NB we do not run drop in clinics all surgeries are by appointment only
Cervical smears
We recommend that all women up to the age of 65 should have a regular smear test taken (at least every three years). You will be recalled for this - please make an appointment with the practice nurse and ensure you attend.
Family planning
The doctors and nurses will discuss and recommend a choice of contraception. For routine 'pill checks' make an appointment with one of our practice nurses (not with a doctor). However, you will need to reorder your prescription from your doctor's receptionist. The practice nurses cannot give you a prescription.
Flu vaccinations
We recommend influenza vaccination for the elderly and patients considered at special risk. Please enquire during September.
Vaccinations
Batch numbers for any vaccinations delivered by the practice are recorded.
Medical examinations / private work
A British Medical Association-recommended fee will be charged for the completion of non-NHS forms and medical examinations. These include private certificates, holiday cancellation forms, insurance forms (all types including private healthcare), employment benefits, driving medicals and many others. We also carry out medicals for insurance companies. If you have any questions regarding private work please contact the surgery.
Low dose diphtheria/tetanus and inactivated polio vaccine
This should be given every 10 years. If you are uncertain, please contact the receptionist at the surgery.
Other services
Antenatal clinics are held weekly in association with the community midwives.
Cervical smears are undertaken by the practice nurses.
Specimens
If you have been asked by the doctor to take a specimen to Mold Community Hospital, please ensure this is handed in before 12 noon in order that it can be forwarded to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital for testing. Blood is not taken at Pendre Surgery. If blood is required to be taken you will be given a form from your doctor and asked to take this to Casualty at Mold Community Hospital where they will arrange for this to be forwarded to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital for testing.
Your teeth
Children
The first teeth usually begin to come through between the ages of six months and one year. By the age of two and a half to three, all the first 20 teeth will have come through. The first permanent teeth start to come through at about six years and have to last the rest of your life. These may be new teeth at the front, replacing those 'wobbly' ones which fell out, or the first of the large molars coming through at the back. The most important thing you can do to help your child's teeth is to give them a healthy diet. Sugar decays teeth, and it's not just the amount of sugar but the frequency of which it is in contact with the teeth that's important. Never give your baby sweetened drinks in a bottle or dummy to suck; savoury snacks and fruit are much better. Start brushing your baby's teeth from an early age, to make it a habit from the start. Use fluoridated toothpaste for stronger teeth. Visit your dentist regularly every six months and get your child used to going with you.
Between the age of age 12 to 16 is an important time to have checks, not only for the health of the teeth, but also their position when orthodontic treatment (braces etc) may be required.
Adults
Wisdom teeth usually start to erupt between the ages of 18 to 25 and may need attention.
Gum Disease - There are more teeth lost through gum disease than decay, which is why careful brushing, descaling and regular checks with your dentist every six months are important. For the elderly with dentures, it is important to continue to see your dentist, who will look for disease of the gums and soft tissues in the mouth, as ulcers and tumours can grow painlessly without being noticed.
You should not be deterred form regular checks because of cost. An inspection by your dentist is inexpensive and likely to prevent more costly restorative work at a later date through neglect. The following groups do not pay at all: Children under 16, under 19 and in full-time education, during pregnancy and in the year following delivery. Also certain categories of low income - ask your dentist for details. No one pays for repairs to dentures.
Emergency dental treatment
Please contact your dentist (or 111 if you do not have a registered dentist) if you have symptoms of dental pain, bleeding in the mouth or other dental problems.
Eyesight
If you have symptoms relating to your eye (pain, change in vision, discharge or wateriness, redness) please contact your optometrist/optician in the first instance.
We don't appreciate the importance of our eyesight until we start to lose it. To avoid problems, everyone should have regular checks with their optometrist but there are certain groups of patients particularly at risk:
- Children with a family history of squint or 'lazy eye'
- Patients with diabetes or high blood pressure
- Patients with a family history of glaucoma
Your optician has the skill, equipment and expertise to test your eyesight more readily than your doctor. Make use of him and do not be put off by examination charges. Your sight is worth much more. You will be exempt from fees anyway if you are in one of these categories:
- Under 16
- Under 19 and in full-time education
- Over 60
- Receiving income support
- Diabetic
- Registered blind or partially sighted
- Receiving, or the partner of someone receiving family credit
- Suffering from glaucoma, or have a family history of glaucoma (parent, sibling or child of a sufferer) and you are 40 or over.
One often frightening finding is the sudden appearance of blood over the white of the eye. This is called subconjunctival haemorrhage, and is caused by a broken blood vessel. It is no danger to your sight, but it is worth getting a non-urgent appointment for the doctor to check your blood pressure. The blood itself will naturally absorb like a bruise. Even very young children can have a sight test. They do not need to be able to read or recognise letters to be adequately tested.