75% of cervical cancers.
The cervical screening test usually takes around five minutes to carry out. An instrument called a speculum will be gently inserted into your vagina to hold the walls of your vagina open so that your cervix is visible. A small brush-like instrument will be used to take some cells from the surface of your cervix. The sample of cervical cells will then be sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope to see whether there are any abnormal cells.
Breast Screening (Mammogram)
The Northampton General Hospital offers a three-year routine mammogram screening for women over the age of 50 years. This is particularly important for the early detection of breast cancer.
Please make every effort to attend as it is obviously in your interest to do so.
