The Surgery offers routine immunisation following the national childhood immunisation programme Eligible children will be sent a letter by Child Health when immunisations are due.

This guide can help you understand the vaccines offered in the UK and when to have them. It also explains how they work and why they're safe and important. 

If you're planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

If you have concerns or a medical condition that could affect your pregnancy, please make an appointment to discuss these with your doctor. Most couples will conceive within a 12 month period of trying to. If you have not and you are worried, it is best to consult your doctor about this.

About Folic Acid

You should start taking folic acid tablets before becoming pregnant (from the time you plan to become pregnant). If the pregnancy is unplanned then start taking folic acid tablets as soon as you know that you are pregnant. For most women the dose is 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) a day and is available from pharmacies. If your risk of having a child with a spinal cord problem is increased then the dose is higher (5 mg a day - you need a prescription for this higher dose). That is, if:

• you have had a previously affected pregnancy.
• your partner, or a first-degree relative, have a spinal cord defect.
• you have coeliac disease (as your intake of folate may be affected by this condition).
• you are taking medication for epilepsy.
• you have sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia

Antenatal Care

Care during pregnancy is shared by your GP and the Community Midwife team. When you realise that you are pregnant, you need to see your doctor for a 'booking appointment'. This is usually done between 6 and 8 weeks into the pregnancy. The weeks of pregnancy are counted from the first day of your last menstrual period.

You should start taking folic acid supplements as soon as you realise that you are pregnant.

Pregnancy also means that you should abstain from alcohol consumption and smoking.

Your next appointment will be arranged by the Midwife which will include booking and a discussion about antenatal classes. You will then be seen at Furness General Hospital at for an ultra sound scan which is approximately 10-12 weeks gestation. A further ultrasound scan is done is done at 20 weeks gestation. 

Refer yourself to a health service such as talking therapies without having to see a GP first.

Find a NHS service near you.

Submit a reading to your GP if you have been requested to do so.