Welcome To The
Regal Chambers
Surgery
Home Page.
Website news:
We are in the process of updating (long overdue)our website, please be patient while this work goes on.
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We are a friendly six Doctor practice in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
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Please Click on any selection:
Doctors:
Dr John Machen
Dr Christine Ryecart
Dr Joe Turner
Dr Alastair Cruickshank
Dr David Barratt
Business Manager
Jill Berkery
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Location:
We are located in a pleasant small market town called Hitchin, in north Hertfordshire. We cover a wide area of surrounding villages primarily to the south and west.
Our Address and phone no:
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Regal Chambers,
50 Bancroft,
Hitchin, Herts
SG5 1LL.
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Telephone:
Appointments:
Hitchin (01462) 420410
Other matters:
Hitchin (01462) 453232
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Opening times:
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Mon-Fri :
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8.15am - 6.00pm.
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Saturday :
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8.15am - 11.00am.
Doctor is only available for urgent problems between 8.30am and 9.30am..
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Out of hours problems:
If the need arises to speak to a Doctor outside surgery hours, please phone our office number - Hitchin (01462) 453232 and a recorded message will tell you how to make contact with the out of hours primary care service.
Your problem will be assessed and dealt with. This will usually mean telephone advice or, if it is felt that a consultation is necessary before the surgery re-opens. a visit to the "out-of-hours" centre. In some instances, the Doctor may decide you need a home visit.
In case of emergencies requiring immediate assistance, it may be appropriate to go immediately to the Accident and Emergency Department at Lister Hospital, Stevenage or dial 999 if an ambulance is required. A G.P. cannot always guarantee being able to attend immediately.
Training:
The surgery is approved as having the high standard required to be a training practice. This means that we will have a fully qualified doctor (GP Registrar) with us for usually 12 months at a time to learn the finer points of General Practice.
Private Services:
We provide a wide range of private services outside the NHS, e.g. pre-employment medicals, medicals for leisure pursuits, etc. A full list of charges (as supplied by the BMA-British Medical Association) is available on the notice board.
Patient Participation Group:
The PPG has been set up to improve communication between the practice, and it's patients. Any patient wanting to contact the PPG is welcome to leave a name, address and telephone number with the Practice Manager or in the suggestion box and it will be passed on.
It organises a newsletter twice a year. New members to the group are always welcome.
Disabled facilities:
We are on the ground floor, and have no steps. A disabled toilet is available.
Clinics: (by appointment).
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Women's Clinics:
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Antenatal:
Wed and Thurs............. 1.30-3.00pm- by appt
Family Planning:
Wed..............................10.30-11.00am - by appt.
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Clinics for Children:
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Immunisation and Health Visitor advice:
Tue................................9.30-11.00am
Baby weighing and Health Visitor advice:
Wed...............................1.30-3.00pm
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Well Person Clinic:
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Mon...............................8.30-11.30 am - by appt
Thurs..............................1.30-2.30pm - by appt
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Asthma Clinic:
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By appointment with the Practice Nurse.
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Diabetic Clinic:
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By appointment with the Practice Nurse.
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Minor Surgery:
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Minor surgery and cryotherapy (for warts and verrucae) are available by appointment.
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Yellow Fever Vaccinations:
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The surgery is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre and welcomes anybody requiring this vaccination for their travels. Please book for the clinic indicating whether or not you are registered with this practice. There is a fee for this service.
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Travel Clinic:
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The Practice Nurses run travel clinics three times a week. Any patient travelling abroad is welcome to make an appointment preferably three to four weeks before leaving. The nurses offer advice on health and hygeine while abroad and provide relevant vaccinations.
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Tests:
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Blood Tests:
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We have someone to take blood in the surgery every day of the week. This can be arranged by appointment.
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Specimens:
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Specimens, e.g. urine, can be left at the surgery between 8.15am and 5.00pm. They will be collected by courier and taken to the Lister Path.Lab.
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Test Results:
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When phoning for your result, please try to phone in the afternoons, when it is less busy in the office.
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The Community Team.
Community nurses:
They provide nursing care and advice to the housebound and those recently discharged from Hospital.
Community Midwives:
Midwives are attached to the practice and are involved in all aspects of ante/post-natal care. Parentcraft and relaxation classes are held at the Health Centre, and may be booked through your midwife.
Health Visitors:
The Health Visitors' aim is to promote good health and prevent ill health. They are available to give advice where specific needs are identified within the individual, family or community, e.g. expectant mothers, children, the bereaved, elderly and the handicapped. The telephone number is Stevenage (01438) 781450, 9.00-10.00am and 4.00-5.00pm. Messages may also be left on this number at other times, and also at the surgery.
Office Staff:
We have thirteen receptionists/secretaries to assist with administration and answer your telephone calls etc. Please be patient; their job is not an easy one.
Practice Nurses:
Our nurses run many of our health promotion clinics and will see you by appointment for dressings, injections, ear syringing (once you have checked with your Doctor), minor injuries, ailments and blood pressure checks.
History Of Regal Chambers:
The Practice was founded in early 1870 by the late Dr John Gilbertson. This was based in a small but thriving market town called Hitchin.
This picture shows a tree-lined and largely residential Bancroft ( the road of the surgery) in 1911. The ancient sycamores that lined the road were old and hollow, but they apparently survived till one of them was blown across the road. They were removed shortly afterwards.
Dr John Gilbertson worked at the practice, which was initially based at the Hermitage road end of Bancroft. He passed the practice onto his son Dr.Marshall Gilbertson. The practice moved to no.30 Bancroft which was a large Victorian house. During the 1950's the practice again passed to his son Dr.Michael Gilbertson.
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This is a view of Bancroft in the 1950's. It is looking towards Hermitage Rd, and further up on the left ( not seen from this view ), would lie the practice.
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The large house also had a large garden, which was subsequently converted to create Bancroft court. In the early 1970's the practice moved into a development in Bancroft court, called Marshall House Surgery. The surgery was to be based here till 1987 when it moved to its current location of 50 Bancroft.
This site has it's own history, once being the famous Regal Cinema from where the practice derives it's name.
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The Regal opened in 1939 and was noted for it's modern front and for seating over 1000 patrons. However, it shut in 1977 but temporarily opened again in 1980 to be used as a recording studio and concert hall.
This was short lived to make way for the current building.
Click above to see the surgery.
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How To Register ?
It is easy to register. If you are a new patient to the area, all you have to do is bring your medical card to the front deak of the practice. If you do not have your medical card available, you can simply fill out a form at the surgery. Our receptionists will be pleased to help you.
Links To Other Sites.
COLDS FLU FACTS
Colds and flu are viral illnesses which cannot be treated with antibiotics. There is no cure for colds and flu. You can only treat the symptoms. Cold and flu symptoms can last for 7 days or more. Doctors advise you should try to treat you and your family’s symptoms with paracetamol and over-the-counter remedies for 7 days before you see your GP. People who will have difficulty combating flu because they suffer from other conditions are “at risk” and are advised to get a flu jab. If you are unsure whether or not you are at risk, check with your GP surgery.
WHEN TO CALL YOUR GP? Call your GP surgery for advice if after taking over-the-counter medications as directed: You or your child has symptoms which are severe or unusually prolonged; become short of breath; cough up blood or large amounts of yellow or green phlegm.
PATIENT LIBRARY
We have had a small but positive response to our question in the last Newsletter whether you as patients would like to see a Patient Library at the surgery. There have also been two offers of help to run it. We are currently discussing the options with a librarian at Lister Hospital and hope to set one up soon.
PHONE NUMBERS:
Has the surgery got your phone number ?
Have you changed to cable, and not told the practice the new number ?
The Doctors find it very useful to have a number to contact you on, perhaps to let you know of a change of appointment at the surgery or hospital, or sometimes they need to contact you with regards to an urgent blood result.
Doctors and receptionists find it very frustrating to phone directory enquiries because they need to get hold of you urgently, only to be told that the number is ex-directory.
It also helps if they have a work number, though they realise that it may not be appropriate, as it depends on your work circumstances.
MORE INFORMATION ?
Do you have enough information about medical services, benefits, support services or even about your own medical condition ?
Much is already displayed on the notice boards and in the leaflet holders, but is this enough ?
Would you like to see a patient information library at the surgery ? (As well as the one in the Lister Hospital library.) If so, would you use it and would you volunteer to run it ?
The Patient Participation Group is here to help you, and the practice would be interested to hear your views. If the need is there, then perhaps the PPG, with your help, can arrange it.
Feel free to leave your comments in the suggestion box next time you come to the surgery, or drop us a line.
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