All conditions such as diabetes, pre-diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, asthma, COPD, raised blood pressure and chronic kidney disease all need regular reviews.
Some conditions require you to be seen every six months, some annually and some diseases just need regular blood tests.
Please see how we manage our Long Term Conditions
AF (Atrial Fibrillation)
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
A normal heart rate should be regular and between 60 and 100 beats a minute when you’re resting.
Who will I see?
Georgina will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurses will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, check your urine, take a blood test, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.
It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.
There’s currently no cure, but there are simple treatments that can help keep the symptoms under control so it does not have a big impact on your life.
Who will I see?
Sam will see our asthma patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
No blood tests will be taken unless you have another long term condition.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
No sample is required unless you have another long term condition.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurses will check your symptoms and asthma control, check your medication and adjust any inhalers if required.
Blood Pressure
Check if you’re at risk of high blood pressure
High blood pressure is very common, especially in older adults. There are usually no symptoms, so you may not realise you have it.
Things that increase your chances of having high blood pressure include:
- your age – you’re more likely to get high blood pressure as you get older
- having close relatives with high blood pressure
- your ethnicity – you’re at higher risk if you have a Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian ethnic background
- having an unhealthy diet – especially a diet that’s high in salt
- being overweight
- smoking
- drinking too much alcohol
- feeling stressed over a long period
Who will I see?
Georgina, Claire or Maya will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review during the month of your birthday and we would like you to take your blood pressure every six months.
You can use the blood pressure machine in the foyer and hand the results to the team or use your home BP monitor and send your results in either via our ‘Contact Us’ page or drop them into reception.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes, please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take a blood test, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Coronary Heart Disease
Who will I see?
Sarah and Sam will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review during the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes, please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take blood tests, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Who will I see?
Georgina, Claire or Maya will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for every six months.
Some patients with more severe chronic kidney disease may need to be seen more often and will require blood tests every 3 months but we will contact these patients separately.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes, please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take a blood test, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Who will I see?
Sam will see you for your annual review.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
No blood tests will be taken unless you have another long term condition.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
No sample is required unless you have another long term condition.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
Caroline will monitor and protect your lung function, adjust regular medications and agree a self-management plan to reduce the risk of infections.
Diabetes
Who will I see?
Claire initially for your annual foot check and blood tests, she will book your follow up appointment with Sarah. You might also see Emma or Heather who often come and help support Sarah with our diabetic patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday and then in six months’ time we need just to take a HbA1c blood test.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, every six months we need a HbA1c blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
Claire will carry out your initial appointment and take your blood pressure, check your urine, take a blood test, height, weight, foot examination and lifestyle questions.
She will book your follow-up appointment with one of the Practice Nurses and they will review your blood test result and your medication.
Heart Failure
Who will I see?
Sarah will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for you every six months including your annual review.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take a blood test, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Pre-Diabetes (Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia)
Who will I see?
Georgina, Claire or Maya will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review during the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes, please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take a blood test, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Some really useful links that our Dietitian recommends are:
- The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme story (youtube.com)
- Prediabetes | Diabetes UK | Reduce risk type 2 diabetes
Stroke/TIA (Transient ischemic attack)
Who will I see?
Sarah and Sam will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, check your urine, take a blood test, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
Conditions only requiring Blood Tests (PSA/Thyroid condition/Certain Medication)
Who will I see?
Georgina, Claire or Maya will see our patients.
When will I see the nurse and how often do I need to come?
We need to see you for your annual review in the month of your birthday, however some prostate conditions may require more regular blood tests.
Medication such as Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are a class of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions by slowing the progression of disease and reducing symptoms. Patient taking these types of medication need blood tests every 12 weeks.
Will I need to have blood tests?
Yes, we will need to take a blood test.
Do I need to bring a urine sample for the nurse?
Yes, please bring a sample in a suitable container available from reception.
What other tests will be carried out by the nurse and what else will they check?
The nurse will check your symptoms, take your blood pressure, take a blood test, check your urine, record your height and weight and ask about your lifestyle and medications.
For more information on the above conditions click the relevant links below.
High Cholesterol Information
High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood.
It’s mainly caused by eating fatty food, not exercising enough, being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol. It can also run in families.