Clinics

Well Person Checks

Cervical Smears

Family Planning

Emergency Contraception

If you have had sex without using any contraception, and don’t want to get pregnant, or if you have been using a condom and it has broken or come off, we can provide the ‘morning after pill’. The pill we use is ‘Levonelle 2′. Although it can be used up to 72 hours after sex it is most effective if it is taken as soon as possible within this time.

Levonelle is thought to prevent 95% of pregnancies if taken in the first 24 hours, but only 60% or less if taken after 49 hours after sex. It is therefore important to get medical advice as soon as possible in the day, even at weekends or over a bank holiday.

If it is more than 72 hours but less than 5 days since the unprotected sex it may be possible to fit an ’emergency’ coil. This method is not suitable for all women but once again you should seek advice from us urgently.

If you think you need emergency contraception you should ask for an emergency appointment with the doctor. You do not have to tell the receptionist what this appointment is for but it is helpful if you are able to do so. If you are unable to get to the surgery we may be able to prescribe the ‘morning after pill’ without seeing you.

You can ask for the doctor to ring you back at the end of surgery and you must be willing to answer some questions over the telephone.

Alternatively some pharmacists in the Sittingbourne area are able to dispense Levonelle 2 for you without a prescription and without charge. These pharmacies include Boots and the Memorial Pharmacy but you should ring them first to check that a pharmacist with the correct training is available, and you will have to answer some questions first to check it is safe for the pharmacist to issue this treatment to you.

Please read this information carefully:

Emergency Pills and How They Work
You have been given 2 pills. You should take them both together as soon as you get them, even if the information leaflet with the pills advises taking them separately. The pills contain the hormone progesterone and work by making the lining of the womb unsuitable for a pregnancy to develop, and sometimes also by delaying the release of an egg from your ovary. This is NOT the same as an abortion. If you become pregnant after taking it, there is NO evidence that it will harm the baby.

What Happens Next?
Your period may arrive earlier, on time or later than usual. It may also be heavier or lighter than usual. It is advisable to make a routine appointment to return to the surgery in 3-4 weeks to check that the emergency contraception has worked and to discuss future contraception if necessary. It is ESSENTIAL to return if you do not have a period within 3-4 weeks of taking the emergency pills or if your period is very light, or much shorter than usual or unusually painful. In any of these cases you should bring an early morning sample of urine with you in a clean container.

What to do if you are sick
If you are sick within 3 hours of taking the pills you should contact the surgery or the ‘out of hours service’ for advice as a further dose will be needed.

Contraception 
Remember to use condoms until your next period-the morning after pill will not protect against further unprotected sex. If you are already on the pill, continue to take it but use condoms in addition for the next 7 days If you are planning to start the pill, you may start it on the first day of your next period.

WARNING: Emergency contraception does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. If you are worried about a sexually transmitted infection you should contact the GUM clinic.(Genito-urinary Medicine clinic).

Maternity Care

Newly Pregnant?

You can use the online booking service on the Medway NHS Trust website or call:

  • Medway: 01634 825188
  • Sittingbourne: 01795 418300 (ext 3014)
  • Sheppey: 01795 879100 (ext 5223)

Non Urgent messages for your named midwife can be left at the following centres:

  • Sittingbourne: 01795 418300 (ext 3014) or by text: 07999 584594
  • Sheppey: 01795 879100 (ext 5220) or text 07999555820
  • Rainham and Gillingham: 01634 382127
  • Chatham and Walderslade: 01634 337470
  • Rochester and Strood: 01634 717755

If urgent, up to 18 weeks of pregnancy, please call your GP or your local Midwife Office, but if unavailable, you must call the Accident and Emergency Department at Medway Maritime Hospital on: 01622 830000 (ext 3348)

From 18 weeks – term please call Delivery Suit Triage on the ‘Call a Midwife’ service: 01634 825112
Health Visitors
If you need to contact a Health Visitor the contact details are as follows:

Kent Science Park, 187 Carver Drive, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8NP

Tel: 0300 123 4014

NHS Health check

 Please visit the NHS page below for all information regarding the NHS health check..

NHS Health Check – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Flu Vaccinations

Pneumonia vaccinations

This is another vaccination which is recommend for the over 65s and those with respiratory, heart or diabetes conditions. It cannot prevent all infection from pneumonia but it prevents infection from 26 different types. This vaccination is given only once – it is not an annual vaccination. Pneumovax is available all the year round by making an appointment with the practice nurse. In the cases of flu and pneumonia – prevention is better than cure every time.

Annual Flu vaccinations

Flu kills many people worldwide every year. Each year commencing early October our flu campaign begins. The Department of Health recommends that all patients aged over 65 have this annual vaccination as a routine measure.

They also recommend the vaccination to anyone who has a medical history of heart disease, asthma or other chest problem, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and those in long term care homes and carers in receipt of Carers Allowance, and other problems such as those who are immunocompromised.

Pregnant ladies are also advised to have the vaccination.

These are all known as “at risk” groups, and if you fit into one of the “at risk” groups you will receive a letter inviting you to make an appointment for the flu vaccination. If you do not receive a letter, then this is because the Department of Health does not consider that you require the vaccination.

They are being quite strict about who we can vaccinate this year and we are to be monitored very carefully.

In our practice we vaccinate over 2800 patients each autumn, which helps to reduce the number of patients admitted to hospital with complications following flu infection.

Asthma checks

Diabetes checks

Immunisations for adults and children

In-house ECGs

Audiology Service

01795 412340 (please only call this number if you are an existing audiology patient or have been referred by your GP)

Do you find it hard to follow conversations in noisy situations?

Are you always asking family and friends to repeat themselves?

Do family or friends comment on how loud your radio volume is?

Why not book an appointment with your GP now to be referred to us?

Available by referral only, our in house audiology service now includes appointments on Saturdays as required, as well as our existing weekday clinics. We are also able to offer home visits to all housebound patients within the local area.

Appointments are available for all patients over 50 and we offer:

  • Hearing tests for new and existing patients
  • Digital Hearing Aids (free of charge)
  • Maintenance appointments
  • Free batteries
  • Aids are provided on the same day as the hearing test in most cases.

Please fax referral forms to 01795 475138 or email memorial.audiology@nhs.net

Please note that all patients’ ears should be checked for wax at the time of referral. If wax obstruction is present, please arrange irrigation before referring to us. If a patient’s ears are blocked at the time of their appointment, our Audiologist will not be able to treat them.

There may be a charge for lost or damaged aids but this will be at the Audiologist’s discretion.

Patient comments:

“Amazing audiologist”

“The treatment I received was above what I expected and I left the Audiology department fully satisfied.”

Independent experts recommend that people over 50 should have their hearing tested at least once a year. Early detection of hearing problems can be the first step in effective treatment.

Date published: 8th October, 2014
Date last updated: 30th January, 2024