A long term condition (LTC) is a health problem that can impact a person’s life for a long time and may require ongoing care and support. Examples of LTCs include diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
If you have an LTC, it’s usually recommended to have an annual review to make sure you are taking the right medications and to check how your condition is going. Sometimes, other tests like blood tests or breathing checks are needed.
Our goal is to work with you to help you feel more confident in looking after your health, lower the chances of needing hospital care, and improve your quality of life.
If you have any of the conditions listed below, we will invite you for a yearly review, or more often if needed:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Learning disability
- Severe mental health problems
- Dementia
When will I be invited?
You will be invited for your review during the month of your birth. Sometimes you may be invited slightly earlier or later. If its is your birth month and you have an LTC, you are welcome to contact the surgery and book in for your review without waiting for an invite.
What will happen at my appointment?
During your appointment, the nurse will assess your current health status and arrange any relevant blood and urine tests.
If possible, please measure your blood pressure (BP) at home prior to your appointment. Your home BP is a more accurate reflection of your real-life BP. You can purchase a BP machine from your local pharmacy or online. We suggest one recommended by The British & Irish Hypertensive Society that fits around your arm, not your wrist. Alternatively, you can drop by the surgery during opening hours and measure your BP in The Health Pod which is located next to reception.
Following your LTC appointment, we will write to you again advising you of any further action required. This may be a follow-up appointment with a GP or another member of the Fernville healthcare team.
If you have more than one of these long term conditions we will try to group these a far as possible to streamline your overall number of reviews and reduce unnecessary duplication of tests and checks