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Cholesterol Education Clinic

What are group clinics and why is the NHS supporting their roll out in primary care?

Group consultations are medical consultations with a GP, specialist nurse and/or pharmacist delivered within a supportive group with a facilitator, either virtually or face to face. Our face-to-face “Cholesterol Education Clinics” is led by our experienced team of Clinical Pharmacists.

They are also prescribers and already undertake this work on a one to one basis. The NHS is supporting this model as a way for GP practices to bring together individuals for support with long term conditions helping them to better manage their own health and share their experiences and learning.

This is a new way for you to join the medical team along with people with similar health issues, allowing more time for in depth discussion and decision making.

The evidence is that following a group consultation approach patients feel more able to cope and keep themselves healthy through improved access and spending longer with their healthcare team.

All group members verbally agree to a confidentiality and group clinic agreement. You can ask for a private discussion with the clinician if needed.

Many patients tell us they want more time face to face with health professionals. This clinic will be a great chance to do this and discuss high cholesterol and high cardiovascular risk in detail. It will focus on many ways to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and strokes) including lifestyle factors, nutrition and medication where appropriate.

The team can complete any prescriptions or referrals needed during or after the clinic. We hope you will join us in this new way of working.

We look forward to working with you!

Why have I been invited to attend this clinic?

You are invited to attend this clinic because your cholesterol blood test (and other factors like blood pressure) indicate you are at higher risk of heart disease, stroke and related cardiovascular conditions. This does not mean you have these conditions or even that you will definitely develop them.

However, the NHS and the GP practice wants to take a proactive approach to preventing these conditions developing in the first place. This includes management of lifestyle factors as well as certain medications, which can hugely reduce your risks in the future.

The clinic will include detailed information about all of these things.

When do the clinics take place and how can I book?

Our Cholesterol Education Clinics will take place face to face on Monday evenings and possibly at other times in the future. They will take place at “Estuary House” in the conference room upstairs.

The building is opposite but separate to Estuary View Medical Centre. We will contact you if you are eligible for this clinic.

I have been booked in for a clinic, is there anything I need to do before I attend?

There is nothing else you need to do before attending. However, you may find you get more out of the appointment if you make sure an up to date height/weight/blood pressure is available and recorded on your medical notes before attending – this is not compulsory so don’t worry if you have not had time. All three GP surgeries have pods where you can do these readings without an appointment and give the results in to a patient coordinator.

Alternatively, you can email your readings straight to us – be sure to include your full name and date of birth.

Where can I get further information?

If you cannot find the answer you are looking for on our website, you can also contact the practice either using the contact us form or on the telephone and ask our Patient co-ordinators to explain more about the clinics.