General practice serves as the cornerstone of primary healthcare, offering a wide range of services aimed at promoting wellness, diagnosing illness and managing chronic health conditions. Within this realm, health monitoring, diagnosis, and procedures all play pivotal roles in ensuring patients receive timely and effective care tailored to their individual needs.
Regular health monitoring forms the foundation of preventive care, enabling healthcare providers to detect early signs of potential health issues and intervene proactively. In general practice, health monitoring encompasses various assessments, including:
- Routine Check-ups: Periodic consultations allow healthcare professionals to assess vital signs, review medical history, and discuss any concerns or symptoms.
- Screenings: Screening tests for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol levels, and certain cancers help identify risk factors or early-stage diseases before they progress.
- Health Education: General practitioners offer guidance on lifestyle modifications, preventive measures, and disease management strategies to empower patients in maintaining their well-being.
Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and management of medical conditions. At Doctor Now our GP’s employ a systematic approach to diagnose a diverse range of health issues, including:
- Clinical Assessment: Through comprehensive physical examinations and detailed medical histories, practitioners gather vital information to form an initial impression and guide further investigations.
- Diagnostic Tests: Laboratory tests, imaging studies, and specialised procedures help confirm or rule out suspected diagnoses, providing valuable insights into patients’ health status.
- Referrals: In cases requiring specialised care or expertise beyond the scope of general practice, our clinical team may refer patients to relevant specialists for further evaluation and management.
General practitioners are trained to perform various minor procedures and interventions within the primary care setting, enhancing accessibility and convenience for patients. These may include:
Minor Surgeries: Removal of skin lesions, suturing of wounds, ingrown toenail surgery, and incision and drainage of abscesses are among the surgical procedures commonly performed in general practice.
Diagnostic Procedures: Techniques such as electrocardiography (ECG), spirometry, and joint aspirations enable practitioners to obtain diagnostic information quickly and efficiently.
Therapeutic Interventions: Administration of vaccinations, joint injections, and minor dermatological procedures are examples of therapeutic interventions aimed at managing certain health conditions.
Doctor Now is able to offer a variety of medical procedures to inform diagnosis as well as to help monitor existing conditions. These include, but are not limited to:
- 7 day Brady DX ECG Monitor
The monitor is lightweight, lead-free, extended-wear ECG monitor that records your heart rhythm for up to 7 days. It gives an insight into your heart’s electrical activity over a longer period of time to aid in the diagnosis of arrhythmia. - 24 hour ECG Monitor
A 24 hour ECG records how well your heart is working over the course of a normal day’s routine, and is used to check for abnormalities in your heart beat such as arrhythmia. - Ambulatory (24 hour) BP Monitor
A 24 hour blood pressure monitor is used to measure and record your blood pressure over the course of a normal daily routine. It can be used to diagnose both high (hypertension) and low (hypotension) blood pressure. - Hearing tests (Audiogram/Tympanogram)
An audiogram is a type of hearing test that provides a detailed description of your hearing ability and can be used to determine if you are suffering with hearing loss. A Tympanogram is a type of hearing test that primarily provides information regarding middle ear function. - Cervical Screening
A cervical screening test is a method of detecting abnormal cells on the cervix. - Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a technique that uses extremely cold liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy abnormal skin cells that require removal such as warts and verrucae. - Dressings
We have a wide range of dressings to suit both simple and complex wounds. - ECG
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that can be used to check your heart’s rhythm and electrical activity. - Joint Injection
A joint injection is an injection of local anaesthetic and a steroid medication into a joint with the aim of providing temporary pain relief. - Lung Function Test
Spirometry, one type of lung function test, checks how well your lungs work. This test looks at how much air your lungs can hold and how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs. - Serial BP Readings
Serial Blood Pressure readings allow clinicians to monitor your blood pressure readings over a period of time.
Health monitoring, diagnosis, and procedures form integral components of general practice, facilitating early detection, accurate diagnosis, and timely intervention for patients across a spectrum of health needs. Through collaborative efforts and a patient-centred approach, DoctorNow serves as a cornerstone of primary healthcare, offering comprehensive and accessible services to individuals of all ages.
If you would like to book an appointment or for further information regarding any of our medical procedures, please contact us on 01494 410 888.