Online Consulting
Contact us online
Welcome to Firdale Medical Centre.
We have an online consultation service called PATCHS. You can access PATCHS by visiting our website www.firdalemedicalcentre.nhs.uk and clicking on Online Consulting Tile in the main top menu. Alternatively click here PATCHS
Contacting using PATCHS instead of by telephone has several advantages for you including:
- Getting help quicker from a GP.
- No queuing on the telephone.
- Doing everything on there, consultations, sick notes, checking results etc. Though you shouldn’t use it for emergencies.
- Submitting requests on behalf of someone you care for.
- If the doctor or nurse decides you need an appointment, they will see you ASAP (usually on the same day).
Using PATCHS also has advantages for us including:
- Seeing what your request is up front in writing helps us plan our work better.
- Freeing up the telephone for people that cannot use PATCHS e.g. those with emergency problems or if they cannot physically use the internet.
- Helping us save face-to-face and telephone appointments.
Wellbeing Hub Mental Health Service
Website Address: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/services-and-locations/services/central-cheshire-wellbeing-hub/
Above link provides great library of information and services relating to Wellbeing and Mental Health Services offered in our area.
Contact number: 0300 303 0639
Falls Prevention
Falls can be devastating and the risk of falling increases with age. Having a fall can result in serious injury and is a common cause of hospital admissions. A fall can also reduce confidence and increase anxiety about future falls.
Age UK Cheshire’s Falls Prevention Team works to reduce the number of older people having falls in their homes.
By carrying out home visits to individuals and talks to groups, we are able to give general advice on how to prevent falling and highlight possible hazards found in the home which can cause falls.
The service is available to anyone over the age of 65 across Cheshire West and Chester.
A Falls Prevention Coordinator will telephone you to arrange an appointment to visit. During this visit, the coordinator will discuss any concerns you may have about falling in your home and look at possible causes including:
- Vision and hearing
- Footcare
- Diet
- Medication
- Personal care / bathing
- Hazards in the home
The Falls Prevention Coordinator may advise that you would benefit from making some minor alterations in the home such as the fitting of grab-rails. Age UK Cheshire cannot fund this work but they can put you in touch with a reputable handyman or suggest alternative ways you may choose to get the work done. All the advice we provide is free and Age UK Cheshire do not profit from any work you choose to have undertaken.
Anyone who feels an older person is at risk of falling or who has fallen can contact us – health and social care agencies, voluntary organisations, carers, relatives, friends and neighbours. Of course if you have had a fall or are concerned about falling, you can contact us yourself.
For further information or to make a referral please contact us using the details below.
Contact Us
Phone (Northwich): 01606 884446
Email: tracy.etherington@ageukcheshire.org.uk
Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cheshire/
Dementia Information and Support Service
Finding out that you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with dementia can be a very anxious time. At this time you may be in need of additional support and reassurance. Our new Dementia Support Service will be able to provide an individualised service that is based upon your personal circumstances and support needs throughout your Dementia Journey, whether you are the person diagnosed or their carer.
Our Dementia Support Workers will listen to you and your needs, and help you plan a course of action to support and enable you to live well.
Our Support Workers will help to co-ordinate the support services and activities around you. We will also be able to help with providing information on:
- Diagnosis
- Living well
- Keeping active
- Local activities
- Local peer support groups
- Planning for the future
- Financial support
Overall our aim is to enable you to remain living independently within your community.
Referrals to the service will come direct through Memory Clinics and GP’s in the Nantwich and Northwich care communities only.
For more information on this new service and the referral process, please contact us using the details below:
Contact Us
Northwich – Roger Craig
314 Chester Road
Hartford
Northwich
Cheshire
CW8 2AB
Phone: (01606) 305 029
Email: dswnorthwich@ageukcheshire.org.uk
Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/cheshire/
Teledermatology
We use specialist equipment to photograph your skin wound, lesion etc. and upload it straight away to a specialist for further consultation. This gives us quicker access to specialist consultations and more insight into you problem.
Family Planning
We offer a wide range of contraceptive services, and offer guidance regarding unwanted pregnancies and safer sex. Please speak to one of our receptionists to arrange appropriate support.
Cervical smears
Our computerised system will automatically advice you by post when your smear is due. You will be asked to make an appointment at the smear clinics which are held regularly by our practice team.
Please access following link to find out why cervical screening is important Cervical screening – Why it’s important – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Disease Management Clinic
Our practice nurses Helen, Emma and Louise provide clinics for patients with long term illnesses such as high blood pressure, asthma, COPD and diabetes.
Long-term illnesses are managed by the whole health care team – including GPs, nursing staff and clinical pharmacists.
We encourage our patients to take an active role in helping to manage their own conditions, but it is helpful to come for a review once a year.
Most chronic illness require yearly reviews and are looked after by our nursing team. Some medications or conditions require yearly blood tests – it is helpful if you arrange to have these done before your review, to assist the clinician in monitoring your progress. If you are on regular medications it is often necessary to have a check up before we can safely continue to prescribe your medications.
Inflenza (flu) Immunisation
Influenza can be a debilitating and serious illness, particularly for the elderly, so we advise all patients over the age of 65 and those at risk with conditions that include chronic respiratory disease, chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease and diabetes, to be immunised usually in October or November. We will contact you closer to the immunisation time with more details.
Mental Health
We offer clinical appointments tailored to those who experience mental health conditions available through one of our Mental Health Lead GPs.
