Podiatry Urgent Clinic
This service is for urgent new patients only and replaces the Walk-In Clinic.
It provides basic first aid for foot problems such as a weeping wound or infected in-growing toenail and is a 10 minute assessment. (Please note, simple nail cutting service is not available).
Appointments available up to one week in advance.
To book, ring 0161 204 4777 Monday to Friday 8am-5pm
If you are planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.
In the first instance you should seek advice from a pharmacy or a private travel clinic at least 8 weeks before you’re due to travel.
The Practice is able to provide NHS vaccinations only recommended for travel. These are provided free of charge:
We are not able to provide advice as to which other vaccinations you may require for overseas travel including to areas of higher risk. If you require vaccinations other than those offered by the NHS, you will need to arrange to have these administered privately.
Malaria prophylaxis is not available on the NHS. It can be obtained over the counter from your pharmacist and a dipensing fee will be charged.
If you require NHS vaccinations, please contact the practice and we will book you into the next available appointment with our Practice Nurse. If the next available nurse appointment is not soon enough for your travel needs then you will need to pay for these injections at a Travel Clinic.
Local private clinics include:
Total Travel Clinic High Lane, Tel 0844 995 0120 / 07736 794813
Cheshire Travel Clinic Bramhall, Tel 0161 870 6546
Nomad Travel Manchester, Tel 01341 555 061
Boots Denton, Tel 0161 336 0794
BMI The Alexandra Hospital Cheadle, Tel 0161 428 3656
For information and advice about what protection you should have for the area you are travelling to you can go to one of the following websites or contact a local travel clinic:
The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA)*
Archwood Medical Practice has a wealth experience in dealing with all people of all ages, including our teenage patients. We also have access to other services that are available to young people, so if you have a problem that we are not able to deal with, we can put you in touch with someone that may be able to.
Confidentiality is treated in a highly professional manner so remember that anything you discuss with us remains confidential. You do not need to have an adult with you when you come to your appointment. If any matters do need to be discussed with anyone else or you need to be referred for specialist opinion this would be made very clear to you during your consultation.
We would like you to feel that you are welcome at the surgery and trust us to look after your health needs. If you would like some advice but do not want to book an appointment why don’t you ring and request a call-back from one of our clinicians.
Alternatively, below are links to other local services for specific problems:
Offers advice and regarding sexual health care.
0161 480 9600
Offers advice, support and treatment for sexual health issues, including HIV testing.
0161 419 5371 (females)
0161 419 5370 (males)
Provides emergency contraception, contraceptive pills and injections, condoms, smear tests, pregnancy tests, some clinics fit contraceptive implants and coils fitting, some offer STI testing.
Ring 0161 426 5888 for advice about clinic locations and times
Website for under 18’s sexual health information.
0800 28 29 30
Offers and drug and alcohol advice.
0161 480 9600
0161 426 5085
stopsmoking@stockport-pct.nhs.uk
Offers general advice, information, and counselling for young people
0161 480 9600
Provides confidential support.
0161 273 4500
If you are aged 60-74 and registered with a GP in England, you will be sent a free NHS bowel cancer screening kit in the post, once every two years. The test is meant for people with no symptoms and looks for tiny amounts of blood in your poo that you may not be able to see. The good news is that when bowel cancer is diagnosed at the earliest stage, more than 9 in 10 people will survive the disease for more than 5 years.
The practice nurses offer cardiovascular risk screening and advice for all patients aged 35-70. If you are in this age group you will be invited to attend an appointment at the health centre.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme in England offers free tests to all women aged between 25 and 64 who are registered with their GP.
This includes women who have had the HPV vaccination, as the vaccine does not guarantee complete protection against cervical cancer.
Women should normally be invited for cervical screening at the following times:
If you have not had a cervical screening test within the appropriate time, you may be offered one when you next visit your GP.
Please contact the practice to book a screening appointment if you are overdue.
The NHS does not pay for all services relating to completion of forms and reports and accordingly the Practice makes a charge.
Why do GPs charge fees? Your questions answered:
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions, for example prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which fees are charged. Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees. In other cases it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which require the doctor to review the patient’s medical records.
Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS. They are self-employed, and they have to cover their costs – staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc – in the same way as any small business. The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.
Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge are:
Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.
I only need a doctor’s signature – What is the problem?
When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true. Therefore, in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police.
What can I do to help?
The Stockport Minor Eye Conditions service provides assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye conditions. The service is for people registered with a Stockport GP – adults and children (children under 16 years must be accompanied at their appointment by an adult).
The service is provided by MECS accredited optometrists (also known as opticians) who have specialist knowledge, training and skills.
Minor eye conditions that can be treated by the service include:
Local participating opticians include:
Taylor & Dewhurst
33 Compstall Road, Romiley SK6 4BT
0161 430 2037
Garlands Opticians
14 Berrycroft Lane, Romiley SK6 3AU
0161 430 5108
Roger Fisher
29 Stockport Road, Marple SK6 6BD
0161 427 1319
Specsavers
65 Merseyway, Stockport SK1 1QW
0161 477 6161
If you are unsure whether your symptoms can be assessed and treated by the service, please contact one of the participating optometry practices who will advise you.
Please note: If you have an eye condition that is being regularly monitored by your optometrist or hospital eye service, this will not be covered by MECS; for example cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
To book an appointment, telephone an approved optometrist directly (self-refer). On contacting the optometry practice, you will be asked some questions about your symptoms in order to assess how quickly you need to be seen by the service.
Depending on your symptoms, you will be seen within 24 hours or 5 working days.
Community midwives help to look after mothers and their babies before birth and in the immediate postnatal period. They work closely with our doctors and hospital doctors. Our midwife, Rebecca, is available at the antenatal clinic on Fridays for help and advice during pregnancy.
If you are a Stockport Resident or registered with a Stockport GP you can make use of the District Nurse Treatment Room Service. The service provides treatment and advice in ten centres across Stockport.
Wound care, removal of stitches or clips following surgery or emergency treatment at the hospital, management of urinary catheters and ear care are offered in the treatment
To make an appointment call 0161 426 9636 9.30-16.00, Monday to Friday
The nurse will assess your wounds, treat them appropriately, and provide you with the necessary dressings. The nurse will refer you to other services when needed. In the case of lower leg injuries which are slow to heal this will involve referral to the leg ulcer service.
Stockport does not offer routine ear irrigation for the removal of ear wax. If ear wax is causing you to have hearing loss you should use ear drops to soften the wax for three weeks. Your pharmacist will recommend suitable drops. You can also pick up the leaflet ‘Caring for Your Ears’ from your GP surgery or local clinic.
If hearing is still affected after three weeks of using drops you may need to have your ears irrigated by a treatment room nurse. The nurse will make an assessment and advise you of the best course of action.
Emergency first aid is not available if you have experienced an animal bite, have fallen and injured yourself, have splinters or other foreign bodies which need removing.
Please arrive in good time for your appointment and be sure to inform us if you find that you can’t attend.
District Nurse care to patients at home is normally at the request of the doctor or hospital
Ask at reception or speak to a practice nurse or health care assistant if you want help to stop smoking
The practice offers confidential sexual health advice, investigations and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. Appointments can be made with the doctor or practice nurse.
