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We now work differently
We are now working quite differently from what we were before. We call this new way of working, General Practice 2.0.
We realise you will have plenty of questions about how to manage your condition, so we have set up this page is to help you - just keep reading below.
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Self-care first
We are available of course, but kindly ask you to consider self-care for your condition, where this is appropriate.
g to advise an increasing number of patients with symptoms of a minor and self-limiting nature, that would have largely got better with self-care, self-help and a little patience.There are lots of resources to help you manage your minor illness before you need to give us a call, for instance:
.- 111.nhs.uk - extremely easy to use official online NHS 111 triage service
- ivy.gs/selfrefer - our page on who you can self-refer to without needing to speak to or see a GP first
- ivy.gs/team - our GP team walkthrough page
- ivy.gs/help - our help page on who to contact first
- ivy.gs/symptoms - our symptom checker for your condition
- ivy.gs/gp2 (this page) - General Practice 2.0 - our info page on how to manage your condition during the coronavirus pandemic
- ivy.gs/selfcare - our self-care page with lots of useful links and leaflets on minor health conditions
- patient.info - a comprehensive directory of evidence-based clinical information for patients
- ivy.gs/coronavirus - our advice page for all questions relating to coronavirus
- selfcareforum.org - lots of useful factsheets on managing your condition
- ivy.gs/downloads - our download page where you can download lots of useful info leaflets
- How can I tell if my child is poorly? - our leaflet informing parents what to look out for
- Get the right help for your condition - our leaflet on who to turn to first
- Your guide to being self-care aware - official leaflet on self-care
- Guide to staying active in the outbreak - support for older people or those who are shielded to stay active at home
We need to remind patients that, although we are open, we are providing a remote-first service.
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Asthma care
You will find plenty of useful advice on managing your advice at Asthma UK
You can ring the Asthma/COPD helpline on 01332 788225 for advice and help, available 8.30am to 4.30pm, 7 days a week.
You can also download useful patient information leaflets on dealing with breathlessness and breathing techniques.
We are encouraging those of our more moderate to severe asthmatics to obtain a peak flow meter in order to be able to monitor their own condition. This can be purchased online or supplied on prescription as necessary.
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B12 injections
For vitamin B12 injections, please book an appointmentur practice nurse at the time of your next visit.
We have a dedicated page that gives instructions on the steps involved for self-administration.
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Baby checks
Baby checks are carried out usually at 6-8 weeks of age.
Concerned parents can always speak to their midwife in the early stages and then their health visitor later.
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
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Blood pressure (BP)
Measuring your blood pressure at home is a quick and convenient way to monitor your blood pressure and will save a journey to the surgery. Here we tell you how to get your blood pressure reading and then how to let us have the reading.
Ways to get your BP checked
Purchase a cheap, reliable BP monitorIn order to help with telephone review of blood pressure (BP) we encourage all patients to purchase a home BP monitor so they can measure their BP in the comfort and safety of their own homes. These are now relatively cheap, very accurate and can be bought for as little as £20. We believe this is a small price to pay for the knowledge that your blood pressure is being adequately controlled.
Recommended and validated machines can be found at British Heart Foundation
Please see our detailed leaflet on how to take your blood pressure at home written by one of our GP trainees.
Visit a local chemistMany chemists now provide a free BP measurement service.
Visit our new patient podYou can also visit our patient pod, located in a room off the main waiting room. This automated machine can measure your height, weight, blood pressure amongst other things. Our staff can help you to use it if needed.
Submit your BP reading(s) to us
Reply to text messageIf we have asked you to a BP reading to us, please reply using the link in the text message you were sent. Once you have submitted your reading, we will get back to you where clinically necessary,
Use our online formIf you didn't get a text message, you can use our BP readings form to provide your readings. Once you have submitted your reading, we will get back to you where clinically necessary,
Complete one week of readingsPLEASE NOTE: this only applies if we have specifically advised you to complete one week of readings. Do not use this method on your own initiative.
Please download, print and complete the BP readings chart and drop it in to us.
If you can open Excel spreadsheets on your device or computer, you should download this version, as it will automatically calculate your averages for you and you can then email the file back to us.
Please note, when using this chart, we ask that you check your blood pressure four times a day over 7 days, a total of 28 readings and when we calculate your readings, we ignore the first four.
Other advice
If you are taking anti-inflammatory medication, or ACE-inhbitors like ramipril, or ARA (ACE-II) like losartan, it is important to make sure you look after your kidneys, especially if you are poorly - please see leaflet on acute kidney injury - sick day rules
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Blood tests
If you need a blood test, we will email or text the form to you for you to print out yourself, or leave it at reception for you to collect.
Important notes - please read
For almost all blood tests you will need to book an appointment at a clinic - you cannot just turn up at a hospital or blood clinic
When booking your appointment online, please choose only hospitals or clinics within Derbyshire, e.g., Ripley, Belper, Heanor, Royal Derby etc. Please DO NOT choose any hospitals outside Derbyshire, e.g., Kingsmill; this can result in an unacceptable delay in getting your results as well as introduce clinical safety errors as our computer systems are not aligned with any hospitals outside Derbyshire
When booking for children under 12 years of age - please make sure you pick a blood clinic that caters for this younger age group (children over 12 years old can go to an adult clinic)
Please take the physical paper blood test form when you attend for your appointment - you will not be able to have your blood test if it is only stored in an email or in a message in your phone
There is no need to book a review appointment with us for your results - we will contact you if there is any action is required; if you don't hear from us, you can assume no action is needed
For urgent bloods - please click here
Blood clinic locations & opening hours
- RIPLEY Hospital, Sandham Lane, Ripley, DE5 3HE, Mon-Fri, 8.00am to 1.00pm
- HEANOR, Old Fire Station, Wilmot Street, Heanor, Derby, DE75 7EF, Mon-Fri, 7.30am to 12.30pm
- ILKESTON Hospital, Heanor Road, Ilkeston, DE7 8LN, Mon-Sun, 7.00am to 7.00pm
- BELPER, Babington Hospital, Derby Road, Belper, Derby, DE56 1WH, Mon-Fri, 8.00am to 3.30pm
- DERBY, Florence Nightingale Community Hospital, Clinic F, Main Entrance, Junction 4, London Road, Derby, DE1 2QY, Mon-Fri, 7.00am to 7.00pm
- DERBY, Royal Derby Hospital, Level 1, Uttoxeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, Mon-Fri, 7.30am to 4.15pm
- IMPORTANT: Please do not use any hospitals or clinics outside Derbyshire!
Book an appointment for a blood test
Routine blood tests are by appointment only. Click the orange button below to go to the booking site.
Book a routine blood test (registration is required)
IMPORTANT: please do not use any hospitals or clinics outside Derbyshire!
For a step-by-step guide to booking an appointment online, please download an information leaflet
Urgent blood tests
This service only applies to those patients where the doctor has specifically indicated on your form that you must have urgent bloods - if you turn up without an urgent form, you will be turned away
Please attend Babington Hospital in Belper in person with your urgent form (there is no need to book an appointment or ring ahead). You may attend during the opening hours specified, though mornings will be better.
The phlebotomist will review the slots available and take bloods on the same day, or make an appointment for you to attend the following day pending capacity
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Cancer
Please find specific information for cancer sufferers:
If you have terminal cancer or are at end-of-life, and you need medical help, please do not hesitate to call us during working hours.
Cancer red flags - information on worryinh symptoms to watch out for.
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Children
When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents.
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
Mental wellbeing is very important at the time like this, so if you or your children are suffering, you might find our mental health resources for kids and teens helpful.
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Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
If you need to book into our Citizens Advice Bureau clinic, please contact reception.
Citizens Advice remain open for business with telephone appointments.
The advice line is on 0300 456 8390 Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
We are encouraging all our COPD patients to invest in their own oxygen saturation monitor as this will help them to monitor and manage their own condition.
Find advice regarding managing your condition at the British Lung Foundation
You can download useful patient information leaflets on dealing with breathlessness and breathing techniques.
You can also ring the Asthma/COPD helpline on 01332 788225 for advice and help, available 8.30am to 4.30pm, 7 days a week.
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Cough
A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.
Official nhs.uk advice and when to seek further advice.
Cough minor illness leaflet - a leaflet written by our doctors.
When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents.
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
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Counselling
Counselling for mental health issues is available, please visit our counselling page for details.
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Dental problems
Your existing dental practice remains the first port of call for any dental problems.
A new emergency dental pathway is being set up across the whole East Midlands to assess patients and direct accordingly – including to an urgent dental centre, if required.
Please do not contact us with dental problems.
Access to NHS dentistry - a poster on current dental provision.
Dentist - our dentist self-help page
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Diabetes care
Our in-house diabetes clinic runs as normal. You will get an appointmnent with our nurse for your physical check and the doctor will determine whether your medication or treatment plan needs altering, depending on your blood results.
Online support
DigiBete is a free online service, with an available app, to support children and young people to manage their Type 1 diabetes and includes essential help and resources.. It allows diabetes teams to send relevant information and resources to patients and also allows patients to store insulin ratios, care plans, future appointments and notes.
MyType1Diabetes is a free online platform to support adults to manage their Type 1 diabetes and includes tailored advice and educational resources created by NHS experts in diabetes and in association with people with diabetes
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Ear wax and ear syringing
Ear wax is a normal product of the ear. After it is produced it slowly makes its way to the opening of the ear canal.
If wished, drops to dissolve or soften ear wax are widely available to buy over-the-counter from pharmacists. The softener is to be used for a minimum of three weeks. If at this stage the wax remains firm, the drops may be used for a further period of one week.
Ear wax should then drop out of the ear naturally.
Ear syringing is suspended due to the need for close contact and the risk of generating aerosols.
Official nhs.uk advice and when to seek further advice.
Ear wax information leaflet - a leaflet regarding ear wax.
Earache minor illness leaflet - a leaflet written by our doctors.
Ear syringing protocol for Ivy Grove - including bulb syringing information
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Earache
Earache and ear pain is common, particularly in young children. It can be painful, but is not usually a sign of anything serious.
Official nhs.uk advice and when to seek further advice.
Earache minor illness leaflet - a leaflet written by our doctors.
When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents.
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
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Eye problems
Community Urgent Eye-care Service (CUES) - this is a service that has been set up to enable patients with eye problems to be reviewed by an optician.
If you have an urgent eye issue, you can get in touch with us and if appropriate, we will advise you to contact any of the local opticians participating in this service.
List of opticians participating in the urgent eye-care service
PLEASE NOTE: The services does not deal with any patients with 'red flag' or emergency symptoms that could indicate more serious conditions - see our Optician page for details
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Face-to-face contacts
We are conducting face-to-face contacts as normal. Please ring to book an appointment. Where appropriate, you may choose a telephone call rather than a face-to-face appointment.
If attending with respiratory illness
If you are attending an appointment due to respiratory infection, you may be advised to wear a mask - this is to help protect other patients and our staff.
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Fever (high temperature)
High temperature is very common in young children. The temperature usually returns to normal within 3 or 4 days.
Official nhs.uk advice and when to seek further advice.
When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents.
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
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Heart failure
We encourage all patients to monitor their condition with a weekly weight. If you start to get a sudden increase in weight, or breathlessness or leg swelling, please ring us for further advice.
Please also see advice from the British Heart Foundation
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Medication requests & repeats
Ways to get your repeat prescription
Visit our services page for information on how to get your repeat prescription.
Medicines Order Line
The Medicines Order Line is a convenient service where you can ring and order your repeat prescriptions without needing to drop anything off at the doctors. Your prescription will be automatically sent to your chosen pharmacy,
In order to use this service, your medication review date should be in date and you should not be overusing (or underusing) your medication.
Please ring 01246 942751 Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm to use the service. For more information, please dowload a leaflet or visit our services page
Requests for medications from hospitals
Where you have been provided with a prescription to be dispensed at the hospital, you should always obtain your medication there, even if there is a queue at the hospital pharmacy. GPs are not obliged to convert hospital prescriptions to community ones.
Where you have been provided with a hospital prescription for the GP to issue, please note that these are NOT urgent prescriptions and in general, as indicated on the prescription itself, you must allow us 2-3 working days to issue your prescription.
Where the hospital requires you to have medication urgently, it is actually part of the hospital contract in that they are obliged to supply you with the medication there and then, whilst in clinic or on the ward. It is NOT for the GP to do this urgently for you.
Please note that any delays in issuing any hospital prescription is not because we are being difficult or refusing to prescribe. Regulations surrounding prescriptions means that any doctor prescribing has to perform due diligence in checking any prescription that they write to ensure that patients do not come to harm through undue mistakes being made. Please bear with us if your prescription is delayed as a result of our checks.
Requests for urgent medications
Requests for medications to be issued same day will only be carried out if the medication concerned is on our clinically defined emergency list confirming that patient cannot do with it.
Medication requests that do not come under the above category will be processed in the normal manner. Please be aware that chemists (like all other NHS organisations) are extremely busy at this time.
Information on how to get you repeat will be found on our FAQs page
Requests for medication never had before
Requests for items you've never had before, like paracetamol or inhalers, will be rejected.
Requests for longer durations
We have been advised to reject all requests to change duration of medication to 3 months each time, as this would collapse the supply chain.
Late-opening chemists
Boots the Chemist, Church Farm branch closed since August 2020. To get your prescription dispensed after office hours, check late opening chemists
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Mental health
It is never more important for all of us to be looking after their mental health. We encourage all patients to make sure both their physical health and mental health is as best as can be.
Try and use some of your anxiety to be prepared and to do the right thing, in terms of keeping you and your family safe.
Try and manage your stress levels and anxiety by making time for yourself, meditation, breathing exercises and doing things that you enjoy, like hobbies and interests.
Try to keep physically healthy, by eating good food, avoid excessive alcohol, avoiding smoking, getting enough sleep and exercise and fresh air and sunshine (following social distancing rules of course).
Use digital means to keep in touch with loved ones, eg by phone, video call and social media, it is always helpful to have a stabilising perspective and reassurance from friends and family.
Avoid overloading yourself with lots of information and news updates that might cause more worry.
Our mental health support page gives details of all help and support available, however, you can also check what is available for specific age groups as shown below
You can self-refer to any of these services without seeing or speaking to a GP first
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Minor illness
Most conditions seen in General Practice are of a minor and self-limiting nature. This means they will get better by themselves.
Therefore, in line with national guidance, we encourage all patients to self-care, and await natural recovery.
We still encourage patients to contact us if they are getting worse, have worrying signs or if their condition is lasting too long.
Download When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents.
Download How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for.
This section links to other areas of this page:
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Nursing procedures
Nursing procedures are conducted face-to-face as usual. Examples only:
- 24 hour BP machine
- Annual chronic disease reviews
- Asthma reviews
- BP reviews
- COPD review
- Clozaril monitoring
- Coil checks
- Decapeptyl injection
- Denosumab injection
- Depo contraceptive injection
- Diabetic queries and reviews
- Dressings
- Ear syringing or ear check for wax (specfic cases only)
- ECG requested urgently by GP
- HRT
- Immunisations: baby (2, 3 & 4 months), 13 months
- HPV for year 8 boys/girls and year 9 girls only - please note: this is carried out by another service, read this info sheet for more details
- Nebido injection
- Pill (family planning) reviews
- Postnatal examinations of mother
- Pneumonia vaccine (subject to availability)
- Preschool boosters
- Prostap / zoladex injection
- Removal of sutures
- Ring pessaries
- Shingles vaccine
- Smears
- Spirometry
- Sustanon injections
- Swabs
- Travel vaccinations
- Vitamin B12 injections
- Warfarin/INR
- Whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women
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Physio
The Physio Direct service is available for advice and support for any back, neck, joint or muscle problem.
There is no need to speak to the GP before using this service.
Please ring 01246 565050 , Monday-Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Download the Physio Direct poster for information or visit MSK Triage Derbyshire
You can also visit the Versus Arthritis helpline or ring 0800 5200 520 for free Monday–Friday, 9am–8pm and discuss issues like understanding and managing your condition, options for treatment, self-care, benefits etc.
There are also lots of exercises available at the Versus Arthritis site to help you manage pain.
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Please also see our physio page for more details.
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Semen analysis
Please note that you need to book an appointment for semen analysis (either for fertility investigation or post-vasectomy). This is done via the Swift Queue appointment booking system, which is the same service used for booking blood tests. Please visit the Royal Derby Hospital website to book.
Patients will still need to collect their semen analysis form from the desk to take with them when they go.
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Sexual health / STIs / Genito-urinary
Please visit the Your Sexual Health Matters website for:
- Sexual Transmitted Infection (STI) & HIV testing (including testing and treatment for chlamydia). For asymptomatic patients and symptomatic patients
- Oral Contraception & Emergency Contraception (for over 16s)
- Free condoms by post for patients aged 13+
- Virtual sexual health promotion advice
- Photo diagnosis of lumps, bumps and warts
For emergency contraception, please visit the YSHM website
For emergency coil fitting, please ring 0800 328 3383
For information on HPV vaccination for year 8 boys/girls and year 9 girls only - please read this info sheet for more details.
Visit our Sexual health self-referral page
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Sick notes (fit notes, MED3s)
We do not need to see you face-to-face to be able to complete a sick note.
Please ring us when your sick note expires and we will review your condition by telephone and if a further sick note is required, we can arrange for this to be sent to you electronically via your mobile phone. This will save a unnecessary and potentially risky visit to the surgery.
Please note, if you have been off work for some time, and likely to continue to be off work, then you do not necessarily need to ring us on the day your note expires, especially during busy times. We can always backdate your ongoing note as needed.
Sick notes no longer require a doctor's signature.
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Snoring/sleep apnoea
Snoring problems
Please visit the following links for help and support around snoring:
Sleep apnoea
If your doctor has advised you to complete some forms regarding sleep apnoea and/or snoring prior to any referral, you will find them here: Sleep score form (for patient) , additional questionnaire (for patient) and partner form (for patient's bed partner) . Please complete these forms fully then drop them back to us.
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Sore throat
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week. We advise self-care in the first instance.
If you are poorly and require medical advice, please ring us and we can often manage your condition remotely.
Strep A advice page - for information on Strep A
Official nhs.uk advice and when to seek further advice
Sore throat minor illness leaflet - a leaflet written by our doctors
When should I worry? - a very useful booklet for parents
How can I tell if my child is poorly? - a leaflet informing parents what to look out for
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Stop smoking service
If you wish to stop smoking, please get in touch with Live Life Better Derbyshire
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X-rays and ultrasounds
If your doctor has requested an x-ray or ultrasound at Ripley Hospital, please ring 01773 571436 to book it.
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