Services

Our practice nurses help patients manage their breathing conditions by reviewing inhaler techniques, providing action plans, and offering advice to prevent flare-ups.

If you use a written action plan, you are four times less likely to go to hospital for your asthma/copd.

Annual review appointments can be booked with one of our practice nurses by calling 01278 454560.

Recycling Inhalers

We encourage patients to use more environmentally friendly inhalers whenever possible and ask that used inhalers be recycled to help reduce waste.

 Find out how you can manage your asthma in an environmentally friendly way

All patients with a long-term health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma/COPD, or history of a stroke are invited to attend for annual health check (also known as a birthday review) to help manage their condition. We encourage patients to book their health check around their birthday month, but if that doesn't suit you, you’re welcome to have it earlier or later.

During your annual health check, a nurse will help to develop a personalised care plan with you, helping you to better understand and manage your health condition.

When booking your annual health check, you may be asked to book a blood test or blood pressure check a few weeks in advance. This ensures the nurse has your results ready for your review.

Annual health checks can be booked with a healthcare assistant or practice nurse by calling 01278 454560 or at the reception desk.

A blood pressure test checks if your blood pressure is healthy, or if it's high or low.

Blood pressure checks can be booked with a healthcare assistant or practice nurse by calling 01278 454560.

Alternatively, you can have it checked at your local pharmacy. 

• Find a local pharmacy

A blood test is often done to check your health, or to find out why you're having certain symptoms.

A blood test involves taking a small sample of blood for testing. If a doctor, nurse, or specialist recommends one, they’ll ask you to book it.

Patients who have been asked by the hospital to have their bloods taken will be signposted to the drop-in phlebotomy clinic at Victoria Park Health & Wellbeing Hub, TA6 7AS. 

Blood tests can be booked with a healthcare assistant or practice nurse by calling 01278 454560.

Cervical screening, which used to be called smear testing, is a test to check the health of the cervix.

Cervical screening helps to prevent cervical cancer and is offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. We will send you an invitation text or letter in the post when it's time to book your cervical screening.

Speak to a Doctor if:

• you are experiencing bleeding between periods.
• you are experiencing bleeding during or after sex.
• you are experiencing bleeding after you’ve been through the menopause.
• you are experiencing unusual vaginal discharge. 

Do not wait for your next cervical screening appointment to contact us about this.

Smear appointments can be booked with one of our practice nurses by calling 01278 454560.

Immunisations

Redgate Medical Centre delivers the immunisation programme for children under school age. You will receive invitations for these immunisations through the Child Health Department. These take place at Redgate Medical Centre with our Practice Nurses. 

See the current recommended immunisation schedule

Healthy Child Programme

We offer health and development reviews for your baby until they are 2 years old. These are to support you and your baby and to make sure their development is on track.

Our Practice Nurses are trained on all areas of contraception.

They can provide advice and support on all the methods of contraception available. This includes the contraceptive implant Implanon.

Read more types of contraception

Contraceptive Pill

We ask patients on the contraceptive pill to have an annual pill check. You can book a blood pressure check with a healthcare assistant or practice nurse by calling 01278 454560.

We support patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes by offering regular reviews, advice on blood sugar control, and guidance on managing medication and lifestyle changes.

Long Term Condition Review

All patients with diabetes receive a long term condition review (also known as a birthday review).

First, you will be invited to come to the practice and see a healthcare assistant or practice nurse. The healthcare assistant or practice nurse will check the health of your feet. They will also take a blood sample and a blood pressure reading.

Next, you will be invited to discuss your results with a practice nurse and agree on your treatment plan.

Long term condition reviews can be booked with a healthcare assistant or practice nurse by calling 01278 454560.

• Find out more about long term condition reviews

Diabetic Eye Screening

All patients with diabetes will be invited to an annual Diabetic Eye Screening appointment.

If you have Diabetes and are aged 12 or over you’ll receive a letter every year inviting you to this appointment.

This programme is coordinated by Somerset Partnership NHS Trust. Appointments are generally held at Musgrove Park Hospital for this service.

• Learn more about diabetic eye screenings

MyWayDiabetes

MyWay Diabetes provides a free NHS service that helps you to manage your diabetes with confidence.

You can use MyWay Diabetes online or via the app for free.

Register today to:

• Access your NHS diabetes test results
• Understand your results
• Set your diabetes goals
• Learn how to manage your diabetes best

Register to use MyWay Diabetes Somerset

NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme helps you take control of your health, supporting you to make changes to your diet, weight and the amount of physical activity you do. 

If you have been told you are pre-diabetic and / or have received an invite letter, please self-refer to this programme.

The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is available online and in person. Group sessions are hosted in Somerset and the surrounding areas. Details of current groups that are running locally can be found on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme website.

• Find out more about the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme

An electrocardiogram is a simple test to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity.

A doctor or nurse will ask you to book one when needed. ECGs take about 15 minutes and are available daily. ECG appointments can be booked with of our healthcare assistant or practice nurses by calling 01278 454560.

ECG test results are usually available 5 working days after the test. We will contact you if these are abnormal to arrange any follow-up or treatment. 

Click to learn more about getting your test results

Our practice nursing team offers routine childhood and adult immunisations to protect you and your family.

It’s important for all adults, children, and babies to be fully immunised. If you’re unsure about your vaccination status, please contact the surgery for advice.

See the current recommended immunisation schedule

Antenatal Care

A healthy pregnancy starts before you actually become pregnant. This is especially so if you need to take any regular medication.

As soon as you know you are pregnant, you need to self refer using the below link.

Click here to self-refer to a midwife

Your midwife will contact you to arrange your first appointment. This is usually between 8-10 weeks of pregnancy.

Antenatal care is usually provided by your midwife at Redgate Medical Centre.

During your pregnancy, you will need to attend Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton for scans, which take place in the antenatal clinic.

Postnatal Checks

A postnatal check is an appointment focused on understanding your general mental and physical health and wellbeing after giving birth. They are usually combined with baby’s first developmental check, but can be done at a separate time if you would like.

Your appointment will be with a General Practitioner (GP) or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) who will ask about your physical health, mental health, and overall well-being. These appointments are intended to support you and discuss any other concerns you may have.

You’ll receive a text or letter from us when your postnatal check is due. If it’s more than 8 weeks after you gave birth and you haven’t had a postnatal check, please call 01278 454560 and we’ll try to book you an appointment as soon as possible.

Redgate Medical Centre has one experienced minor surgeon. Dr Syed Akhter offers a range of surgical procedures which are undertaken at our sister practice, Somerset Bridge Medical Centre.

Our minor surgery service saves our patients time having to be referred to the local hospital.

Due to recent commissioning changes, the removal of benign (non-cancerous) skin lesions such as cysts, warts, skin tags and moles will no longer be routinely funded by the NHS.

There are a number of local providers who undertake the above procedures on a private (cost) basis.

Spirometry is a simple test used to help diagnose and monitor certain lung conditions by measuring how much air you can breathe out in one forced breath. It's carried out using a device called a spirometer, which is a small machine attached by a cable to a mouthpiece.

The appointment will last around 45-60 minutes. You will need to prepare for this test.

Learn more about how to prepare for a spirometry test

Only 3 – 5% of smokers manage to quit for a year using will power alone, so your chances of quitting successfully are more than doubled if you visit a Stop Smoking Adviser to talk about treatment options and other forms of support.

Take the first step and contact the local Stop Smoking Service:

Smoke Free Life Somerset

Tel: 01823 356222

Click here to visit the Healthy Somerset website

Flu Clinics

Seasonal flu vaccination clinics are held every year in October and November by our practice nursing team. Clinic details will be shared on the surgery's social media, patient waiting screens, telephone messages, and through text messages and letters.

The flu vaccine is available to those patients:

• aged 65 and over
• those who suffer from a long term medical condition such as diabetes, asthma/COPD, heart disease or stroke
• pregnant women
• carers of patients who are clinically at risk of developing flu
• immunosuppressed patients

You don't need to wait to be contacted - book your flu vaccination as soon as possible.

Travel Vaccinations

We offer travel vaccinations for patients planning to travel abroad. If you’re planning a trip, please contact the surgery well in advance to book an appointment with one of our practice nurses to discuss your vaccination needs.

Visit our travel vaccination page

Vaccinations for housebound residents who are eligible

We offer home flu vaccinations for patients who are eligible and unable to attend the surgery. A practice nurse will visit you to administer the vaccine in the comfort of your home.

Our team will contact you in advance to confirm the date and time of your appointment, so you know when to expect our nursing team.

We host dedicated INR clinics every week at both surgeries for patients prescribed anti-coagulation therapy (warfarin). Our Level 4 service enables patients to have their INR levels checked through a simple finger prick test and then dosed accordingly.

We also provide this service not only for our own registered patients, but also those registered at East Quay Medical Centre.