Clinics and services

Halcyon Medical Centre
67-69 High Street
Birmingham
B4 7TA
Tel: 0845 072 4632

News:

PRACTICE EMERGENCY CLOSURE

The practice will not be open on 9th June 2010 due to a major flood of the premises. There will be staff available to see emergency patients only. All routine appointments are cancelled. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Please call the surgery for further information.

Swine Flu

See the Health Information page for the latest information about swine flu.

Cancelling your Appointment

If you are unable to attend an appointment with one of the doctors or nurses, please telephone or use the link at the bottom of this page to cancel your appointment.

By giving us as much notice as you can you are helping us to make sure that someone else is given your slot.

When the practice is closed

If you need urgent help or advice there is always a doctor on-call. Telephone the Surgery number and you will be told the number to call for help. Have a pencil and paper ready to write down the number and enough coins to make another call if you are phoning from a call box.

Announcements

01 Sep - 01 Oct
NHS Smokefree

Find out about all of the free NHS services available to support you as you go try to give up smoking.

01 Aug - 01 Oct
NHS Summer Health

Stay safe in the sun, including sunscreens, sunburn relief, heat exhaustion, eczema and moles. Summer holidays are great fun for children, but can bring risks. Find out more

01 Jul - 01 Oct
Change for Life

Would you like loads of tips and help to make changes for a healthier future? As part of Change4Life, you will receive tons of helpful information, recipes, tools, tips, and games for the kids.

BBC Health

Stem cell medic misconduct ruling

A doctor who offered controversial stem cell treatments to multiple sclerosis patients faces being struck off by the General Medical Council.

Plea to save MS respite centres

Volunteers are calling on the MS Society not to abandon four respite care centres in York, Surrey, Warwickshire and East Lothian

Stress hormone heart death link

High levels of the stress hormone cortisol are closely linked to death from cardiovascular disease, a Dutch study has found.

'Sponge checks' for cancer risk

Swallowing a sponge on a piece of string could help prevent a deadly form of cancer, experts claim.

Firm handshake link to long life

The strength of your handshake could be a clue to how long you'll live, say UK scientists.

Speed of ageing is 'slowing down'

The cost burden of ageing populations in industrialised nations may not be as much as feared because of improved health, a study suggests.

Scan to 'track brain development'

Scientists say they can quickly and accurately map a child's brain development using an MRI machine and a maths programme.

Trust plans to stop IVF treatment

A primary care trust in Greater Manchester is planning to suspend funding for IVF treatment, to try to cut costs.

Legionnaires' source hunt narrows

Doctors say they are narrowing down the potential source for a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in south Wales after the deaths of two people.

Prostate tests call for 'at risk'

Screening men with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer can lead to early diagnosis of prostate cancer, says a study.

Yahoo Health

Cholera stalks West Africa as rains spread disease (AP)

In this Monday, Sept. 6, 2010 photo, a doctor treats a child suffering from cholera, at a village health clinic in Ganjuwa in Nigeria's rural Bauchi State. Health officials, some with surgical masks covering their faces, sprayed anti-bacterial solution on muddy paths in this village, and patients jammed into rudimentary clinics as the government struggled to contain a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 800 people in two months. The worst epidemic in Nigeria in 19 years is spreading to Cameroon, Chad and Niger, where it has killed hundreds more people.(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

AP - Patients jammed rudimentary clinics and health workers in surgical masks sprayed anti-bacterial solution on muddy paths as the government struggled to contain a cholera epidemic that has killed nearly 800 Nigerians in two months.

AIDS doctors, activists call for more health funds (AP)

Graca Machel, an International advocate for children and the poor, and wife of former South African Presdient Nelson Mandela, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Johannesburg Friday, Sept 10, 2010. Machel said that the debate over food in her impoverished homeland did not end with the government's reversal on bread prices. (AP/Tawanda Mudimu)

AP - Doctors and AIDS activists on Friday urged African governments to fulfill a decade-old pledge to spend more of their own money on health if they want international help in fighting AIDS.

FDA warns of deadly side effect with imaging drugs (AP)

AP - Federal health regulators are warning doctors that a class of injectable drugs used in MRI medical imaging scans can cause a rare and sometimes fatal condition in patients with kidney disease.

CDC: Adults eating less fruit, not enough veggies (AP)

AP - An apple a day? Apparently not in the United States.

Study: Flamboyant male dancing attracts women best (AP)

FILE- This is a file photo of John Travolta and Karen Gorney dance in a nightclub scene to disco music in Paramount Pictures 1977 film 'Saturday Night Fever', which explores the restless generation growing up in the 70's. John Travolta was onto something. Women are most attracted to male dancers who have big, flamboyant moves similar to the actor's trademark style, British scientists say in a new study. (AP Photo/HO, File)

AP - John Travolta was onto something. Women are most attracted to male dancers who have big, flamboyant moves similar to the actor's trademark style, British scientists say in a new study.

Doctors see eye hazard in powerful laser pointers (AP)

AP - A 15-year-old boy damaged his eyes while playing with a laser pointer he'd bought over the Internet, say doctors who warn that dangerously high-powered versions are easily available online.

Risks of old, new diet drugs face U.S. scrutiny (Reuters)

Subway commuters walk through the turnstiles while leaving the U.S. Open in New York September 4, 2007. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/Files

Reuters - The risks of a potential new diet pill and a 13-year-old weight-loss medicine face U.S. scrutiny next week as medical experts consider if the drugs' benefits outweigh possible side effects.

Doctors alarmed by HIV risk for European gays (AFP)

Homosexual men in Europe are increasingly failing to adhere to safe sex, according to two new studies. In France, transmission of the AIDS virus

AFP - Homosexual men in Europe are increasingly failing to adhere to safe sex, according to two new studies. In France, transmission of the AIDS virus "seems to be out of control" among men who have sex with men, said a paper published on Thursday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Clinical Trials Update: Sept. 10, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:

Study: PTSD Survivors' Children May Have Genetic Scars (Time.com)

Time.com - A study finds that severe trauma, like the Holocaust, can cause genetic changes in victims that are passed along to children

MedPage Today

Score Predicts Morbidity Risk in Preterm Infants (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Physiologic data from the first three hours after birth integrated into a computer model predicted premature infants' morbidity risk with greater than 90% accuracy, as demonstrated in a study of 138 preterm infants.

HHS Workers Owe a Bundle in Back Taxes

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) owed a total of $37.3 million in back taxes at the end of 2009, according to a report published online Thursday in the Washington Post.

FDA Adds Warning to Some Diagnostic Drugs

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA is requiring the makers of some gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to add new warnings to the drug label to minimize the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) in some patients with kidney dysfunction.

Palliative Care Training Program Ineffective (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- A hospital-based training program designed to improve end-of-life care in the intensive care unit had no effect on quality of dying or quality of care, researchers found.

Hospital Trauma Transfers Not Common, but Costly (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Transferring trauma patients from one hospital to another, only to discharge them that day or the next, is a relatively infrequent occurrence but is still a costly burden on the medical system, researchers said.

Dose Increase Little Help with Anti-TNF Drugs (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Increasing the dose of an anti-tumor necrosis factor drug in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is unlikely to increase the therapeutic response, an observational study found.

Teen Weight Problems Predict Overweight Adults (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Dramatic shifts in the prevalence of overweight and obesity occur between adolescence and young adulthood, a prospective cohort study of Australian youths showed.

Carotid Stenting Too Risky for Older Patients (CME/CE)

(MedPage Today) -- Carotid stenting should be avoided in symptomatic patients ages 70 and older but may be as safe as its surgical counterpart in younger patients, researchers determined.

Money for ESC Research Flows Again, for Now

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- A federal appeals court has ruled that government funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research can resume while it mulls a federal district court judge's ruling blocking the funds.

H1N1 School Closures 'No Problem' for Most Families

(MedPage Today) -- School and day care closures due to the 2009 pandemic of H1N1 flu weren't a big problem for most parents, researchers found.

Clinics

Travel Clinic

Other Services

University Services

Non-NHS Services

Clinics

Satellite Clinic

G17 Main Building, Aston University
Monday – Friday 10.30 – 3.00pm

inhaler2 Satellite Clinic is available without an appointment for sexual health screening, dressings, removal of sutures, ear syringing, asthma check, diabetic check and smears.

The nurses can deal with minor ailments such as tonsillitis, chest infections, cystitis, flu, minor sports injuries, asthma, diabetic monitoring and contraceptive advice.

Antenatal Care

pregnant11 Appointments for antenatal care are made during normal surgery hours. The doctor will advise you when to attend.

Baby/Child Vaccinations, Baby Clinics And Child Health

It is strongly advised that our youngest patients are kept up to date with their immunisations. Please make appointments at reception. We do not offer child health surveillance and baby clinics at this practice. However, we can make appointments on your behalf with another practice who can carry out this service.

Adult Immunisations And Travel Vaccinations

Adult immunisations include influenza immunisation for those patients aged 65 and over and other at risk patients, e.g. those patients diagnosed with asthma or diabetes.

We also offer travel vaccinations - see the Travel Clinic tab for details.

Vision Services

The Department of Vision Sciences houses an Optometry Clinic which is open to staff and students of the University and the general public.

Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service, situated in room G16 in the main building Aston University, offers help to students on a wide range of issues. Counselling sessions are confidential and are not recorded on your medical records.

Our clinic is accessible to both students and non-registered patients offering travel advice and vaccinations. You will have to pay for certain travel vaccines e.g. Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis and Meningitis. Hepatitis A are chargeable for certain countries. Please enquire at reception for further details.

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required. There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Most travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because travel vaccination is not included in the services provided by the NHS and therefore is a chargeable service.

Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the online form before coming to see the nurse.

clock2 Travel Questionnaire

Medical Notes for Academic Departments

Medical notes should be requested from a doctor at the time of illness/incident and handed to the Senior Tutor/Head of Department. Notes will be categorised by the doctor to indicate the extent which they believe academic performance would have been affected.

Sexual Health / Contraception

Most accidents are caused by humans and most humans are caused by accident! If you need advice about sexual health issues or contraception please come for a chat with a nurse or doctor.

All contraception is free on prescription. Condoms are free from the surgery. If you have unprotected sex, you may be exposing yourself to sexually transmitted infections, not to mention pregnancy. Always use a condom! The practice also offers IUCD fittings, depo provera injections, Implanon (contraceptive implants) and the oral contraceptive pill.

Emergency contraception is available from the surgery, Brook Advisory Centre and at the Birmingham NHS walk-in centre situated on the lower ground floor of Boots The Chemist. It has to be taken within the first 72 hours of unprotected sex. If taken within the first 24 hours it will prevent 95% of expected pregnancies.

General Services

Minor Injury Service
Wound Management Service
Phlebotomy
Smoking Cessation Clinic
Cervical Cytology
Regular reviews and follow up for patients diagnosed with the following: asthma, diabetes, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), CHD (Chronic Heart Disease), stroke, hypertension (high blood pressure), epilepsy, hypothyroid (underactive thyroid gland), mental health problems and cancer

Claim Forms

Forms for exemption from payment for prescriptions, milk and vitamins etc, are available from reception, as well as useful health information leaflets.

Other University Services

Aston University offer a wide range of services for their students as follows:

Student support services

Careers Service - 0121 204 4757 | careers@aston.ac.uk

Chaplaincy - 0121 204 4276 | chaplaincy@aston.ac.uk

Counselling - 0121 204 4711 | counselling@aston.ac.uk

Disability and Additional Needs - 0121 204 4711 | danu@aston.ac.uk

Financial Assistance Unit - 0121 204 4711 | fau@aston.ac.uk

Graduate Advantage - 0121 204 4767 | enquiries@graduateadvantage.co.uk

International Office - 0121 204 4888 | international@aston.ac.uk

International Student Support Unit - 0121 204 4888 | international@aston.ac.uk

Learning Development Centre - 0121 204 3040 | ldc@aston.ac.uk

Library & Information Services - 0121 204 4525 | library@aston.ac.uk

Residential Services - accom@aston.ac.uk

Sport & Recreation - 0121 204 4623 | sportsenquiries@aston.ac.uk

Student Credit Control (Finance) - 0121 204 4355

Students’ Guild (Student’s Union) - 0121 204 4855 | guild.communications@aston.ac.uk

The doctors carry out a variety of non-NHS medical examinations e.g. pre-employment, insurance, sports fitness, ‘year out’, Camp America.

There is a charge payable for some of these examinations and you should ask at reception when you book an appointment.

Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct