We offer a range of clinics and services at the surgery. There are some tasks you can do, such as health reviews, using our online forms.
Our clinicians offer a full range of services such as managing long term conditions.
In addition, we provide:
- Maternity care
- Contraception and family planning
- Cervical health screening
- Child health services
- Routine child and adult vaccinations including travel vaccinations
- Joint injections
- Minor surgery
The practice will also support your choice of referrals to other primary care and hospital care services for treatment or investigations.
Travel vaccinations
If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you should make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.
Non-NHS services
Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:
- Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
- Insurance claim forms
- Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
- Private sick notes
- Vaccination certificates
The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
XenZone, Kooth and Qwell
The whole population across St Helens now has access to anonymous, free, digital mental health support support from XenZone, during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
XenZone’s service for children and young people, Kooth, was commissioned in the area in March. St Helen’s CCG has now commissioned XenZone’s service for adults, extending mental health support across the whole population:
- Adults over 25 years old across St Helens can now access Qwell without any referrals, waiting times or thresholds
- Adults aged 25 and above will be able to access mental health and wellbeing support online for free, thanks to a new service for St Helens residents
XenZone
They are the UK’s leading online mental health platform. Their mission is to provide accessible and safe spaces for everyone to achieve better mental health. Their online platform is clinically robust and accredited to provide a range of therapeutic support and interventions. All their services are predicated on easy access to make early intervention and prevention a reality.
Our three services are:
- Qwell: for adults
- Kooth: for children and young persons
- Kooth Student: for university students
Qwell
Qwell is an online counselling and support service targeted at those aged 25 years and above. The service aims to improve the emotional wellbeing and mental health of adults in St Helens by providing an early response to emotional wellbeing and/or emerging mental health needs.
This enables any presenting issues to be addressed promptly, and prevents problems from escalating and requiring a more specialist response such as face to face intervention or crisis.
Children and young people in St Helens aged 11-25 already have access to Kooth and following the success of this platform, especially during lockdown. Qwell, which is from the same team, is aimed at adults and provides:
- Online emotional wellbeing and mental health support service 7 days a week, 365 days a year, with counsellors online from noon to 10pm, Monday to Friday, and 6pm to 10pm at weekends
- An accessible, safe, secure, moderated website with online community features
- Qwell is a confidential service which adults anonymously access for therapy and self-help, with links to with other appropriate services on the delivery pathway
Pauline McGrath, commissioner for integrated mental health and vulnerable adults in St Helens, said:
“We’re pleased that all adults registered with a St Helens GP will now have access to this fantastic free tool, which offers online counselling sessions, chat functions and a wealth of support material.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened the focus of many on the importance of our emotional wellbeing and mental health, and this service for St Helens residents will really pay dividends for those that need that support, both now and in the future.”
“We know that one in four adults experiences at least one mental health disorder at some time in their lives and the cost to the NHS runs into billions each year, with poor mental health the biggest single cause of disability which in turn impacts on wellbeing, life expectancy and the economy. Qwell will be a powerful tool in enabling us to prevent and manage this.”
Dr Lynne Green, XenZone’s chief clinical officer also added:
“It’s wonderful to know that St Helens CCG is passionate about bringing digital mental health support to everyone in the area. Qwell will allow adults who may be struggling with the changes to daily life due to coronavirus to check in with their emotional wellbeing when they need further information or support.”
“In addition to peer support and access to helpful content, our friendly counsellors will be on hand for the community to contact for support via text message or one to one counselling for more complex difficulties.”
“It is also hoped that the take up of Qwell will help reduce demand on specialist services, adult mental health and social care provision for 25 year olds and above, including reducing waiting times for the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy service.”
Kooth
Kooth is commissioned in 85% of the NHS’s clinical commissioning group areas across the country. It is a fully safeguarded and pre-moderated community with a library of peer and professional created content, alongside access to experienced online counsellors.
There are no thresholds for support and no waiting lists. Currently, Kooth sees over 4,000 logins a day. Kooth Student is aimed at university students and is commissioned by three UK universities.
Qwell operates across distinct locations and serves specific cohorts, including parents, teachers, victims of crime and those who have suffered from or continue to experience domestic violence.
It is also offered as a benefit by a number of corporate organisations delivering anonymous digital mental health support services to employees. Support for remote workers can be found via our new Silver Linings page, with editorial content shared on The Thought Report platform.