Community Psychiatric Nurse
Provides help and advice to patients and their relatives, including the elderly confused and other mental health problems. Assessments and visits can be at the Surgery or in the patients own home. The Community Psychiatric Nurse is based at the Fairnington Centre in Hexham. Telephone 01434-656220.
Social Services
Help with all kinds of social problems. The care managers/social workers can access services including Home Care Services, and an Occupational Therapist. Telephone 01434-603582.
Podiatry
The Podiatry Service provides care for a wide range of foot problems including provision of foot orthoses. There is also provision to refer patients to Biomechanics, Rheumatology and Diabetic specialist podiatrists. The Podiatrist and Podiatry Assistant are based in Hexham.
The Podiatrist holds a clinic once a week, the Podiatry Assistant once a month. Referrals, from doctor or health professionals, are based on a clinical need. House visits can be arranged for those unable to attend the clinic. Appointments are arranged through reception. If you have any queries please ring 01434-683280.
Community Nurse (Telephone 01434-683554 Monday - Friday 8.30am 5.00pm)
If a nurse is required after 5.00pm and before 8.00am Monday to Friday and at weekends please contact the Out of Hours Nursing Service on 0845 60 80 321.
The Community Nurse provides a comprehensive nursing service to patients in their own homes and in the Health Centre.
She has close contact with social services and is able to act as ‘care manager’ to patients. This means that she can formulate a ‘care package’ to suit individual patient needs.
The Community Nurse is always available for advice and help on a wide range of health issues, and an appointment can be made on the above number or the Health Centre number, to see her in your own home or at the Health Centre.
Nursing Auxiliary
The nursing auxiliary is part of the Community healthcare team and provides nursing care within the home environment and the Surgery.
Health Visitor & Nursery Nurse Team (Telephone 01434-683554)
The service is concerned with the promotion of health, well-being in all age groups, and the prevention of physical and emotional problems. It also supports families with young children but also all members of the extended family and community.
The health visitor and nursery nurse team will support parents with children under five years to achieve their ultimate health potential, although this may this may involve working with groups and individuals of all ages within a community. The health visitor will introduce herself to expectant parents, and postnatally, will visit at home depending on the individual needs of the family. Health visiting is carried out within clients’ homes, clinics and community settings. Parents are invited to ensure their children are included in the child health surveillance programme and are invited to complete the NHS immunisation programme as offered by GPs and Practice Nurse.
Midwifery care
Woman centred antenatal care is shared between the community midwife at Allendale Medical Centre and Hexham Maternity Unit. A clinic is held weekly. Post natal care is at home.
Homebirth can be arranged. Breast feeding is actively encouraged. Parent craft classes and support groups are arranged to meet demand.
Continence Clinic
Run by the Community Nurse every other Tuesday afternoon. Please ring for an appointment, where an alternative arrangement can be made.
Physiotherapist
A physiotherapy service is provided at the Surgery by one of three visiting physiotherapists, who are based at Hexham General Hospital. Clinics are held twice weekly on Monday and Thursday mornings. Following referral from your doctor they offer a range of treatments for a wide variety of acute and chronic musculo-skeletal disorders.
They will also assess mobility problems and provide walking aids etc. as appropriate. If the GP feels that a patient is unable to attend the clinic at the Surgery the physiotherapist will visit the patient at their own home.
Their aim is to provide a comprehensive service within a convenient and familiar location for the residents of the Allen valleys. They will liaise with their colleagues at Hexham General when services such as wheelchair and orthotic provision, or final rehabilitation are required.