Social Prescribing

Social prescribing is a service that enables staff in primary care to support their patient’s wellbeing through non-medical “prescriptions”. As link workers they will spend time with each patient, to focus on listening to them, understanding what’s important to them at the moment and explore together what could help support them with the issues they are facing.

Examples of reasons for referral are:

  • Mental health issues.
  • Managing long term conditions.
  • Weight management.
  • Social needs, and more.

Link workers adopt a holistic approach and most often the conversation does not remain on one issue. I think it’s powerful for patients to be able to voice their concerns and hear them said out loud, it enables thought processes and can help boost the confidence needed to be able to tackle things one step at a time.

This service is provided via our Primary Care Network through Enable.

Health and Wellbeing Coaching

What is Health and Wellbeing Coaching?

Health and Wellbeing Coaching is a service that empowers you to take control of your health and wellbeing. It supports people to change behaviours and lead healthier lifestyles.

Who is Health and Wellbeing Coaching for?

Health and wellbeing coaching is here to support people to make lifestyle changes. You may benefit from seeing a health and wellbeing coach if you:

  • Would like to make changes in areas such as diet, physical activity, exercise, sleep or stress
  • Would like support with a long-term health condition, whether that be new or existing

What will the sessions involve?

Your health and wellbeing coach will offer up to 6 sessions which can take place in your GP practice or over the phone. Your coach will work with you to understand what your health and wellbeing goals are and together you can decide which areas you would like to discuss.

Over the course of the sessions with your coach you will explore why you would like to change your behaviours. You will discuss what matters to you most and discover how you would like to achieve your goals based on your lifestyle and values.

Counselling and Mental Health Support

Mental health is incredibly important. If you have any concerns about your mental health or someone else’s mental health, the MIND website and the NHS: Mental health offer lots of useful information.

If this does not answer your concern or you feel that it would be an appropriate next step, please book an appointment with one of our doctors.

If it is an urgent issue, you can request an urgent appointment when we are open. Alternatively, call 111 if we are shut. We are not able to respond as quickly as emergency services, and so if you are concerned that it is an emergency, call 999.

Our doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are trained to support people with mental health issues. We work closely with services from charities, Talk Wandsworth and our local specialist mental health teams to support our patients. We can also refer you to the Wandsworth Community Drug and Alcohol Service for guidance and support if who would like help with alcohol or recreational drug use.

Family Planning and Contraception and Sexual Health

Our doctors and nurses provide a range of contraceptive services, including depot injections. Coil fitting and implants can be obtained at local Sexual Health Clinics. We offer a symptom-based sexual health service for both men and women.

We can test for sexually transmitted diseases in surgery using simple non-invasive tests. We are part of the national chlamydia screening programme for 16 to 24 year olds.

We are currently not commissioned to do routine sexual health screens. You will need to go to local Sexual Health clinics for these.

Oral Contraception

The most popular form of contraception is still the pill. We like to check all new patients to whom we prescribe the pill, taking a full history and measuring blood pressure.

We take the opportunity to do a cervical smear and chlamydia test as appropriate. We follow up after three or six months. If the pill is well tolerated, we only need to check your blood pressure every year.

Condoms

We cannot prescribe condoms on the NHS. You can buy them from chemists or obtain them free from family planning clinics.

Cap Fitting

We can fit you with a contraceptive diaphragm, or ‘cap’, and teach you how to use it (Nuva ring and Evra). We can also offer the new vaginal ring which is the equivalent of the combined pill and the contraceptive patch if other methods don’t suit.

Injectable Contraception

We offer three monthly progesterone injections, which provide very reliable contraception. They are particularly suitable for people with high blood pressure, people who are likely to forget the pill, and people who don’t want a coil.

Pregnancy, Pregnancy Loss, Care After Giving Birth

The times when you are trying to become pregnant, have lost a pregnancy, are pregnant or have recently given birth are incredibly important and can be overwhelming or and very difficult. We want to support people in these times, please do contact us if you have any particular concerns.

Trying to Conceive

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/trying-to-get-pregnant/ has up to date information about trying to conceive and when to contact us at the practice.


Care During Pregnancy

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/finding-out/ has up to date information regarding what important information when you first find out that you are pregnant and what you should do.

Information about the care you can expect to receive during pregnancy can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-care/. The best way to book your pregnancy care appointments is directly with the hospital where you would like your midwives to be based.

Our nearest hospitals are:

  • St George’s Hospital, Blackshaw Rd, London SW17 0QT

Refer yourself at: https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/pregnancy-referral-form/

  • Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Rd, London SW10 9NH.

Refer yourself at: https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/maternity/self-refer-online/maternity-self-referral

  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7EH

Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT

Refer yourself at: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity-care-during-pregnancy/antenatal-appointments

Most of your care will be given by the midwife teams at the hospitals.


Pregnancy Loss, Miscarriage and Stillbirth

Pregnancy loss is sadly very common and is never easy. People will often feel sad, and potentially shocked, guilty or angry. It is common to feel tired, lose appetite and have trouble sleeping. We want to support you, please do contact us to book an appointment to access support through our Practice.

Pregnancy during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy is called a miscarriage. You can find more information about this at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/miscarriage/.

The Miscarriage Association is the largest UK charity supporting people who have experienced miscarriage. Their website has lots of useful information and advice and tells you how to access the support they offer. https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/

Pregnancy loss after 23 weeks of pregnancy is called stillbirth. You can find more information about this at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stillbirth/.

Sands is the largest UK charity supporting people affected by stillbirth or the death of a baby. Their website has lots of information and tells you how to access the support they offer. https://www.sands.org.uk/.


Care After Giving Birth

You will be supported by midwives and health visitors after birth.

There is also lots of good information:

In addition, we carry out the following checks:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/height-weight-and-reviews/baby-reviews

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations

Get Test Results

Getting your test results

Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can access them:

  • in your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • by calling the surgery on 020 3538 0882 after 10.30am. Please note test results are confidential and will only be given to the patient, unless previously agreed with the patient’s consent.

Questions about your results

If you would like to discuss your test results in more detail, please fill in our online request form. We will book an appointment with the person who requested the tests wherever possible.

Get an update about an existing referral

How to Chase a Hospital Appointment or Referral

Sometimes you may get referred for an appointment with a service based at a hospital or other provider. This is usually done through an electronic system called the NHS E-Referral service (previously called Choose and Book).

You can manage your referral online using the Manage Your Referral website. This website allows you to book, change, and cancel appointments online without help from the practice. You can also use the NHS App. The information you need to do this is contained on the referral letter that was provided to you when the referral was requested. It will usually have a telephone number included that you can call to chase your referral.

If you are having difficulty using either of these services, or you would like assistance finding out more information regarding your referral, please either fill in our online consultation form, Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 5:00pm, or call our reception team on 020 3538 0882. Our reception is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6:30pm.

Patient Choice

My Planned Care NHS (www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk) is an NHS website which has been designed to support patients who are being referred for out-patient services and provides waiting times which are updated weekly. Some patients may wish to use this service to help decide who they would like to be referred to. If you would like to be referred to a specific hospital or outpatient provider, please let your doctor know during your appointment, so they can manage your request accordingly. (Please note that not all services are available at all hospitals, we will advise you if we are unable to refer you to the hospital of your choice).

Request a New Referral

You can give our team specific details about who you would like to see and why. Our team may be able to do the referral without any additional information.

They may request further information, including potentially booking you for a telephone or face to face appointment if this is needed.

Self-Referrals

Minor Illnesses – Pharmacy First:

Find a pharmacy at https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.

Most pharmacies are now able to provide assessment and treatment for 7 common minor conditions. The conditions treated are:

  • Ear infections (people aged 1-17 years)
  • Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
  • Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
  • Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
  • Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
  • Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women aged 16-64 years)

You can attend the pharmacy without speaking with us. They will be able to see you and start treatment if this is appropriate.

Minor Injuries:

Mental Health:

Musculoskeletal:

Pregnancy:

Carers:

Weight Management:

Drug and Alcohol Support:

Smoking Cessation:

Sexual health:

Cervical Screening

Screening is a way of identifying apparently healthy people who may have an increased risk of a particular condition. The NHS offers a range of screening tests to different sections of the population. You will be invited automatically by the NHS centrally for screening when a screening test is due.

The practice carries out cervical screening on site at the practice. You can book this by requesting a routine nurse appointment.

More information about the national screening programme can be found at NHS: Screening. If you have further questions that are not answered on this website, then please book an appointment to discuss this further with one of our doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals.

Sick (fit) note for Work

If you’ve been off sick for more than 7 days

To request a sick note:

If you’ve been off sick for less than 7 days

  • You do not need a doctors’ sick note (‘fit note’).
  • You should fill in a ‘self-certification’ form yourself when you return to work.

Find out more about sick notes on the NHS website.