If you would like advice and support to stop smoking, please telephone 0300 777 0033 or visit the link below to self refer and arrange an appointment:
Cheshire Change Hub is your local health and wellbeing service. It’s here to offer you the support you need to live a healthier, happier life.
When you join the practice, you will be asked to fill in a patient questionnaire. This gives the doctors background information about your past and present medical history, all of which will be treated as confidential. You will also be invited to book an appointment with one of our practice nurses for a new patient check-up when registering. This gives us an opportunity to meet you and your family and tell you about the practice. You will also be asked for photo ID and confirmation of your address.
A Phlebotomist is available at Danebridge each day between 8.30am and 2.30pm by appointment, to take blood samples as requested by a health care professional.
You can also book a blood test appointment at the Victoria Infirmary or Leighton hospital via https://patientconnect.uhnm.nhs.uk/ . But you do need to COLLECT YOUR BLOOD FORM FROM THE PRACTICE FIRST.
Northwich Primary Care Network (PCN) is the name given to the organisation of GP practices who are working together to provide better, more co-ordinated, effective and sustainable care for the people who live in Northwich.
By working together and sharing resources we are employing more skilled staff than ever before so that we give people the right care at the right time.
Together, we are responsible for the care of over 70,000 people in Northwich and the surrounding areas, working to create a better health future. The PCN consists of all the teams who work in these surgeries; we also have some staff who work across the whole of the PCN.
Detailed below is a list of our charges for services that are not provided by the NHS. If you have any questions about these services, or the charges that we have set, please contact the Patient Services Manager who will be happy to help you. We have added some frequently asked questions to this page which you may find helpful.
All Non-NHS Services payments need to be paid prior to any work being carried out.
We do not provide letters or certificates for the list of items below.
This is classed as Private Work and the do not have any obligations to complete these.| Fitness to Fly | Fitness to Fly if Pregnant |
| Forms for TV Programmes | Camp America |
| Fitness to do a Job | Letters to state fit for Lighter Life or Slimming World |
| Fitness to undertake extreme sports | Scuba Diving, Sky Diving, Climbing Certificates, Skiing Holidays, Coasteering, |
| Fitness to undertake Extreme Adrenaline Adventure Holidays | Snow Boarding, Deep Sea Diving, Horse Riding holidays, Trekking across the Sahara etc |
| Fitness to go on a school trip | Letter to support requiring golf buggy whilst golfing |
| Blue badge Requests (these are through the council) | Passports |
Isn’t the NHS supposed to be free?
The NHS provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are some exceptions for example: medicals completed by the GP, medical reports for insurance companies etc.
Surely the Doctor is being paid anyway?
It is important to understand that GP surgeries are not owned or operated by NHS England. The practice is owned by the GP Partners who are self employed and operate as a partnership, and as such they have to cover their costs, for example: employees, heat and light like any other small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work but not for non-NHS work. The fee charged for non-NHS work therefore goes towards covering these costs.
What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The Government contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years more and more organisations have been involving GPs in a wide range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked to be involved is because they are in a position of trust in the community or because an insurance company, employer or solicitor wants to be sure that information that you have provided them with is accurate and true.
So, what sort of thing will I be charged for?
As an example, there will be a charge for medical reports for insurance companies or mortgage applications. Forms that need completing because you have had to cancel your holiday will incur a charge. Questionnaires that need completing for personal reasons will incur a charge as will a letter that may be required if you want to leave a private gym for health reasons.
Is it true that the BMA sets fees for non-NHS work?
The BMA has in the past provided guidance for GPs in setting their fees. This is less common now and GPs are able to set their own fees to ensure that their costs in delivering the services are covered. Time spent completing private reports and undertaking private medical examinations are generally done outside of normal working hours as an extra commitment to a GPs workload.
I only need a doctor’s signature – what’s the problem?
When a doctor signs a certificate or a report, they can only sign for what they know to be true and accurate. In order to complete even the simplest of forms the Doctor will need to check the patients medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the Doctor as well as the patient.
How long will I wait for a report?
A Doctors priority will always be the care provided for patients under the NHS. The work described here that is non-NHS work is often carried out outside of normal working hours and the waiting time is therefore affected. We state up to a maximum of 6 weeks for completion of any reports/certificates.
How much will I be charged?
Please see the list of charges for the most common services at the top of this page
Payment for services must be paid in advance of the work being undertaken and can be made by cash, credit / debit card or bank transfer at either of our surgeries (Danebridge Medical Centre / Kingsmead Surgery). A receipt will be provided on all occasions.
If the service, you require is not on the list please contact our Patient Services Manager to arrange a quotation.
We carry out minor surgery for skin lesions at Kingsmead surgery – this is carried out under local anaesthetic. If you have concerns about a skin lesion, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the practice for a GP review.
Vasectomies are also performed at Kingsmead surgery by Dr Mercer, should you wish to request a vasectomy, please book a routine review with any GP to discuss this, and following this, you can be added to the waiting list. Please view the following information if you are considering vasectomy:
Influenza can be a debilitating and serious illness, particularly for the elderly and infirm, so we advise all patients over the age of 65 years and those at risk with conditions that include chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, to be immunised, usually in October.
If you are housebound or elderly and too ill to come to the surgery, a health professional will visit you at home. Telephone 01606 544555 before 10.00am, if possible and give the Patient Services Co-ordinator brief details of the illness so that the doctors can plan their visits according to the degree of urgency.
The consulting rooms have better facilities for examination and treatment than are available in your home and it would normally be to your advantage to attend the surgery.
Mothers often worry about bringing babies and children to the surgery when they are unwell. It is usually quite safe to do so and frequently it will mean that your child will receive treatment quicker. If you are concerned that your child has an infectious disease, the Patient Services Co-ordinator can arrange for you to be seen without waiting with other patients.
We offer a full range of contraceptive services, including the fitting of IUDs (coils) and caps, referral for termination of pregnancy and advice on safer sex.
The practice nurses provide clinics for patients with hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, COPD, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and for those who need special advice about their diet and help with losing weight.
