Childhood and Teenage Mental Health

While it is commonly believed that depression only effects adults, around 10% of children in Great Britain aged between 5 and 16 have a recognisable mental disorder; with about 4% of children suffering from an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.

The problem for many is that depression is difficult to spot and often regarded as teenage mood swings. However, if your child is appearing to have an extreme emotional response to a life event or has lost interest in activities which previously interested them they may be suffering from an emotional disorder.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health please visit your GP, who will be able to offer a range of support to help both you and your child. There are a range of talking therapies which are highly effective in dealing with both short term and long term depression, for more information on these therapies please view the NHS Talking Therapy Guide.

While it is commonly believed that depression only effects adults, around 10% of children in Great Britain aged between 5 and 16 have a recognisable mental disorder; with about 4% of children suffering from an emotional disorder such as anxiety or depression.

The problem for many is that depression is difficult to spot and often regarded as teenage mood swings. However, if your child is appearing to have an extreme emotional response to a life event or has lost interest in activities which previously interested them they may be suffering from an emotional disorder.

If you are worried about your child’s mental health please visit your GP, who will be able to offer a range of support to help both you and your child. There are a range of talking therapies which are highly effective in dealing with both short term and long term depression, for more information on these therapies please view the NHS Talking Therapy Guide.

Useful links

• Barnardo’s Mental Health Support for children and adolescents
• Mind- Mental Health Charity
• Sane – Mental Health Support
• Rethink Mental Illness

Childhood Immunisations

One of the most important things that a parent can do for their child is to make sure that they have all their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their jabs at the right age to protect them as early as possible and minimise the risk of infection.

Find out which jabs your child needs, when they need them, and what the benefits of each jab are.

Please call the surgery to make an appointment.

For more information please visit the websites below:

Useful links

• NHS Choice – Vaccinations for you and your family

Neo-natal Checks

Some newborn babies are released from hospital without a detailed examination. If this is the case, our GPs are happy to perform the relevant checks, either in the surgery, or in the comfort of your own home, depending on which is easier for you.

In most cases, the Practice will contact new mums to arrange for this to happen, on rare occasions where we are unaware of the birth, please feel free to give us a call and arrange an appointment or visit.

Childhood immunisations

Childhood immunisations are routinely offered by the nurse practitioners. Currently they are given to babies and toddlers at 2, 3, 4, 12, and 13months and to preschool children between the ages of 3 and 5. However, some immunisations may be given in hospital soon after birth or at school between the ages of 10 and 14. Please check the UK immunisation schedule for more information on immunisations.

Baby Clinic

The doctors and nurses are always available to provide advice about child health and development. We also provide a health check for all babies at 6 weeks of age. The baby’s 6-8 week check looks at physical health and development and is an opportunity to discuss with your doctor topics such as immunisation, feeding or other child health concerns you may have.
We also do the mother’s postnatal check at the same time. It is important to inform the receptionist that you are booking for the 6-8 week mother and baby checks as they require longer appointment times.

Cervical smear tests

To pick up early signs of cervical cancer, we carry out routine smear tests once every 3 years on our female patients aged between 25 and 49 years. For those between 50 and 65 years smears will be done once every 5 years. However, tests will be performed more frequently if the results call for this.

Our practice has dedicated Sexual Health Clinic run by a qualified Sexual Health Nurse every Monday evening. You can also book the smear tests through the week any day with other practice nurses and advance nurse practitioner. 

For more information regarding cervical smears please visit the NHS cervical screening programme.

Some women may decide to ‘opt out’ of the programme and not wish to have a smear performed. We recommend that you have read about cervical screening prior to completing the withdrawal form. If you decide please complete the form and return it to the surgery for your medical notes. Contact the surgery for your Cervical smear withdrawal form

You can self refer yourself directly to the antenatal clinics at  Princess Royal University Hospital antenatal self-referral form to refer yourself and email it to kch-tr.br-maternitypruh@nhs.net. You do not have to see your GP before contacting them. They will email you to confirm that they have received your form.

If you have already self referred yourself to the hospital and require a review you can see our practice nurse who will talk with you through what to expect during your pregnancy. Also your midwife will recommend to see our nurse for routine appointments for check ups through your pregnancy.

The website Emma’s Diary offers detail information as to what you should be experiencing and is a wealth of information. Here is more information as to what to experience in pregnancy, the tests involved as well as labour – pregnancy.

Blood Pressure Clinic 

Our aim is to prevent heart disease and stroke by advice and support for lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and early detection and treatment of risk factors such as high blood pressure.

Patients with high blood pressure can visit the nurse or their doctor. All our clinicians will carry out blood pressure checks on you. Please make sure that you are reviewed at least once a year regarding your blood pressure. We aim to control your blood pressure to below 140/90 to prevent the risk of heart attacks or strokes in the future. At the clinic we will review risk factors, discuss lifestyle changes, review medications and arm you with the knowledge you need to manage your condition.

For more information regarding high blood pressure can be found here.

Asthma & COPD clinic (Respiratory Clinic)

At Chelsfield the asthma and COPD clinics are run by both the nurse practitioners/practice Nurses as well as doctors who endeavour to provide high quality care for people with respiratory disease. your breathing is assessed at least yearly with a peak flow meter which you blow through to check the function of your lungs. They will monitor your condition, teach you how to manage your condition yourself including how to deal with exacerbations, and modify your treatment as necessary with the aim of improving symptoms, improving physical functioning and well being and as far as possible preventing the need for A+E attendance or hospital admission.

We have a dedicated Respiratory Nurse clinic at Chelsfield Surgery every Tuesday. We also offer appointment throughout the week for Asthma and COPD reviews. 

You may be offered an inhaler and be assessed on your inhaler technique. A good source of information can be found on the asthma website.

What is Asthma Who does it affect? 

Management of Adult Asthma 

Management of Childhood Asthma 

Asthma UK