Welcome to Luson Surgery. We hope you find this website both useful and informative and welcome any comments or suggestions about this site, or how it can be improved.
Unfortunately we have a COVID-19 outbreak in our surgery.
Please be advised that the number of sickness cases within our staff members continues to rise. Therefore we will only be seeing urgent cases over the next couple of days. We ask you to continue to be patient with us at this unprecedented time.
We have limited receptionist cover so you may be waiting longer than usual to speak to someone on the phone. Equally, we would like to avoid queues of patients within the surgery to try to limit the footfall and risk to our vulnerable patients.
Therefore, if your query is non-urgent, we urge you to please wait until next week to contact the surgery. For anything urgent, please contact the surgery as normal and we will speak to you as soon as we can. For any medical emergencies , please call 111 or 999.
Please remember to make use of the other NHS services available to you such as your local pharmacy for minor ailments and minor injuries units.
If you do visit the surgery, we encourage you to wear a face mask.
Thank you for your understanding and patience. Please support us in helping to protect our remaining work force and our patients.
We have made the decision to close our prescription line from the 4th April 2022 as we were one of the few remaining surgeries to offer one. We would encourage you to sign up for our Online Services and download the Patient Access App to order future repeat prescriptions. This is a much more secure way for our patients to order their repeat prescriptions. Please refrain from contacting the surgery regarding this.
Alternatively, you can download the NHS App via this link: NHS account - NHS (www.nhs.uk) to order your repeat prescriptions, request them directly from JHoots if this is your nominated surgery or complete a prescription slip and bring this to the surgery or take it to your pharmacy.
Somerset LMC Message to our patients – update on the COVID-19 booster programme:
Across Somerset the NHS and its partners are working extremely hard to roll out the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme to our communities.
All adults are eligible from Monday 13 December, and you will be able to book via the National Booking System from Wednesday 15 December.
You can book your booster for 3 months from the date of second vaccine, and you can access the National Booking System to book the appointment from 2 months.
We are working at pace to increase the availability of appointments so that there are plenty of options for people on the National Booking System. Some local vaccination services may will also contact patients directly.
New appointments are being added every day across our vaccination services. Further availability will come online from Wednesday 15 December.
All of these appointments will be added to the National Booking System and so we encourage everyone who is aged 18 and over, is yet to have their booster and who is approaching 3 months from your second vaccine to use the National Booking System to arrange your appointment when you are able to do so.
We understand our patients have many questions around their COVID-19 vaccinations. Please have a read of the below and click on the link from the Somerset CCG for all things COVID-19 vaccination related. Please do not contact the surgery as we are unable to book appointments directly for you.
Booster jabs
Please be advised that there are no drop-ins for booster vaccinations.
Booster vaccinations are only available for those who have received a letter or text inviting them to book, where it has been at least six months since their last COVID vaccination. This will include;
People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.
Patients do not need to contact the NHS to book their booster jab. Once they receive their invitation, they can go online to the National Booking Service to book their appointment.
North Petherton Rugby Club
North Petherton Rugby Club is no longer being used as a COVID-19 vaccination centre.
If patients are eligible to receive the COVID booster vaccination, they will receive an invitation to book at their nearest centre.
They do not need to return to the same vaccination centre for their booster or other COVID-19 vaccination
Yeovil Gateway Vaccination Centre
From the week starting 25 October, all appointments need to be booked - no walk-ins are being offered due to high demand. All appointments can be booked via the national booking system or 119.
Rollout of vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds at mass vaccination centres
Parents in Somerset are now able to book COVID-19 vaccinations for their 12-15-year-old children at mass vaccination centres in Somerset. This will provide a new option for parents who may want to get their child vaccinated during half term.
Letters are being sent to parents and guardians of children aged 12-15, as part of a national drive over the coming weeks inviting them to book the vaccine online or by calling 119 as the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme continues at pace.
Parents and carers will be able to go online and check the National Booking Service to see if their local site has appointments to book their child in for a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Covid-19 vaccinations in Somerset - Somerset CCG
COVID-19 Vaccinations Administered Abroad
Any patient who has received a dose abroad and can’t book their 2nd or 3rd dose via 119 can attend a walk-in centre via https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/. They will need to take evidence of their previous vaccinations administered abroad and there also needs to be six months since their second dose.
If you are an immunosuppressed patient calling about your third COVID-19 vaccine you will be contacted directly by Somerset Foundation Trust, despite the statement in an NHS England letter we are unable to book that appointment for you. Please do not contact the surgery for this purpose. Thank you for your understanding.
Luson Surgery wish to announce the departure of Dr Natalie Lister who will be leaving the Practice in early November. Dr Yates and Dr Awodiji are busily trying to recruit replacements for Dr Lister and also Dr Tyler who left the Practice in October. Their sessions will be covered by locum GPs in the short term. Please bear with us at this time.
UPDATE 01.11.21 - We have been successful in sourcing a new GP who will be joining the surgery in the New Year and we are currently, actively recruiting for another GP to join us in 2022.
Luson Surgery will be holding another flu clinic on 13th November. If you are yet to have received a vaccination and are entitled to one, please attend the clinic and we will be happy to support you.
A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests.
Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems, will still get one but where your clinician recommends that it’s safe to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.
Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.
If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally
From August 2021, we are pleased to be able to offer a Community Pharmacist Service for minor illnesses. This will help to reduce waiting times for our patients and enable our nurses and GPs to focus on more critical illnesses. To be referred to a Community Pharmacist, please speak with one of our Reception team.
Please be advised that the surgery is permitted by the Government to instigate our own policy following the Government announcement on 19th July 2021.
All patients attending the surgery will still be required to wear surgical face masks and maintain social distancing. Our procedures for managing the pandemic will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. This is to ensure both patients and staff members are protected and to ensure our service and level of care remains unaffected.
We do hope you understand the situation as the surgery has the health and wellbeing of patients and staff in mind. Any inappropriate behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated.
For the latest COVID 19 guidance please see here.
The Vaccination Centre at Wellington Community Hospital has now closed and we have now completed our local vaccination programme for people in cohorts 1-9.
All adults aged 18 and over are eligible to book a COVID vaccination – to book both first and second doses visit the National Booking Service online, download the NHS App or call 119. There are a wide range of locations available to choose across Somerset – there is no need to contact the surgery.
We would like to say a huge thank you to the hundreds of people who have supported our local COVID vaccination programme. We are so proud of each and every person who has given their time and energy to help us to run such a successful programme.
We thank our patients for their understanding and patience while we have provided both vaccination clinics and routine and urgent healthcare services.
There are a broad range of vaccination sites in Somerset on offer through the NBS including; large vaccination sites, GP-led community sites and an increasing number of new pharmacy-led sites. People can book both first and second doses in advance by calling 119 or visiting here.
Vaccinations also continue to be available for anyone in priority groups 1-12 who have not yet taken up the offer of a vaccine, by booking an appointment through the National Booking Service, or using one of the walk-in clinics.
All Somerset vaccination sites are following the latest JCVI preference to provide an alternative to the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for adults under the age of 39, without underlying health conditions.
For more information on the NHS vaccination in Somerset please see here.
If you have presented with COVID-19 symptoms, you may be asked to undertake regular Pulse Oximetry by your GP or Nurse Practitioner. This measures the oygen levels in your blood and your pulse rate over a period of time, to assist the clinician in monitoring your progress. The video lin below explains the process.
Please do NOT contact the surgery for a Vaccination Status certificate as we are unable to issue this certificate at the practice.
Please see here.
Proof of your vaccination status will be available on the NHSapp, which is also valuable for accessing your health records and ordering repeat prescriptions. The NHSapp can be downloaded from here for iPhone or here for android.
Alternatively you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine, the letter may to take up to 5 days to reach you.
Dear Patients
We have made the decision to continue to restrict access to the surgery to patients and limit face to face appointments.
We ask that you are patient with all members of our team who are still working under incredibly challenging conditions. The situation and associated guidance is changing rapidly so please bear with us. We appreciate that this is a time of great anxiety for everyone however, rudeness and abuse are not acceptable under any circumstances.
Thank you for your support and understanding.
The Partners at Luson Surgery
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the 'phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. Further information is shown below.
This new website Taunton Wellbeing Zone provides links to local and national support groups for a wide range of conditions. Access the sitevia the above link or through the Advice tab in the website Home Page, which also gives links to other services which may be useful.
Patients are able to view details of all coded entries and test results recorded in their medical record in addition to medications, allergies, ordering repeat medication and booking appointments with their GP on-line.
In order to access the system, patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website. If you already have online access but have yet to take advantage full access, you will need to visit the surgery, again bringing photo identification, to enable us to enhance your access.
At Luson Surgery, we have always operated a system of personal lists, where a patient is seen by their Usual GP. This GP will officially be your Named Accountable GP, and will remain ultimately responsible for your medical care. This does not stop you from seeing another GP when your GP is absent, as in such circumstances a duty GP is always available to you.
We were inspected on Wednesday 11th December 2019. The inspectors report can be viewed on-line at www.cqc.org.uk or by following the link on our website. A copy is available in reception at the surgery.
We want to have feedback from you. One simple measure of our service is whether you would recommend our surgery to your friends and family.
In the entrance hall at the surgery we have an iPad which can be used to give your assessment of the service we provide by telling us how strongly you would recommend us.
Alternatively, you can complete our online form.
We thank you for your feedback.
Monday | 8:30am - 6:30pm |
Tuesday | 8:30am - 6:30pm |
Wednesday | 8:30am - 6:30pm |
Thursday | 8:30am - 6:30pm |
Friday | 8:30am - 6:30pm |
Saturday | CLOSED |
Sunday | CLOSED |
When the Surgery is closed, in an emergency, telephone the Out of Hours service on 111 |
'Choose' Well by choosing the right service. Further details can be found on the Choose Well leaflet. The short video below is all about Choosing the Right Service.
PLEASE NOTE, THE BELOW APPOINTMENT GUIDELINES MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO COVID-19. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR RECEPTION STAFF.
Please ensure you wear an appropriate face covering before entering the surgery (in accordance with Government Guidelines). You may wear one of the following:
A medical mask (no material masks) or a visor if you are unable to wear a mask.
If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering, please contact reception prior to your appointment to discuss options available to you.
How to see your Doctor at the Surgery
At Home
Whenever possible patients should be seen at the surgery, which is fully equipped for examinations and diagnostic tests. If you think you may not be well enough to attend please phone to speak to a doctor, preferably before 10.30am. All visits are at the discretion of the GP.
Telephone Advice
Telephone advice is available from all members of the Practice team. If you particularly wish to speak to a doctor, the receptionist will advise you of the most suitable time to call.
Alternatively you can call NHS Direct on 111.
Out of Hours Service
(6.30pm - 8.00am)
This is strictly an emergency only service. If you require help ring the surgery number and listen carefully to the entire recorded message. You may phone the Out of Hours service direct on 111.
Improved Access Scheme
This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area. Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. Further information is shown below.
Luson Surgery will open on Monday and Thursday evenings.
If you are a patient aged 16 years or over, you can now book a routine 10 minute appointment with your GP using our internet booking service. Once registered for the internet service you can also order repeat prescription items.
If you haven't registered yet you will need to visit our reception desk to sign up for the service. You will need to do this yourself in person and bring with you some form of ID such as photo driving licence or passport.
You can register online by clicking the link below, but you will still need to come into the surgery with a form of ID to be able to complete the process and use the service.
Click below to use, or to register to use, the online service:
We have made the decision to close our prescription line from the 4th April 2022 as we were one of the few remaining surgeries to offer one. We would encourage you to sign up for our Online Services and download the Patient Access App to order future repeat prescriptions. This is a much more secure way for our patients to order their repeat prescriptions. Please refrain from contacting the surgery regarding this.
Alternatively, you can download the NHS App via this link: NHS account - NHS (www.nhs.uk) to order your repeat prescriptions, request them directly from JHoots if this is your nominated surgery or complete a prescription slip and bring this to the surgery or take it to your pharmacy.
If you are a patient aged 16 years or over, you can now order your repeat prescription using our internet booking service. Once registered for the internet service you can also book a routine appointment with your GP.
If you haven't registered yet you will need to visit our reception desk to sign up for the service. You will need to do this yourself in person and bring with you some form of ID such as photo driving licence or passport.
You can register online by clicking the link below, but you will still need to come into the surgery with a form of ID to be able to complete the process and use the service.
Click below use, or to register to use, the online service.
JHoots (Formally Lloyds) Pharmacy | ||
Address |
Luson Surgery, 41 Fore St, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8AG | |
Telephone | 01823 662446 / Fax 01823 662446 | |
Opening: | Monday to Friday | 9:00am to 6:30pm |
Saturday | Closed | |
Sunday | Closed | |
Non-dispensing | ||
Boots Pharmacy | ||
Address | Wellington Medical Centre, Mantle St, Wellington, TA21 8BD | |
Telephone | 01823 665366 / Fax 01823 665366 | |
Opening: | Monday to Friday | 8:30am to 1:00pm, 1:30pm to 6:00pm |
Saturday | 9:00am to 12:00pm | |
Sunday | Closed | |
Non- dispensing | 1:00pm to 1:30pm | |
Superdrug | ||
Address | 5 Fore Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8AA | |
Telephone | 01823 662492 / Fax 01823 662113 | |
Opening: | Monday to Friday | 9:00am to 12:30pm, 1:00pm to 5:30pm |
Saturday | 9:00am to 12:30pm, 1:00pm to 5:30pm | |
Sunday | Closed | |
Non-dispensing | 12:30pm to 1:00pm | |
Boots Pharmacy | ||
Address | 6 High Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8RA | |
Telephone | 01823 662170 / Fax 01823 665464 | |
Opening: | Monday to Friday | 9:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:30pm |
Saturday | 9:00am to 1:00pm, 2:00pm to 5:30pm | |
Sunday | Closed | |
Non-dispensing | 1:00pm to 2:00pm |
From April 2021 NHS Prescription charges are:
Further information about prescription charges and exemptions from charges.
The Low Calorie Diet Programme is open to all patients of Luson Surgery who qualify based on their medical needs. Your GP will be able to refer you if you qualify.
Maternity services are provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in Taunton in a number of locations. This including the main Musgrove Park maternity unit, Mary Stanley midwifery led birth unit at Bridgwater Community Hospital and in your own home throughout the local community. The maternity services provides care for over 3,200 births per year.
If you are pregnant you can refer yourself to maternity services by filling out the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust online form here.
Once you have completed their online form, your referral will be processed by the maternity admin team and may take up to 5 days to be processed. Your details will then be passed onto one of the midwives who will look after you. For further information, please see the Self Referral Frequently Asked Questions.
From August 2021, we are pleased to be able to offer a Community Pharmacist Service for minor illnesses. This will help to reduce waiting times for our patients and enable our nurses and GPs to focus on more critical illnesses. To be referred to a Community Pharmacist, please speak with one of our Reception team.
Whether you are at home or work you can quickly log on to view, book and cancel appointments and order repeat prescriptions via Patient Access. Available 24 hours a day, it's especially useful when the practice is closed or telephone lines are busy.
In the Daytime between 8:00am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday (Excluding Public Holidays) please phone the surgery number: 01823 662836.
After 6:30pm and before 8:00am, Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays emergency out of hours and night cover is provided by Somerset Out-of-Hours Medical Service on 111.
If you need to be seen by a doctor you may be asked to go to the Primary Care Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital.
If you are too unwell to attend, you may be visited at home.
If you need urgent medical assistance please phone: 111.
If you require general medical advice you can telephone NHS 111 24 hours a day on 111 or visit the NHS 111 website.
We are not an emergency service but do try to offer advice as available
When it comes to your health or the health of someone in your family, it is often very obvious if the person is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care. An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation. Please see NHS.uk for further information.
We have also prepared an emergency ambulance check-list (see below).
RING 999 for an Ambulance if you answer YES to any of the questions below:
If you require help ring the surgery number and listen carefully to the entire recorded message. You may phone the Out of Hours service direct on 111, or access the NHS 111 website.
If broken bones or other significant injuries are suspected you should go directly to Casualty at Musgrove Park Hospital.
Our respiratory nurse Sarah Merry holds clinics every Tuesday & Thursday afternoon for patients with respiratory problems, including Asthma & COPD. Advice from the practice nurses or GPs may be obtained at any time by appointment or by telephone.
Charlotte Bailey is the practice diabetes nurse, and all patients suffering from diabetes are invited to attend for regular reviews at her clinic, which runs every Tuesday morning. Advice from the practice nurses or GPs may be obtained at any time by appointment or by telephone.
Cervical smears are usually arranged with a practice nurse. Clinics are run each Monday to Wednesday afternoons, but appointments can be made at other times if this is not convenient. In conjunction with the Somerset PCT we operate a computerised system to call women between the ages of 24 and 49 for a smear every three years and women between 50 and 64 every five years.
Assessment, and advice is carried out by both doctors and health visitors. The key checks are as follows:
Your health visitor will advise you about further routine checks.
Clinics for school-leavers, pre-school children and babies are currently held on the afternoon of the 3rd Thursday on each month.
You will receive notification of an appointment direct from the health authority. Please bring with you to the appointment your Personal Child Health Record (red booklet), your appointment card and your signed consent form.
If you are unable to keep the appointment please let reception know in good time beforehand.
Further information is shown on the Immunisations page (see below).
Up to date information on child and other immunisations is also available at the NHS.uk website.
Our in-house counselling service is provided by Somerset Emotional Health & Wellbeing Service. If you need the services of a counsellor please discuss this with your doctor.
We offer a complete service during routine appointments with your doctor. This includes arranging for the fitting of intra-uterine contraceptive devices.
Emergency and confidential advice is available at all times.
We are able to arrange most vaccinations required for foreign travel. Please consult the practice sufficiently early. Some travel vaccinations and disease prophylaxis is not free of charge under the NHS. Please contact the surgery for a list of up-to-date fees.
We need at least six weeks' notice prior to departure in order to allow an appropriate interval between vaccinations if needed, and ensure that you are offered appropriate advice.
Please note that although many travel vaccinations are available from the surgery, some drugs such as for malaria prophylaxis have to be purchased by the patient from a pharmacist (some on a private prescription).
Our practice nurses will give advice where required.
See the Holiday travel page below.
Various members of the primary health care team are involved in aspects of health promotion.
Topics covered Include:
A flu vaccination programme is undertaken between October and December each year. Patients aged 65 or over or those of any age suffering from a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, renal disease, or immmunosuppression are encouraged to attend for an annual vaccination.
Flu clinics will be advertised nearer the time and invitations sent out where appropriate. Special arrangements are made for those in nursing or long-stay residential homes.
Pneumococcal immunisation is recommended for children as part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule. A single dose is also recommended for adults aged 65 and over. Pneumococcal immunisation is also recommended for children and adults of any age who have certain diseases that put them at risk, e.g., asplenia or splenic dysfunction.
Doctors see patients for antenatal care during normal surgery appointment times.
An antenatal clinic is held by the midwifes regularly. Please contact reception for details and leaflet.
Postnatal and 6 week baby checks are carried out by the GPs at the surgery.
Our treatment room is fully equipped for minor procedures carried out under a local anaesthetic. Your own doctor will arrange minor surgery for you if required.
The practice also provides the following:
Genita-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics provide free testing & treatment. These are held at:
Musgrove Park Hospital:
Yeovil District Hospital :
Bath Royal United Hospital:
Ask at reception for a copy of the Sex Directory-giving full details of all sexual health services in Somerset.
Staff are able to advise you whether a result is normal or whether you should consult your doctor.
Please telephone reception between 2:00pm and 4:00pm for results.
All laboratory tests results are dealt with in strictest confidence. Please note; it is the patient's responsibility to ring in for or follow up their results.
We are able to arrange most vaccinations required for foreign travel. Please consult the practice sufficiently early.
We usually need at six weeks prior to departure to allow an appropriate interval between vaccinations if needed, and ensure that you are offered appropriate advice.
Please note that, although most NHS travel vaccinations are available from the surgery, some drugs such as for malaria prophylaxis have to be purchased by the patient from a pharmacist (some on a private prescription). Please note that not all vaccinations including drugs for prophylaxis of infections when travelling are not free of charge on the NHS. Any vaccines that are not available on the NHS will need to be discussed at a Travel Clinic.
Please call reception to make an appointment with one of our practice nurses.
Please ensure you complete this travel questionnaire and then either email it to or drop it into the surgery prior to your booked appointment with the nurse.
Fit for Travel - a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK
Foreign and Commenwealth Office
NHS Immunisation - the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.
Patients requiring travel immunisations at less than six weeks notice are advised to check with the surgery whether a short notice appointment is available but must be prepared to contact one of the organisations currently providing a private commercial service if we cannot meet your requirement in time:
Summary: We normally require six weeks notice for travel immunisations. If you are unable to give six weeks notice you may wish to check whether we have a short notice cancellation but should be prepared to arrange your immunisations through a private clinic if no appointment is available.
This practice follows the national policy for childhood immunisation. Further information can be found on the NHS Immunisation Schedule website.
Cervical Cancer can be caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18- recently the HPV vaccination has been introduced into the schedule for girls aged 12 to 13.
Up to date details on the current range of Meningitis vaccinations.
Tetanus & Polio
Protection against tetanus and polio should be kept up to date. A full primary course with a booster at 15 years of age should be followed by at least two boosters at 10 year intervals to protect throughout life.
Influenza
Annual protection against influenza is offered to patients aged 65 and over and those at high risk, e.g., with chronic heart, chest and breathing disorders, and diabetes.
Notice of this coming winter's Flu Vaccination Programme will appear here and also in our Latest News section.
The practice nurses will give advice on foreign travel and any other immunisations required.
A minimum of six weeks notice is required. If you are unable to give this, you may wish to check whether we have an available appointment. If the nurses are fully booked you should be prepared to arrange your immunisation through a private travel clinic.
Details can be found on the holiday travel page.
Fit for Travel - a public access website provided by the NHS (Scotland). It gives travel health information for people travelling abroad from the UK
Foreign and Commenwealth Office
NHS Immunisation - the most comprehensive, up-to-date and accurate source of information on vaccines, disease and immunisation in the UK.
The doctors are in general partnership to provide general medical services, maternity care and family planning, minor surgery, child health surveillance, physiotherapy, counselling, school nurse, insurance and employment medicals.
Care of patients at Wellington Cottage Hospital
Dr Yates and Dr Awodiji are School Doctors for Wellington School.
Details of primary medical services provided in the area may be obtained from;
Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
Wynford House
Lufton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 8HR
Tel: 01935 384000
All children should commence the immunisation programme from two months old. You will receive invitations to attend our child clinics. For detailed information regarding childhood vaccinations, please see our Immunisations section.
Women between the ages of 25 to 65 will receive an invitation for a cervical smear test. This procedure should be performed routinely at three to five year intervals depending on age. Smears will be done more frequently where necessary.
A full range of family planning is available at the surgery, including coil and implant fitting and removal as well as advice on safe sex.
Free NHS Health Checks are available for patients between the ages of 40 - 74 who do not have a pre-existing condition. This involves an assessment of your risks for developing heart disease and a simple examination, e.g., blood pressure, urine check and cholesterol level. This is particularly important if you smoke, or have a family history of coronary heart disease at an early age (less than 60 years). The service is provided by Somerset County Council, and will give advice and follow-up support on giving up smoking, losing weight, lowering your cholesterol levels and following a healthy lifestyle. Appointments can be booked at the Somerset Health Checks website.
Annual protection against influenza is offered to senior citizens and those at high risk, e.g., with chronic heart, chest, some breathing disorders, and diabetes.
Women aged 50 to 70 years will be offered a mammogram every three years, please discuss with your nurse or doctor.
Pre-pregnancy advice is offered by the doctors and midwife for those thinking of becoming pregnant. It is essential that you stop smoking, reduce your alcohol intake to a minimum, ensure an adequate daily intake of the vitamin folic acid in your diet, and check with your doctor about any medication you are taking. As a general rule don't take any drugs, including those bought over the counter, in pregnancy, unless advised by your doctor. All pregnant women should attend the antenatal clinic as soon as possible.
Protection against tetanus and polio should be kept up to date. A full primary course with a booster at 15 should be followed by at least two boosters at 10 year intervals to protect throughout life.
Please visit Fit for Travel. Our Practice Nurses are able to give NHS vaccinations. For further information regarding Travel Immunisations, please see our Holiday Travel section.
Samaritans | ||
Samaritans are available round the clock, every single day of the year. Talk to them any time you like, in your own way, about whatever’s getting to you. Calls are free and won’t show on your bill. | ||
Telephone 116 123 | Samaritans website | |
Childline | ||
Whatever your worry - it's better out than in. | ||
Telephone 0800 1111 (Call Free) | Childline website | |
NCH Support Workers | ||
Practical help and information for 11 - 18 years olds in Somerset | ||
Taunton Telephone | 01823 256969 | |
Bridgwater Telephone | 01278 429273 | |
Yeovil Telephone | 01935 474973 | |
Frome Telephone | 01373 451307 | |
Somerset Eating Disorders Association | ||
Beat is the leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. | ||
Telephone 01458 448600 | Beat Website | |
Victim Support | ||
Advice service for victims of crime including sex crimes. | ||
Telephone 0808 168 9111 (Call Free) | Victim Support website | |
Frank | ||
Information, help & advice on any drug related issue | ||
Telephone 0800 776600 (Call Free) | Talk to Frank website | |
NHS Smokefree | ||
Support on how to stop smoking | ||
NHS Smoke Free website | ||
On the Level | ||
Somerset service for under 18's wanting help with drug & alcohol use | ||
Telephone 01749 836727 |
Somerset Wide Integrated Sexual Health Service | ||
Provides a ‘one stop shop’ which offers free and open-access to contraceptive and sexual health services to support healthy sexual and reproductive choices. | ||
Telephone 0300 124 5010 | Swish Services website | |
Sexually Transmitted Infections | ||
Genita-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinics provide free testing & treatment | ||
Taunton (Appts) Telephone | 01823 252222 | |
Health Advisor Telephone | 01823 332182 | |
Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service | ||
Free services, including young people's clinics across Somerset | ||
Telephone 01823 364940 | ||
Emergency Contraception | ||
You have 3 days in which to act to try and prevent a pregnancy.
Help is available from any GP who provides contraceptive services or from Contraceptive and Sexual Health Service (see above). During Bank Holidays emergency contraception may be obtained through Accident & Emergency Depts. |
Compass Carers is a dedicated support service for carers across Somerset. We offer FREE information, advice and guidance as well as emotional support, signposting, training, and a telephone support service for un-paid carers. Please call us on 01823 255911.
For 24 hours General Medical Advice telephone 111 or visit the NHS111 website.
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NHS Health A-Z | |
Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods. Information on how the health and social care system works. Sign posting you to the most appropriate service/s. |
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HANDi Paediatric app | |
Download the free HANDi Paediatric app for expert advice, support and guidance on common childhood illnesses. The app has been designed as a way to reduce the number of children and young people who visit A&E but need no treatment. |
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Contraception - Know Your Options | |
Don't want to think about contraception everyday or every time you have sex? Click the image left or title above for further information. |
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Taunton Well Being Zone | |
Taunton Deane Symphony Service is based in 12 surgeries across the Taunton and Surrounding areas. Our Wellbeing advisors are there to listen to your health and wellbeing story and support, signpost and nurture you to help you achieve your wishes. |
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Healthier together | |
Healthier Together has been developed for parents and healthcare staff which focus on children aged under 5 years. APPs for iPhone or Android smartphones are available |
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NHS Tools, Apps and Podcasts | |
A wide range of NHS approved healthcare apps to help you monitor your conditions or achieve your goals. for example fitness, smoking, alcohol, weight loss, pregnancy, depression, blood pressure, sexual health, etc. |
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Patient | |
Advice and Guidance on 100+ most common conditions. This site clearly explains symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, complications and preventative methods.
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Self help connect uk | |
National self help forum support groups
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Self help Forum | |
The Self Care Forum aims to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life. Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness. |
A selection of self-help advice is provided below.
Please visit our PCN Health Information pages for more extensive advice and videos.
At Patient UK you can also Search over 500 Patient Information Leaflets as well as details of 2000+self-help/patient support groups and similar organisations.
• Back pain causes 13 million working days to be lost in Britain each year.
• Symptoms usually respond to 24 hours rest lying on a firm bed followed by gentle exercise and return to normal activities.
• Paracetamol or Ibuprofen will help to relieve pain and local heat from a hot water bottle may also help.
• Avoid straining your back while exercising and take great care with lifting even when the pain has subsided
• When sitting, an upright chair with support for the small of the back lessens strain on the spine.
• If the pain does not start to improve within a few days, then consult your doctor for advice.
• Most need no treatment.
• Anti-histamine tablets and/or cream can be obtained from the chemist without prescriptions and will relieve most symptoms.
• Apply large quantities of cold water to the affected area as soon as possible and continue until the pain subsides: but running cold water is the most effective.
• This may take some time. If the skin is unbroken but blisters, apply a loose dry dressing.
• If the burn is larger than 10cm (4 inches) in diameter or if the skin is broken, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
• Do not use creams such as Germoline or Savlon
• On the first day a rash appears with small red spots.
• Within a few hours these develop small blisters at the centre.
• Over the next 3 or 4 days further spots will appear and the earlier ones will turn crusty and fall off.
• Calamine lotion will soothe the itching and cool baths may help.
• The most infectious period is 2 or 3 days before the rash appears and until the last crusts have formed dry centres, usually 7-10 days after the onset of the rash.
• Children may return to school as soon as the last crusts have dropped off.
• The incubation period of chicken pox is 14-21 days.
• These usually start with a runny nose, cough, temperature and muscular aches.
• They are usually caused by viruses for which antibiotics will have no effect.
• Paracetamol helps the temperature and aches whilst decongestants and throat lozenges may also help to relieve symptoms.
• It is important to drink plenty of fluid, but do not worry if you do not eat for a few days - you will come to no harm
• However no more than eight paracetamols should be taken within any 24 hours
• In adults and older children, diarrhoea and vomiting is usually caused by a virus.
• Treatment consists of replacing fluid lost with small amounts of water, or fizzy lemonade taken frequently and not eating for 24 hours.
• If the diarrhoea contains blood, if there is severe pain or high fever you should consult your doctor.
• Diarrhoea and vomiting in small babies and young children should be treated with caution and your doctor will be happy to advise you over the phone and arrange to see you if necessary.
• Elderly people and those with medical conditions (e.g. diabetes) should consult a doctor.
• Women taking the oral contraceptive pill may need to take extra precautions.
• These creatures prefer clean hair and are not a sign of poor hygiene.
• Daily combing with a fine tooth comb after application of conditioner is also effective
• This is an infection of the covering of the brain and the most serious from is caused by the meningococcus bacteria and requires urgent medical attention.
• Warning signs include a "blood spot" rash that does not blanch under pressure, and neck stiffness.
• In infants there may be drowsiness, change in the cry, irritability, fever, diarrhoea or vomiting.
• In adults, as well as neck stiffness and rash there may be high temperature, vomiting, headache and back or joint pains
For more detailed information visit the Meningitis Now website.
Blanch = press the side of a clear drinking glass onto the rash or bruises and checking that they fade.
• Sit in a chair (leaning forward with your mouth open) and pinch your nose just below the bone for 10 minutes, by which time the bleeding should have stopped.
• If the bleeding continues or if your are taking blood-thinning tablets (anticoagulants): consult your doctor.
• Avoid blowing your nose for 48 hours and hot food and drink for 24 hours.
• Apply a cold compress (e.g. a packet of frozen peas wrapped in a wet tea towel) to reduce swelling: then apply a firm crepe bandage and give the sprain plenty of rest until the discomfort has subsided.
• Try to prevent this by avoiding exposure to the sun in the heat of the day and using sun screens.
• Treat sunburn by cooling the skin with cool water or calamine lotion and take Paracetamol or anti-histamine tablets as necessary.
• A raised temperature occurs commonly even with mild infections.
• In small children it is important to stop the temperature rising too quickly and they should be given Paracetamol syrup which may be bought from the chemist.
• If they are still feverish they should be gently sponged with tepid water as in a bath or shower to cool them (this may take up to 20 minutes)
• If a temperature is very high and does not come down with this treatment or the child appears very unwell you should consult your doctor.
• A child or adult with a temperature will not come to any harm being brought by car or by pram to the surgery.
Below is a list of useful medicines and dressings. It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions so you know how much medicine to take or to give to children, and how often to give it. If you're not sure, get advice from your pharmacist, GP or Health Visitor.
Never give the medicine more often than recommended, and don't give any more than the stated dose.
Keep all medicines locked-up and out of the reach of children.
Paracetamol: Good for headaches, colds, sore throats and painful bruises.
Paracetamol Mixture: For relief of pain or fever in young children.
Sedative Cough Linctus: For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.
Menthol Crystals: Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.
Vapour Rub: Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.
Antiseptic Solution: One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.
Antiseptic Cream: For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.
Calamine Lotion: For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites and stings and sunburn.
Dressing Strips: For minor cuts.
3" Wide Crepe Bandage: To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.
Gauze Squares: For cleaning cuts and grazes.
Thermometer: For fevers.
To search for local NHS Services, click here
NHS Dietitians in Somerset have developed useful webinars to provide accurate informaion to patients. To access these, visit https://patientwebinars.co.uk/
Luson Surgery | |
Acute Emergency | 01823 662836 or 999 |
Appointments & Enquiries | 01823 662836 |
Appointment Cancellations | 01823 662836 |
District Nurses | 01823 667049 |
Emergencies - out of hours | 111 |
Health Visitors |
01823 665551 |
Repeat Prescriptions (between 9.00 -13.00 Mon - Fri) | 01823 662836 Option 2 |
Community Midwife answerphone | 01823 343586 |
NHS Direct Advice Line | 111 |
General Help | |
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) | 01179 265520 |
Age Concern | 0800 009966 |
AIDS - National Helpline | 0800 567123 |
Diabetes UK | 0171 323-1531 |
EMERGENCY DENTAL HELPLINE | 0845 769691 |
Carer's National Association | 0171 490-8818 |
PALS officer Somerset PCT | 0800 0851067 |
SignPosts | 0800 317220 |
Care-Direct (adult self referral) | 0845 3459133 |
Taunton Samaritans | 01823 116123 |
Hospitals | |
Bath Royal United Hospital | 01225 428331 |
Bristol Royal Infirmary | 01179 230000 |
Frenchay Hospital | 01179 701212 |
Weston General Hospital | 01934 636363 |
Musgrove Park Hospital | 01823 333444 |
Shepton Mallet Treatment Centre | 01749 333600 |
West Mendip Hospital | 01458 836450 |
St Margaret's Hospice | 01823 259394 |
Somerset Nuffield Hospital | 01823 286991 |
Southmead Hospital | 01179 505050 |
Yeovil District Hospital | 01935 475122 |
We are pleased to accept registration requests from patients who are living within the area indicated in the map below:
Please see our practice boundary and check your postcode is within our catchment area.
To register as a new patient please call at reception, preferably with your medical card, to complete the necessary forms. Please note that you will need to bring ID (preferably photo ID) & proof of address with you. If you are an adult registering with a the NHS for the first time, you will need to bring evidence of your entitlement.
Registration will be with the practice and not a specific GP, although you will be allocated to the list of one of the GPs as your usual GP, who will be responsible for your ongoing care.
You have the right to express a preference to see a particular GP, which will be entered on your record.
If you are in the area for a short time and require medical treatment you are able to register with this practice as a temporary resident. This gives you the same access to general medical services as registered patients but either for a period of 24 hours up to 15 days, or between 15 days and three months. If you are going to be in the area for longer than three months you should register fully with a GP.
If you are registered with another practice locally it is essential that you to attend your own practice where your medical notes are available.
People from abroad are eligible for free treatment on the NHS in the case of an emergency. Broadly, this means that if, in the opinion of the GP, your condition requires emergency treatment you will not be charged for a consultation with the GP.
If you require treatment or medication for a pre-existing condition you will be charged a fee, which then should be claimed back via your insurance company.
Please note that these conditions also apply to British nationals living abroad.
If you are in the area for less than 24 hours and have an accident you can receive emergency treatment at this practice.
Please note that the surgery is not a casualty department and if it is thought that an X-ray is required the patient should be taken straight to hospital. The nearest casualty department to Wellington is Musgrove Hospital in Taunton.
It is important that we find out what you think of us, and how we can improve or develop services that are appropriate to meet patient needs. Occasionally we would like to have a group of patients to approach for their thoughts regarding proposed changes in service.
This will usually be done via email, but if you don’t have e-mail we can contact you by post. We will either send you a survey form for you to complete or other information on which we would welcome your thoughts. We will not ask you to comment on a service that you have not experienced, and will not ask for your comment more than 3 times in a 12 month period.
If you are interested in helping us, commenting on services that you have experienced please complete a registration form available from reception or download a copy of the enrolement form which you can fill out and either post or bring into reception.
From April 2015 we have established a Patient Participation Group. This group will meet at regular intervals to discuss aspects of primary health care, including the service provided by the practice, and may be asked by Somerset CCG to provide input into the development of new services in Somerset. We are currently looking for applicants aged 50 or below, to ensure the mix of patients on our PPG better reflects or practice population. Applications to be included in this group should be made on the same registration form used for the Virtual Group (see above), but clearly marked PPG.
For up-to-date information regarding Luson Surgery and to download our Practice Leaflet, please click here
Every patient has the right to make a complaint about the treatment or care they have received at Luson Surgery. We understand that we may not always get everything right and by telling us about the problem you have encountered, we will be able to improve our services and patient experience.
The time constraint on bringing a complaint is 12 months from the occurrence giving rise to the complaint. Or, 12 months from the time you became aware of the matter about which you wish to complain. The Practice Manager will respond to all complaints within 3 business days from receipt. Furthermore, they will provide you with regular updates regarding your complaint whilst aiming to have your complaint resolved within 40 days.
Most complaints can be resolved at a local level. Please speak to a member of staff if you have a complaint. All our staff members are trained to handle complaints effectively. Alternatively, please ask to speak to the Practice Manager (Lizzie Guttridge). A complaint can be made either verbally or in writing. Should you wish to complain in writing, please email or post us your complaint.
Luson Surgery will investigate all complaints effectively and in conjunction with extant legislation and guidance.
Luson Surgery will ensure that all complaints are investigated with the utmost confidentiality and any documents are held separately from the patient’s healthcare record.
Luson Surgery will issue a final formal response to all complainants which will provide full details and the outcome of the complaint.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you may seek further guidance from: NHS England PO BOX 16738 Redditch B97 9PT 0300 311 2233
Or, alternatively complain to: The Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman Milbank Tower Milbank London SW19 4QP 0345 015 4033 www.ombudsman.org.uk
Luson Surgery 41 Fore Street Wellington Somerset TA21 8AG
Telephone: 01823 662836
To download this information in a Leaflet, please click here.
We are pleased to welcome Dr Takudzwa Chinomona to our practice from March 2022. Dr Chinomona will be working Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Dr Lister left Luson Surgery on the 17th November 2021
Dr Tyler left Luson Surgery on the 30th September 2021
Please be advised that the surgery is permitted by the Government to instigate our own policy following the Government announcement on 19th July 2021.
All patients attending the surgery will still be required to wear surgical face masks and maintain social distancing. Our procedures for managing the pandemic will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. This is to ensure both patients and staff members are protected and to ensure our service and level of care remains unaffected.
We do hope you understand the situation as the surgery has the health and wellbeing of patients and staff in mind. Any inappropriate behaviour towards our staff will not be tolerated.
Please see the latest COVID 19 guidance here.
Lizzie joined the practice in January 2021 and has stepped into the role of Practice Manager. She is highly experienced in management and leadership and works full time, Monday to Friday.
After a couple of decades dedicating himself to the surgery, we said farewell to Martin Ellacott (former Practice Manager of Luson Surgery) in January 2021. His successor, Lizzie Guttridge stepped into the role in January.
We are pleased to welcome Dr Tyler who will be joining us from 1st October 2020 as a GP Partner. Dr Tyler is an experienced GP who has worked at other surgeries in Somerset, and will initially work at the practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
After over 29 years service, Dr Crabtree has retired as a partner at Luson Surgery. We anticipate having a replacement GP in place in the new year. In the meantime Dr Crabtree's patients will be able to see any of the other GPs when necessary.
We wish Dr Crabtree a long and happy retirement.
Patients are now able to view details of all coded entries and test results recorded in their medical record in addition to medications, allergies, ordering repeat medication and booking appointments with their GP on-line.
In order to access the system, patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website. If you already have access and would like to take advantage of this enhancement, you will need to visit the surgery, againing bringing photo identification, to enable us to enhance your access.
We have put together a statement of the core values by which we run the practice. These values are also displayed in the practice.
From 12th May 2015 prescriptions can be sent electronically, direct to the Pharmacy of your choice, without the need for you to collect a signed form from the surgery. If you already have an arrangement with a Pharmacy to collect your prescriptions from the surgery, please ask us to update your records. If not then ask at your Pharmacy, and they will sign you up for the service, which will save time for both you and us.
Patients are now able to view details of all medications and allergies recorded in their medical record in addition to ordering repeat medication and booking appointments with their GP on-line.
In order to access the system patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website.
Following the departure of Maggie Leyden after many years of service, our weekly blood clinics will in future be run by Wendy Bass on Wednesday morning.
Patients are now able to order repeat medication and book appointments with their GP on-line. In order to access the system patients will need to visit the surgery, bringing photo identification, to obtain a password to allow registration on the website.
Dr Rachel E M YatesMBChB DFFP DRCOG MRCGP Qualified: Sheffield 1995 |
Surgery Hours | |||
Monday AM | Out | Monday PM | Out |
Tuesday AM | In | Tuesday PM | In |
Wednesday AM | In | Wednesday PM | In |
Thursday AM | Out | Thursday PM | Out |
Friday AM | In | Friday PM | In |
Surgery Hours may vary
Dr Adedayo A AwodijiMBBS MRCGP DRCOG DFFP Qualified: Lagos 1998 |
Surgery Hours | |||
Monday AM | In | Monday PM | In |
Tuesday AM | In | Tuesday PM | In |
Wednesday AM | In | Wednesday PM | In |
Thursday AM | In | Thursday PM | In |
Friday AM | Out | Friday PM | Out |
Surgery Hours may vary
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Dr Takudzwa Chinomona
|
Surgery Hours | |||
Monday AM | In | Monday PM | In |
Tuesday AM | Out | Tuesday PM | Out |
Wednesday AM | Out | Wednesday PM | Out |
Thursday AM | In | Thursday PM | In |
Friday AM | In | Friday PM | In |
Surgery Hours may vary
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Dr Sarah Regan
|
Surgery Hours | |||
Monday AM | In | Monday PM | Out |
Tuesday AM | Out | Tuesday PM | Out |
Wednesday AM | In | Wednesday PM | Out |
Thursday AM | Out | Thursday PM | Out |
Friday AM | In | Friday PM | Out |
Surgery Hours may vary
A Clinical pharmacist is a highly qualified health professional who trains for many years to become specialist in medicines. Clinical pharmacist role in general practice is to ensure that the medications prescribed for patients contribute to the best possible health outcomes.
Our clinical pharmacist role includes:
Running a High Blood Pressure clinic (the purpose of this clinic is to provide support and information for patients suffering from high blood pressure, which includes analysing blood pressure readings, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and advice on lifestyle changes).
Conducting annual medication reviews
Providing information and advice about medications (side effects, interactions etc.)
Dealing with prescription queries
Implementing medication changes after hospital discharge
Meet our Clinical Pharmacists:
Monika Zac
Kris Zieba
Practice nurses may be seen by appointment in our well-equipped Treatment Room.
They are able to provide a number of services including:
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If you have any comments or concerns regarding the services provided by the practice, including opening times and appointment availability, then our Practice Manager, Lizzie Guttridge will be pleased to hear from you. |
We are a very busy surgery taking over 950 calls and scheduling over 675 appointments each week. In addition to our doctors and nurses your visits are supported by other members of staff in the reception and office areas.
Our reception team book appointments with the doctors and practice nurses and will do their best to answer any queries that you may have. Sometimes they may have to ask you for further details in order to assess how best to help you. Please help them by being as concise as you can about your requirements. All our surgery Staff will respect your privacy and are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the doctors and nurses.
The reception team also run our repeat prescription lines which open from 9am to 1pm on 01823 669719.
Our secretaries provide the secretarial back-up for the doctors as well as maintaining over 5900 medical records. There may be occasions when they are able to answer your query on referrals or hospital admissions without your needing to speak to the doctor.
Counselling is available through the surgery for a range of presenting issues, including loss, depression, anxiety, difficulties or breakdown in relationship, problems at work, trauma, distressing childhood memories, support at times of crisis, self esteem.
Counselling can help bring relief when life situations threaten to overwhelm the individual. Increased understanding of our experience, values, motivation and behaviour can increase choice and peace of mind.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and usually for a maximum duration of six. Counselling is confidential within certain limits that will be explained to you.
Our counselling service is provided by Somerset Emotional Health & Well-being Service.
If you would like to receive counselling or arrange an appointment to talk to our counsellor further about the process, please ask your GP for a referral.
The Doctors and Community Midwives provide a comprehensive ante-natal service to patients of the practice. Our Community Midwife Rebecca White works from the practice, and runs ante-natal clinics on Friday mornings.
Patients can make their initial contact with a midwife by completing the Self-Referral form using the link below.
If you have not been contacted by a midwife more than 2 weeks after submitting your self referral form, our require support to complete the form, please call 01823 343321
The Community Nursing team offers a 24-hour service to housebound patients needing nursing care. The team attached to Luson Surgery, led by Frances Brice, work closely with the Doctors to provide co-ordinated patient care. The team may be contacted directly on 0300 124 5606.
Our Health Visitors, Clare Sibley and Sandra Leigh are available at the surgery. If you wish to discuss a problem with them phone 01823 665551 or call in at the surgery. Our Health Visitors take a special interest in the under fives.
GP Salaries
All GP practices are required by NHS England to declare the mean earnings (i.e. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice. However it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, nor to make any comparison with any other practice.
The average pay for GPs working in Luson Surgery in the last financial year (2019-20) was £68,953 before tax and national insurance.
This is for 1 full-time GP and 4 part-time GPs.
Conflicts of Interest
Each of the GPs, Prescribing Nurses and Practice Management have made a declaration that they have no conflicts of interest in carrying out their duties within the practice.
Luson Surgery is a shareholder in Somerset Primary Health Ltd, a company established jointly by GP practices in Somerset to undertake joint working and commissioning.
It is not possible to provide all services under the National Health Service. The following table shows a selection of private fees and the services for which you may have to pay. Other Non-NHS services may incur charges. Please ask at reception for details. If you have any concerns about the fee involved, please discuss this with your doctor prior to requesting the service. |
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Certificates and Forms | |
Private sicknote or incapacity certificate | £30.00 |
Private prescription | £18.00 |
Vaccination certificates | £18.00 |
Freedom from infection certificate | £30.00 |
Insurance certificate of incapacity | £30.00 |
Fitness letter by GP | £30.00 |
Letter by GP (no examination) | £30.00 |
Shotgun license | £30.00 |
Driving Licence form / photograph | £20.00 |
Passport form / photograph | £20.00 |
Short Reports | |
Provident association claim form (BUPA/PPP) |
£30 - £60
|
School fees insurance claim form | £30 - £60 |
Sickness / accident benefit claim form | £30 - £60 |
Sickness / accident short certificate without exam |
£30 - £60
|
|
|
Medical Examination and Reports | |
Comprehensive report and opinion (with examination) | £216 |
Detailed written report and opinion (no examination) | £133 |
HGV LGV PCV Medical examination & report | £108 |
Motor sport medical | £65 |
Mental health assessment & report | Price as per invoice |
Adoption medical (form AH) | £88.63 |
Offstead medical report | Price as per invoice |
Taxi medical report | £65 |
Pro forma report (20 mins) |
£89.50
|
Extract from records (15 mins) including letter |
£67
|
Travel | |
Course of vaccinations for travel abroad (non-NHS), plus cost of vaccine | £50 |
Cholera vaccination (full course - 2 vaccinations) | £45 |
Hepatitis B (for occupational health) - to be paid by employer (including test) | £160 |
Hepatitis B (for travel) - (single vaccination or booster £35) | £120 |
Japanese Encephalitis vaccination | £175 |
Meningitis ACWY vaccination | £40 |
Rabies vaccination (full course - 3 vaccinations) | £190 |
Yellow Fever vaccination | £75 |
Fitness to travel certificate | £36 |
Holiday cancellation certificate | £30-£60 |
We want to have feedback from you. One simple measure of our service is whether you would recommend our surgery to your friends and family.
In the entrance hall at the surgery we have an iPad which can be used to give your assessment of the service we provide by telling us how strongly you would recommend us.
Alternatively, you can complete our online form.
We thank you for your feedback.
When attending the doctor or nurse for some examinations or tests you may prefer to have
a chaperone present.
Please ask if you would like a chaperone.
We can give you the following choices;
We ask you for personal information so you can receive appropriate care and treatment. This information is recorded on computer and we are registered under the Data Protection Act. The practice will ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times by all members of the practice team. However, for the effective functioning of a multi-disiplinary team it is sometimes necessary that medical information about you is shared between members of the team. Access to confidential patient information is given only to those NHS healthcare professionals who need it in order to provide a service to the patient. All staff working in the surgery are subject to stringent confidentiality requirements and no information from your record will be released to third parties outside the NHS without your specific consent.
For further details about why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data, please see our the following documents;-
Fair Processing Notice Layer 1 - General Information
Fair Processing Notice Layer 2 - Detailed Information
Access to health records
In general you have the right to see your health records though certain legal exclusions may apply. You can ask to see your record and may request a copy of any part subject to a small administrative charge. If you require access to your records please ask to speak to the Practice Manager in the first instance.
Concerns
If you have any concerns regarding the confidentiality of your personal medical records, or you would like further information. Please do not hesitate to discuss this with your doctor or the Practice Manager
Please read our National Opt-out Compliance statement.
At Luson Surgery we aim to provide our patients with the best quality care available. Our charter is a statement of what you can expect from the practice and what we feel we can expect from you in return.
We try to provide the best possible service to our patients and will always welcome your views or suggestions for further improvements.
If you have a suggestion please write or ask to speak, to our practice manager. Alternatively why not tell the doctor or nurse next time you see them.
We realise that there may be occasions when our service to you falls short of our customary standard. If you have a complaint or concern about the service you have received from the doctors or any of the staff working at Luson Surgery please let us know.
See our Complaints Procedure page for further details.
This practice keeps data on you relating to who you are, where you live, what you do, your family, possibly your friends, your employers, your habits, your problems and diagnoses, the reasons you seek help, your appointments, where you are seen and when you are seen, who by, referrals to specialists and other healthcare providers, tests carried out here and in other places, investigations and scans, treatments and outcomes of treatments, your treatment history, the observations and opinions of other healthcare workers, within and without the NHS as well as comments and aide memoires reasonably made by healthcare professionals in this practice who are appropriately involved in your health care.
When registering for NHS care, all patients who receive NHS care are registered on a national database, the database is held by NHS Digital, a national organisation which has legal responsibilities to collect NHS
GPs have always delegated tasks and responsibilities to others that work with them in their surgeries, on average an NHS GP has between 1,500 to 2,500 patients for whom he or she is accountable. It is not possible for the GP to provide hands on personal care for each and every one of those patients in those circumstances, for this reason GPs share your care with others, predominantly within the surgery but occasionally with outside organisations.
If your health needs require care from others elsewhere outside this practice we will exchange with them whatever information about you that is necessary for them to provide that care. When you make contact with healthcare providers outside the practice but within the NHS it is usual for them to send us information relating to that encounter. We will retain part or all of those reports. Normally we will receive equivalent reports of contacts you have with non NHS services but this is not always the case.
Your consent to this sharing of data, within the practice and with those others outside the practice is assumed and is allowed by the Law.
People who have access to your information will only normally have access to that which they need to fulfil their roles, for instance admin staff will normally only see your name, address, contact details, appointment history and registration details in order to book appointments, the practice nurses will normally have access to your immunisation, treatment, significant active and important past histories, your allergies and relevant recent contacts whilst the GP you see or speak to will normally have access to everything in your record.
You have the right to object to our sharing your data in these circumstances but we have an overriding responsibility to do what is in your best interests.
For further details about why we collect information about you, how your information will be used and your rights in respect of your data, please download the following documents;-
Fair Processing Notice Layer 1 - General Information
Fair Processing Notice Layer 2 - Detailed Information
Kevin Caldwell
GP Data Protection Officer
Somerset CCG
Wynford House
Lufton Way
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 8HR
Tel: 01935 384000
Website Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals using this website.
This policy explains how we use any personal information we collect from you through this website.
You can access most of the pages on our website without giving us your personal information. However, you may choose to provide us with your personal information on some pages of the website by completing an on-line form.
By submitting your personal information, you consent to our use of the information as set out in this privacy policy.
We shall use any personal information you give to us, in accordance with this policy, and with any additional statements appearing on forms used for submitting your personal information. We shall not disclose your personal information to any third parties without obtaining your prior consent unless we are required by law to do so. In particular:
We shall use your personal information to administer, and may respond to, your request.
We shall securely store the information you supply together with any response we may provide.
If you contact us regarding the website we may use your details to reply to you. If you make a comment or complaint about other aspects of the service we may use your details to investigate your comments.
This website uses https to ensure data is encrypted in transmission. This encryption, known as TLS encryption protocol, allows us to protect your privacy. You can usually verify that the page is encrypted by seeing a small lock symbol in the upper left corner of your browser and the website address is prefixed with https://.
All data obtained by us is held and used in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
Please read the PCN Privacy Policy.
This website contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties that run any other websites. Please refer to their own privacy policies for more information.
You have a right under the Data Protection Act 2018 to ask us to provide you with the information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies corrected. If you would like to access a copy of your information, please contact the Practice Manager using the following contact details in the heading above.
As a practice, we feel it important that patients are aware of what happens to personal information stored on the computer system.
Everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
All staff employed by this practice abide by our Code of Confidentiality, and we operate a Practice Policy on Information Security.
When you register, you will be asked for information about yourself so that you receive the appropriate care and treatment.
This information is kept with details of your health and treatment provided, so that the practice can ensure that the care you receive is appropriate and consistent with your medical history. The practice may pass information to other organisations and strict conditions must be complied with before information is released. Occasions when information is released are:
You may be receiving care from other organisations within the NHS. To ensure you receive a consistent programme of care we may need to share some information about your medical history. We only ever do this if it is in your interest.
The Law strictly controls the sharing of some types of very sensitive information. Anyone who receives information from us is also under a legal duty to keep it confidential.
In line with national NHS policy, we have zero-tolerance of violence or abuse towards any member of staff. If your behaviour is considered to be unacceptable you will be removed from our list immediately and advised to re-register elsewhere.
Please help us to help you.
Thank you.
Luson Surgery
41 Fore Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8AG
Tel: 01823 662 836
Prescription: order online
Consult with your GP online: Online Consult (online-consult.co.uk)
Click here to view in PCN Locations
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