We offer an NHS vaccination service for travellers. It is important that when you are planning to travel abroad you make an appointment with the Practice Nurse 6-8 weeks before travel.

The following vaccinations are provided free of charge at Eden Park Surgery and are the only ones we offer. Theses vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were to be brought into the country.

•   Polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Combined Hep and Hep B
• Cholera

We ask you to arrange your own private travel consultation at a clinic of your choice to discuss any additional vaccinations that you may need for your trip. You will need to pay for travel vaccines against:

• Hepatitis B
• Japanese encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Rabies
• Tick-borne encephalitis
• Tuberculosis TB
• Yellow fever

Please note Yellow Fever vaccines are from designated centres only. A list of centres can be found here

You can find out which vaccinations are necessary or recommended for the areas you’ll be visiting on these websites:

• Travel Health Pro
• NHS Fit for Travel

Foreign travel advice and immunisations are provided by our Practice Nurse.

It is important when you are planning to travel abroad that you make an appointment 6 to 8 weeks before you travel.

Please complete the travel form below prior to your appointment. You can also download and print the form.

Online Travel Form

Please also check that you have enough of your regular medication for the duration of your trip.

Your GP will discuss with you and, if appropriate, your carer why a referral is being recommended.

You are usually referred because your GP wants a specialist’s help in deciding how best to treat your condition or they do not have the equipment at the surgery for the required tests and investigations. 

If your GP needs to refer you to a consultant-led service for a physical or mental health condition, in most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you go to. 

If you do not express a preference, your GP will tend to refer you to a local hospital near where you live that is part of the local healthcare system.

For more information on referrals information please see here.

If you would like to book one of these clinics, please book your appointment online, or contact us on 020 8650 1274.

Clinics/Services
Vaccines and Immunisations – Including Childhood and Travel Vaccinations
Ante-natal & Post-natal Care
Child Health Surveillance
Cervical Smears
Smoking Cessation
Specialised Contraceptive Services – Including all coil and implant fittings
Medical Examinations

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Eden Park Surgery to help with cancer screening.

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon, rectum or the small bowel.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

• Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
• A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 4 to 6 weeks
• A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
• A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
• Losing weight
• Pain in your abdomen or back passage
• A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.

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Bowel cancer screening

How do I get a screening kit?

If you are aged 60-69 years, you will be sent your screening invitation automatically through the post. All you need to do is make sure that your GP has your correct address.

‘People aged 70 years and over or under the age of 60, who wish to be screened, should request a kit. Simply telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.’

Macmillan Cancer Support

Have questions about cancer? Visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 000 free (Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm).

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Breast Screening

The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.

The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50.  If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.

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Cervical screening test

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 15 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Cervical Screening

Certain small surgical operations can be performed at the surgery. With minor surgery the recovery time is usually short and you will be back to your usual activities fairly quickly (depending on your procedure).

Before attending for minor surgery you will need to see a doctor for the diagnosis and then you will be given an appointment to attend for your procedure.

Working together to improve your health

Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented – even if you have a history of them in your family. Have your free NHS Health Check and you will be better prepared for the future and be able to take steps to maintain or improve your health.

Visit NHS Choices – Health Checks for further information.

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Why do I need an NHS Health Check?

We know that your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and dementia increases with age. There are also certain things that will put you at even greater risk.

These are:

• being overweight
• being physically inactive
• not eating healthily
• smoking
• drinking too much alcohol
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol

Both men and women can develop these conditions, and having once could increase your risk of developing another in the future.

• In the brain a blocked artery or a bleed can cause a stroke.
• In the heart a blocked artery can cause a heart attack or angina.
• The kidneys can be damaged by high blood pressure or diabetes, causing chronic kidney disease and increasing your risk of having a heart attack.
• Being overweight and physically inactive can lead to type 2 diabetes.
• If unrecognised or unmanaged, type 2 diabetes could increase your risk of further health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

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What happens at the check?

• This check is to assess your risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, and stroke.
• The check will take about 20–30 minutes.
• You’ll be asked some simple questions. For example, about your family history and choices which may put your health at risk
• We’ll record your height, weight, age, sex, and ethnicity.
• We’ll take your blood pressure.
• We’ll do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol level.

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What happens after the check?

• We will discuss how you can reduce your risk and stay healthy
• You’ll be taken through your results and told what they mean. Some people may be asked to return at a later date for their results.
• You’ll be given personalised advice on how to lower your risk and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Some people with raised blood pressure will have their kidneys checked through a blood test.
• Some people may need to have another blood test to check for type 2 diabetes. Your health professional will be able to tell you more.
• Treatment or medication may be prescribed to help you maintain your health.

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Questions you may have

Some services provided by the Practice are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Requests will take approximately 2 weeks. This is subject to change due to availability. 

Examples include the following and prices are subject to change. 

                                                

Acting / Stage letters / VSO	£70
Driving report without an exam	£90
Employment report on a pro-forma	£89.50
Employment report without an exam	£133.33
Fitness to attend university report	£70
Fitness to travel (complex health/pregnancy)	£70
Fostering / Adoption / Child Minder	£100 *
Full physical exam and report (Taxi / HGV)	£130 *
Full report	£70
Gym letters	£40
Holiday cancellation certificate	£40 **
Income protection	£105
Letter to carry medication on a flight	£25
Life insurance first report	£104
Life insurance supplementary report	£27
Private health refund form	£45 simple / £60 complex
Simple GP letter	£25
Update reports	£50

*4 weeks turnaround time  

**No charge for end of life patients

What we do NOT provide:

• Housing letters
• Blue badge letters / appeals
• Cremation certificate 4 or 5
• Diving / Sporting event medicals (i.e. marathons / Iron Man / sky diving etc.)
• Exam letter / mitigating circumstances
• Firearms license
• Fitness to attend school
• Letters for PIP / PIP appeals
• Passports / Visa applications
• Pilot license medicals Power of Attorney                                                           

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Cator Medical Centre for all your vaccination needs and advice.

Childhood Immunisations

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are.

Please call the surgery to make an appointment.

For more information please visit the websites below:

Useful links

• NHS Choice – Vaccinations for you and your family
• Childhood Immunisation Schedule
• National Immunisation Schedule

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Flu Immunisation

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious illness caused by a flu virus.

The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, causing a sudden high temperature and general aches and pains.

You could also lose your appetite, feel nauseous and have a dry cough. Symptoms can last for up to a week.

We offer ‘at risk’ groups the flu vaccine at a certain time each year to protect you against the flu virus.

You may be invited for a flu jab if you are:

• over 65 years of age
• pregnant

or have:

• a serious heart or chest complaint, including asthma
• serious kidney disease
• diabetes
• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroid medication or cancer treatment
• if you have ever had a stroke
• If you have any queries please contact the surgery.

For more information please visit the websites below:

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Flu and the Flu Vaccine

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Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine (or ‘pneumo jab’ or pneumonia vaccine as it’s also known) protects against pneumococcal infections.

Pneumococcal infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, septicaemia (a kind of blood poisoning) and meningitis.

Read more about why the pneumococcal vaccination is needed.

Who should have the pneumococcal vaccine?

A pneumococcal infection can affect anyone. However, some people need the pneumococcal vaccination because they are at higher risk of complications.

These include:

• all children under the age of two
• adults aged 65 or over
• children and adults with certain long-term health conditions, such as a serious heart or kidney condition

Read more about who should have the pneumo jab.

How often is the pneumococcal vaccine given?

Babies receive the pneumococcal vaccine as three separate injections, at 2 months, 4 months and 12-13 months.

People over-65 only need a single pneumococcal vaccination which will protect for life. It is not given annually like the flu jab.

People with a long term health condition may need just a single one-off pneumococcal vaccination or five-yearly vaccination depending on their underlying health problem.

How to prevent polio

The best way to prevent polio is to make sure you and your child are up to date with your vaccinations.  You can check on your NHS App for this information.

The polio vaccine is part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule.

It’s given when your child is:

• 8, 12 and 16 weeks old as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine
• 3 years and 4 months old as part of the 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV) pre-school booster
• 14 years old as part of the 3-in-1 (Td/IPV) teenage booster

You need to have all of these vaccinations to be fully vaccinated against polio.