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At Riccarton Clinic we offer a number of programmes to support good health and beneficial lifestyle choices. These include smoking cessation, cardiovascular risk assessment, and green prescriptions.
Smoking cessation
We provide smoking cessation support and advice for patients who smoke and who wish to give up or are considering giving up. This is nurse-led support and Nicotine replacement therapy. A nurse or doctor will ask you whether you wish to have smoking cessation advice, by phone or during a consultation. We also send out texts to patients asking them to reply if they wish to have advice. This is all part of our proactive approach to assist patients to quit smoking. You may decline advice at the time you are asked, but you can approach us at a later date if you change your mind.
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Age and lifestyle decisions have an impact on a person's risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Knowing your risk gives you the chance to take steps to protect your heart. Having a cardiovascular risk assessment (CVRA) done will help you to find out your risk.
The CVRA includes blood test and blood pressure information, family history and an assessment of your general health. This will allow us to estimate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. If the estimated risk is higher than 15%, we will discuss with your options and choices to protect your heart. We may also prescribe medication to assist.
Green prescription
This is written advice from a health professional to a patient or their family to encourage the patient to be more physically active, as part of their health management. The aim is to target several medical conditions associated with inactivity. It is for patients aged 18 and over and the support lasts for 3-4 months.
Your health professional will issue you with a green prescription. If you want to have ongoing support, you will be put in touch with a patient support person. They will provide you with support and motivation to encourage you to increase your activity levels. This can be via phone calls, face to face meetings or group support. If at the end of the support you feel you would benefit from ongoing support, your GP can give you another green prescription.