No appointments needed for routine x-rays e.g. chest, back and abdomen. All other procedures require a booked appointment.

If you have a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy, your stoma nurse is there to help you

If you are diabetic (particularly on insulin) and attend Dr Beshyah's diabetic clinic at Princess Alexandra Hospital and have a problems with your medication or dosage, the diabetic nurse is available to help you.

Breast screening is a free NHS service offered every three years to all women aged between 50-64, either at St. Margaret's Hospital or on a mobile x-ray unit which travels around West Essex. As each area is screened in turn over the three year period some women will be 51 of 52 when first invited. Women over 64 are welcomed to be screened but will need to call St. Margaret's to make an appointment. You will automatically be sent an appointment when the service is in your area.

The soft tissue x-ray (mammogram) takes about 5 minutes with time added on for changing.

From 1 August 2001 CDAT moved to:

Eden Ward,
Derwent Centre,
Princess Alexandra Hospital,
Hamstel Road,
Harlow
CM20 1QX.
Telephone: 01279-698721

Your GP can refer patients with specific risk factors such as early menopause (before age 45), a strong family history, as a result of long term steroid use or secondary as the result of other relevant medical conditions to Hertford County Hospital for this procedure. This is not a screening test but only used in whom the disease is suspected.

From 1st. February, 2002 the community Macmillan nurses pilot a 7 day week. One Macmillan nurse will be working Saturdays/Sundays 9.00am-5.00pm for telephone advice. To contact the Macmillan nurse at weekends, please ring Farleigh Hospice on 01245 358130

Palliative Medicine Clinic

This Clinic is run by Dr. R F Morgan at Galen House (adjacent to Addison House) in conjunction with Dr. J Singer's oncology clinic and the hospital Macmillan Nursing Service. Clinic are held every Thursday afternoon (from 2.30 pm) by referral through your G.P.

24 Hour Access to Mental Health Services

a) NERIL (North Essex Resource and Information Line)
Mental health help and advice to all
A voluntary helpline, staffed by trained workers
0845 0900 909 4pm-midnight 7 days a week

b) NHS Direct Call 24 Hours a day
to speak to an NHS Direct Nurse-Call 0845 4647

c) Specialist Mental Health Service from North Essex Mental Health Partnership
A local team which carry out urgent assessments round the clock.
On weekdays from 0900am until 5.00pm GP's should make their referrals for urgent assessment to their local CMHT. After 5.00pm, weekends and public holidays, urgent referrals should be made to the local West Area team (Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford) at 01279 827268
Clients already in contact with specialist services will be offered crisis cards telling them how to contact help at any time. From 0900am-5.00pm they should contact their Care Co-ordinator

These services will work together to provide a round-the-clock response to urgent mental health problems. These services will work closely with Essex Social Services' Emergency Duty Service (01245 434083) but do not replace it.

Child and Family Consultation Service

Referrals through your G.P to to Professor Harry Zeitlin for child and adolescent psychiatric assessment.

Stroke Services (Cerebrovascular Clinic)

This service aims to fast-track the appropriate investigation of patients with transient ischaemic attacks or mini/non-disabling stroke that do not necessarily require hospital admission. The clinic is run by Dr Peter Martin, Consultant Neurologist or Dr Rowland Whale, Consultant in Stroke Medicine and Patsy Simons, Stroke Nurse Specialist. Patients referred should be over 55 years old, Inappropriate referral to this clinic include patients with dementia, isolated confusion, dizziness, vertigo, double vision and weakness on different sides of the body.
Referral is made for this service which is held by appointment twice a month on the first and third Monday by your G.P to:

Mary Hobday, Stroke Service Co-ordinator
Unit Management,
Herts and Essex Hospital
Tel: 827241 Fax: 827512