Frequently Asked Questions

 

When are you Open?

Here are the opening times.

 

Dental problems. Including Toothache

The emergency dentist can be found by telephoning 01392 405700 or visiting Access Dental Website.

 

GUM clinic (Genito-urinary medicine clinic)

This is located In the NHS Walk-In centre at Sidwell Street.

Click here to visit their website

 

Transport to hospital. How do I arrange hospital transport?

If you have received an appointment from the RD&E hospital then they will arrange transport for you if you ask them. Otherwise please contact Westbank Community Care, who are based in Exminster, on 01392 824752, or the Estuary League of Friends on 01392 879275, who may be able to help you.

 

"It said in the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Guardian".

Not everything you read in the paper is true. For up to date information visit NHS Choices or Patient.co.uk.

 

How do I get a blood test?

If your doctor or specialist wishes you to have a blood test, please book an appointment with one of our health care assistants. If the blood test is very urgent the doctor or nurse may take bloods.

 

How do I get my test results?

Please click here for advice about test results.

 

I am in a new relationship or wish to have a sexual health screen.

Pop along to the sexual health clinic in Sidwell Street and they'll sort you out. Click here to find out more.

 

I want to know my blood group

We don't randomly test for blood groups.

 

If you are pregnant then your midwife will determine your blood group.

The UK Blood Transfusion Service usually wants donations of blood - if you give them one they'll tell you your blood group and you can feel virtuous as well. For more information about giving blood or blood groups, the national blood transfusion service has an excellent website www.blood.co.uk

If you are going to climb in the Himalayas, or some such and your expedition medical officer wants to know your group, they'll arrange it, or we might be persuaded to take your blood and the laboratory will charge a fee.
If your blood group has been determined previously, for surgery for instance, then it will be recorded somewhere in your notes, but this may only be in the hospital.

 

Are you open at the weekend?

Not regularly. But as part of Exeter Primary Care, we are taking part in a weekend rota.

 

Are you open at 2am?

No. Here are the opening times, but if you need a doctor when we're closed click here

 

Can you remove a wart/mole?

Possibly. Dr Campbell does a minor surgery clinic every few weeks. Some lumps and bumps are best left, others best removed by someone else. Click here for more details. We also do a Wart clinic for warts, veruccas and some other cryotherapy depend on us having liquid Nitrogen. When we have enough people needing it, we put on a clinic.

 

Can you help me stop smoking?

Yes. Please come and talk to one of the doctors or Celia our HCA. She provides excellent support and motivation to help you stop smoking. Click here for more information about our in-house services.

 

A good website to find out more about the treatments offered is NHS choices.

 

Where is the nearest pharmacy / chemist?

From both our sites the nearest pharmacies are either Lloyds in Heavitree Fore Street, or the Lloyds in the front of the South Lawn Terrace Health Centre building. On weekdays the Fore Street branch stays open until 21:00.

 

A Letter for the Housing Department

The Housing Department of the City Council have a scoring system for allocating properties to people. It includes 2 points out of many for medical conditions. The council has a system of their own for giving people 0, 1 or 2 points.

 

Occasionally the housing department will contact us, with your permission, for more information about your medical problems. If you would like a letter, we do charge a fee as it is an non-NHS service.

 

How long do repeat prescriptions take?

We aim to send your repeat prescription to a pharmacy within 48 hours, the small minority may take five working days.

 

If your request is for something on your repeats (i.e. blood pressure medication) and you have attended all your regular check ups, then usually it's pretty quick. If there is a query, i.e. you request a medicine not on your repeats, you're behind on your monitoring, or reviews, it takes a little longer.

 

With EPS (electronic prescription service) we can send your prescription straight to the pharmacy without you, or the pharmacy having to collect it.

Click here to order your prescription online.

 

What is a batch prescription?

A batch prescription is when we send a number of months (normally 3, 4 or 6) to a chemist for you. You simply collect.

 

I am going away, can I have two months of medication?

Usually it isn't a problem. Please request two months of medication and please be clear you do not want a batch.

 

I can't get an appointment with a doctor

We offer a daily walk in clinic for our patients so you can always see a doctor if you need to. You may have to wait for an appointment with a specific doctor or drop in when they are working at Homefield.