We will ask you to complete a couple of forms for registration when you first register with us. If you need to access online services we will ask you to provide photo ID such as a driving license or passport. When you need to change your name, we will ask for evidence of this too such as a marriage certificate.

CLICK HERE TO: Find stop smoking support services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Stop smoking treatments

If you want to stop smoking, several different treatments are available from shops, pharmacies and on prescription to help you beat your addiction and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

The best treatment for you will depend on your personal preference, your age, whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and any medical conditions you have. Speak to your GP or an NHS stop smoking adviser for advice.

Research has shown that all these methods can be effective. Importantly, evidence shows that they are most effective if used alongside support from an NHS stop smoking service.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

The main reason that people smoke is because they are addicted to nicotine.

NRT is a medicine that provides you with a low level of nicotine, without the tar, carbon monoxide and other poisonous chemicals present in tobacco smoke.

It can help reduce unpleasant withdrawal effects, such as bad moods and cravings, which may occur when you stop smoking.

Where to get it and how to use it

NRT can be bought from pharmacies and some shops. It’s also available on prescription from a doctor or NHS stop smoking service.

It’s available as:

• skin patches
• chewing gum
• inhalators (which look like plastic cigarettes)
• tablets, oral strips and lozenges
• nasal and mouth spray

Patches release nicotine slowly. Some are worn all the time and some should be taken off at night. Inhalators, gum and sprays act more quickly and may be better for helping with cravings.

There’s no evidence that any single type of NRT is more effective than another. But there is good evidence to show that using a combination of NRT is more effective than using a single product.

Often the best way to use NRT is to combine a patch with a faster acting form such as gum, inhalator or nasal spray.

Treatment with NRT usually lasts 8-12 weeks, before you gradually reduce the dose and eventually stop.

Who can use it

Most people are able to use NRT, including:

• adults and children over 12 years of age – although children under 18 should not use the lozenges without getting medical advice first
• pregnant women – your doctor may suggest NRT if they think it would help you quit; read more about stopping smoking in pregnancy
• breastfeeding women – your doctor can advise you how to do this safely

Always read the packet or leaflet before using NRT to check whether it’s suitable for you.

Sometimes it may be advisable to get medical advice first, for example if you have kidney or liver problems, or you’ve recently had a heart attack or stroke.

Possible side effects

Side effects of NRT can include:

• skin irritation when using patches
• irritation of nose, throat or eyes when using a nasal spray
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia), sometimes with vivid dreams
• an upset stomach
• dizziness
• headaches

Any side effects are usually mild. But if they’re particularly troublesome, contact your GP as the dose or type of NRT may need to be changed.

Varenicline (Champix)

Varenicline (brand name Champix) is not currently available. It has been withdrawn as a precaution because of an impurity found in the medicine. It’s not yet known whether it will be available again in future.

Varenicline is a medicine that works in 2 ways. It reduces cravings for nicotine like NRT, but it also blocks the rewarding and reinforcing effects of smoking. It was only available on prescription.

Speak to your GP or NHS stop smoking adviser who will be able to recommend an alternative treatment.

Bupropion (Zyban)

Bupropion (brand name Zyban) is a medicine originally used to treat depression, but it has since been found to help people quit smoking.

It’s not clear exactly how it works, but it’s thought to have an effect on the parts of the brain involved in addictive behaviour.

Where to get it and how to use it

Bupropion is only available on prescription, so you’ll usually need to see your GP or contact an NHS stop smoking service to get it.

It’s taken as 1 to 2 tablets a day. You should start taking it a week or 2 before you try to quit.

A course of treatment usually lasts around 7 to 9 weeks.

Who can take it

Most people can take bupropion, but there are some situations when it’s not recommended. For example, it’s not suitable if you:

• are under 18 years old
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have epilepsy, bipolar disorder or an eating disorder

Possible side effects

Side effects of bupropion can include:

• dry mouth
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
• headaches
• feeling and being sick
• constipation
• difficulty concentrating
• dizziness

Speak to your GP if you have any problems with side effects.

Serotonin syndrome

Serotonin syndrome is an uncommon, but potentially serious, set of side effects linked to some medicines. It happens when the levels of a chemical called serotonin in your brain become too high.

There’s a risk of serotonin syndrome if you take more than your prescribed dose of bupropion, or if you take certain other medicines with bupropion such as:

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Contact your GP or NHS 111 if you have any symptoms of serotonin syndrome, including:

• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• increased heart rate
• feeling agitated

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

E-cigarettes

An e-cigarette is an electronic device that delivers nicotine in a vapour. This allows you to inhale nicotine without most of the harmful effects of smoking, as the vapour contains no tar or carbon monoxide.

Research has found that e-cigarettes can help you give up smoking, so you may want to try them rather than the medicines listed above. As with other approaches, they’re most effective if used with support from an NHS stop smoking service.

There are no e-cigarettes currently available on prescription.

For now, if you want to use an e-cigarette to help you quit, you’ll have to buy one. Costs of e-cigarettes can vary, but generally they’re much cheaper than cigarettes.

This is carried out by one of the GPs who is able to give steroid injections when it is appropriate to do so, usually after having been seen at an appointment.

Childhood Vaccination Schedule

At Two Months Old

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) – one injection
• Pneumococcal infection – pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) – one injection
• Meningococcal group B (Men B)- one injection
• Rotavirus gastroenteritis- oral drops

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At Three Months Old

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) – one injection
• Meningitis C (meningococcal group C) (MenC) – one injection
• Rotavirus- oral drops

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At Four Months Old

• Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (DTaP/IPV/Hib) – one injection
• Men B – one injection
• Pneumococcal infection – pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) – one injection

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At 12 Months Old

• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C (Hib/MenC) – booster dose in one injection
• Pneumococcal
• Meales, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR)- one injection
• Men B-one injection

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At 2 to 6 Years Old (Including Children in School Years 1 & 2)

• Influenza (each year from September)- Live vaccine- both nostrils

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At 3 Years Four Months to 5 Years Old (Pre-School)

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio (dTaP/IPV or DTaP/IPV) – one injection
• Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles) (MMR) – one injection

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13 to 18 Years Old

• Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (Td/IPV) – one injection

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14 Years Old (School Year 9) 

• Meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y disease- Men ACWY- one injection

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We also give Tetanus injections as a routine measure which is valid for ten years.

The practice nurses will review your diabetes on an annual basis. The pharmacist or GP will review your diabetic medication.

Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high.

There are 2 main types of diabetes:

• type 1 diabetes – a lifelong condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
• type 2 diabetes – where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin properly

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1. In the UK, over 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2.

High blood sugar that develops during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. It usually goes away after giving birth.

Our Practice nurse Amy Ofodile carries out the COPD reviews on an annual basis, we ask patients to bring their inhalers with them for all appointments so we can also check their inhaler techniques.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

It includes:

• emphysema – damage to the air sacs in the lungs
• chronic bronchitis – long-term inflammation of the airways

COPD is a common condition that mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke. Many people do not realise they have it.

The breathing problems tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death in the UK and worldwide. CHD is sometimes called ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease.

Symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD)

The main symptoms of coronary heart disease are:

• chest pain (angina)
• shortness of breath
• pain in your neck, shoulders, jaw or arms
• feeling faint
• feeling sick (nausea)

But not everyone has the same symptoms and some people may not have any before coronary heart disease is diagnosed.

Preventing coronary heart disease (CHD)

You can reduce your risk of getting coronary heart disease by making some simple lifestyle changes.

These include:

• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• being physically active
• giving up smoking
• controlling blood cholesterol and sugar levels

Keeping your heart healthy will also have other health benefits, such as helping reduce your risk of stroke and dementia.

Causes of coronary heart disease (CHD)

Coronary heart disease is the term that describes what happens when your heart’s blood supply is blocked or interrupted by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries.

Over time, the walls of your arteries can become furred up with fatty deposits. This process is known as atherosclerosis and the fatty deposits are called atheroma.

Atherosclerosis can be caused by lifestyle factors, such as smoking and regularly drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

You’re also more at risk of getting atherosclerosis if you have conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes.