Long Term Conditions
Private Services
Pregnancy & Babies
Search
Practice News
Keeping Healthy
Weight Management
If you are overweight and are struggling to get your weight down, then please speak to one of our doctors. We currently have limited spaces on a computer assisted weight loss programme. This will require regular attendances at our surgery to have an in depth consultation with our health care assistant. Together you will examine your calorie intake and energy output with the aim of achieving sustained weight loss.
Discounted Gym Membership
Currently, Bushey Grove Leisure Centre are offering certain discounts if you are referred by one of our clinicians to their gym. This only applies to certain medical conditions and you would need to speak to your doctor or nurse about this.
Additional Information
Have a look at this weight managment tool to see how you measure up.
What is a realistic weight goal?
If you have always been overweight, a realistic goal is to lose 5 to 10% of your current weight in around 6 months, and to keep it off for 2 or more years.
How can I lose weight?
The hardest part about losing weight is you have to stop dieting. Dieting means a temporary change in behaviour. You make the change, lose the weight, then stop the change and put the weight back on. If you want to lose weight you have to make changes that you can stick with almost all the time for the rest of your life.
If you are overweight, losing 5- 10% of your current weight can help improve your health in many ways
- Lowering high blood pressure
- Lowering blood sugar for people with diabetes
- Lowering 'bad' cholesterol (LDL)
- Raising 'good' cholesterol (HDL)
- Reducing lower back and joint pain
- Improving breathing ability
Family Tendency
Inherited behaviours: as children. An example is 'eat everything on your plate'. Because as children we want to please our parents (or get pudding), we learned to eat everything on our plate, hungry or not. Now, as adults, we carry on that habit without thinking
about it.
Genetics: if your parents are overweight, you do not have to be overweight, but you do have more chance of being overweight than someone with slim parents. Very few people have genetic diseases that make them overweight.
Try these interactive tools, tips and articles to discover more about a healthy diet and healthy weight. Find out what steps you can take to achieve your goals visit NHS Choices.
BDA Weightwise - This site offers practical solutions for losing weight
Teenweightwise - This site offers advice on healthy eating for teenagers.
Diet during pregancy from Food Standards Agency website eatwell - advice on what foods to eat, what to avoid, advice on supplements.
Health MOT
By having a Health MOT, it aims to help you lower your risk of four common, but often preventable diseases, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
If you'd like a Health MOT please book an appointment at a surgery of your choice.
For more information visit the NHS Choices website.
Health Checks
If you are aged between 16 and 74 and have not had a consultation with a GP within the last three years or are aged 75 or over and have not had a consultation within the last twelve months, you are entitled to attend the surgery for a check.
Blood Tests
To receive your blood test results you can telephone Bushey Health Centre on 0844 387 8633 in the afternoon between 1.00pm and 5.00pm
Please allow sufficient time for the results to be available before you enquire. If it is necessary to make an appointment to discuss the findings of a test result please try make it with the Doctor who arranged the tests.
A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory.
Blood tests are taken for many different reasons. For example, to:
- Help diagnose certain conditions, or to rule them out if symptoms suggest possible conditions.
- Monitor the activity and severity of certain conditions. For example, a blood test may help to see if a condition is responding to treatment.
- Check the body's functions such as liver and kidney function when you are taking certain medicines which may cause side-effects.
- Check your blood group before receiving a blood transfusion.
Information and advice on Blood Tests
Find out how is a blood test normally taken for both adults and children, visit NHS Choices.
Can I eat and drink before a blood test?
To find out visit NHS Choices.
Range of Blood tests
Find out the full range of blood tests visit NHS Choices.
Are there any complications from Blood Testing?
To find out more, visit NHS Choices.
Sexual Health
If you are worried that you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease, then please make an appointment with one of our doctors.
Our Doctors and nurses are able to test for all of the common sexually transmitted infections.
If you prefer, you could attend the Watford General Hospital Sexual Health Clinic. They offer a walk-in assessment service in the mornings, Monday- Friday.
Additional Information
Emergency contraception is available every day without an appointment, and is also available free of charge from local pharmacies.
Whole range of Contraception Services Offered Include:
- Coil & implant fitting
- Free Condoms
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
- Termination of Pregnancy counselling and referrals.
- Emergency contraception - available every day without an appointment, but other contraceptive services available by appointment.
- Confidential advice and information
For more information visit the following websites:
Family Planning Association: Sexual Health Advice
Immunisation
The Department of Health now recommends that people aged 65 and over, and younger people in the listed risk groups below should be vaccinated for influenza each year.
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Neurological and degenerative disease
They also recommend Pneumonia vaccination for all patients over 65 and younger people in certain at risk groups. This injection is a once-only dose of vaccine which can be given at the same time as the Influenza
For more information about immunisations visit NHS Choices.