Practice nurses are qualified and registered nurses. They can help with health issues such as family planning, healthy living advice, blood pressure checks and dressings. The practice nurses run clinics for long-term health conditions such as asthma or diabetes, minor ailment clinics and carry out cervical smears.

Our team

Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)

General Practice is also under increasing strain. The demand for appointments is increasing, more people require more medicine and more clinics are running in General Practice than ever before.

As a Practice we are trying to provide a good service to our Practice Population going forward in the years to come, which is why we have two ANP’s who work at the surgery on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Do I need to see a GP or the Advanced Nurse Practitioner?

Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are all trained specialist nurses who have undertaken additional education in order to provide advanced nursing care. They can provide treatment and advice for many problems for which you may have seen a Doctor for in the past. Their main areas of expertise are in the management of common illnesses and long-term conditions. If you are uncertain whether the ANP’s can help you, please ask the receptionist for advice.

Appointments

ANP appointments are available most days for common illnesses. Routine appointments are also available if you prefer to book in advance.

The ANP can assess and examine you, make a diagnosis and provide advice, organise blood tests or x-rays if appropriate, and treatment including a prescription if required. She can make referrals to hospital doctors or other health care professionals, and admit patients into hospital when necessary.

Unfortunately ANPs are unable legally to sign a “Fit Note” for work, but if they feel you require one she can arrange this with the GP.

The ANP works closely with your GP and will liaise frequently with them about your care.

Appointments

The ANP can see you for the following:

Routine Appointments

What ANP cannot deal with

Problems associated with pregnancy/ Mental health issues / Children under 2 years old/ Medical certificates

Ear wax is a normal body secretion; it provides protection against infection and dust particles. The ear is self-cleaning, and the wax usually works its way out naturally. Never use cotton buds to clean inside your ears, as they can irritate the delicate skin inside the ear canal and may push the wax deeper, compacting it.

Ear irrigation is not risk-free; therefore, it is only performed if the ear is completely blocked with ear wax. Partial blockages are typically resolved with drops rather than irrigation. We use our clinical judgment to determine whether irrigation is necessary.

Ear irrigation can cause injury to the ears, ranging from minor infections and acute or chronic tinnitus (ringing in the ears), to perforation of the ear drum and hearing loss.

If you have had surgery on your ears or experienced a perforated ear drum, it is important to inform us before the procedure is carried out.

To facilitate easy removal of wax, olive oil drops should be used at least twice daily for a minimum of 5 days prior to your consultation. A good dose of oil is essential, as insufficient application of drops (e.g., only 2-3 times) may not effectively soften the wax, leading to unsuccessful irrigation. In many cases, individuals can clear their ears by applying olive oil diligently, potentially avoiding the need for irrigation altogether.

Unsuccessful irrigation carries a higher risk of infection, as it can leave damp wax in the ear. If you have any concerns during the procedure, please let the nurse know immediately.

Irrigating the ears removes the protective layer of wax, so it is important to keep your ears dry for a few days after the procedure.

For those who have an appointment with audiology, it is recommended to have their ears checked for wax clearance before attending. This is typically arranged by the referring clinician, but those seen annually for hearing aids should have their ears checked prior to their appointment.