GP appointments should be given to patients who really need them. So, before you book an appointment to see a GP, take a look at the alternative services available to you that may offer more appropriate and QUICKER help and advice.
SELF CARE
If you have a minor ailment such as a cough or cold, ear ache, temperature, hay fever, back ache, the list goes on! You don’t have to see a GP in the first instance. Visit Your Health, NHS111 online or your local pharmacy for information and advice on how to self manage your condition. All services will be able to tell you when to seek advice from a GP or to seek more urgent help.
The benefits of using these services rather than seeing a GP in the first instance are:
You will learn about your condition, how to better prevent and manage it in the future
You can get same day advice and treatment
You won’t have to wait for long periods of time on the phone trying to book and appointment with the GP, having to take time off work or wait to receive a phone call once you have booked an appointment
SPECIALISED SERVICES and SELF REFERRING in the COMMUNITY
There are more specialised services out there to help patients as well, and provide quicker and more suitable care than what a GP can provide, such as:
Minor Eye Conditions Service: Optometrists are better equipped and have access to tests that are not available in a GP Practice to be able to mange your eye condition. Click here for more information, and to see where you can access these services locally.
Physiotherapy: If you have back, neck or shoulder pain, a sports injury, movement problems due to a long term condition, need rehabilitation after a heart attack or support with breathing due to having COPD or cystic fibrosis, you can cut out the middle man (GP) and Self-refer to a physiotherapist to help you.
Talking Therapies: Provide mental health support and well being. They can provide support with many conditions including: Feeling low or depressed, anxious, stressed or panicky, problems with low self-esteem, problems dealing with a traumatic life event, obsessions and compulsions, minor eating disorders etc. By self referring to these services it can speed up the support you need by cutting out waiting to see a GP first
Community Dental Services: Dentists are specially trained in the help and care of your mouth. Examples include: trauma, bleeding gums, minor cuts, bruises on the lips, lumps and bumps, ulcers, blisters, pain in your jaw etc. They have access to equipment and tests that GPs do not, in order to provide you with the best care and advice. Click here to find your nearest Dental Practice.
Mental Health Crisis Response Service: patients will be able to call 111 and select option 2, putting them through to a fully trained and qualified mental health professional team. The team has a wide range of skills, including on-the-phone brief psychological support and has access to key services and organisations that can offer mental health support to people in their time of need. If service users are known to ELFT or NELFT services, they should continue to contact their service in the ways they had been doing so previously during working hours. Those wishing to contact a mental health professional outside of hours – or those who aren’t previously known to services – should contact 111 and select option 2.
SOCIAL PRESCRIBING / HEALTH AND WELLBEING COACH
Not all problems can be fixed by doctors or medicine alone. Worries regarding home life, money, work, housing issues, being or needing a carer, migrant/refugee/asylum seeker support are just a few areas which often need someone who is aware of all the services and support that is available out there at a community level, to be able to help you. These people are not GPs but Social Prescribers. They have up to date information and have the time and ability to support you in a way that suits you. Click here for more information on what a Social Prescriber does. To see a Social Prescriber, please call the surgery during our working hours and speak to one of our receptionists.
Health and wellbeing coaches support people to increase their ability to self-manage, motivation levels and commitment to change their lifestyle. They are experts in behaviour change and focus on improving health related outcomes by working with people to set personalised goals and change their behaviours. They work with people with physical and/or mental health conditions and those at risk of developing them.
Health and wellbeing coaches can be an effective intervention for people experiencing a range of long term conditions, including respiratory, cardiovascular (including type 2 diabetes and hypertension), and stress/low mood. They can also support people with weight management, diet and increasing activity levels.
It is very important to understand that if you feel that you have not received the care and support you need for your medical condition by using the above services, that you book an appointment to see a GP here at the surgery who are here to help you!
STILL NEED TO SEE A GP? Please see the options available to you:
ONLINE CONSULTATIONS
To save your self time by not having to call the surgery and to be able to request advice at any time of the day, you can choose to have an online consultation. Please click on the link for more information, we will respond to your query within 2 working days.
ONLINE ACCESS TO BOOKING APPOINTMENTS / REQUESTING REPEAT MEDICATIONS / ACCESS TO MEDICAL RECORDS etc.
For more information on online bookings please see below or speak to reception.
NHS APP: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/
OR, present photo ID to reception who can grant you Patient Access.
ROUTINE TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS WITH A GP / PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE
You can book routine GP appointment from Monday to Friday online or by calling the surgery on 0208 475 8500, bookable from 10am.
Your initial consultation will be with the doctor via telephone and if they feel you need to be seen face to face, they will book a face to face appointment with you.
ADVANCED TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS WITH A GP / PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE
You can book telephone consultations up to 30 days in advance online or by calling the surgery.
The consultation will be via telephone, but if they feel you need to be seen face to face, they will book an appointment for you.
APPOINTMENTS WITH OTHER CLINICAL STAFF
When calling for an appointment you may be booked with one of the following clinicians depending on your symptoms; each are trained to understand, manage and treat many different medical conditions:
Clinical Pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Advanced Nurse Practitioner
For appointments with the Nurse or Health Care Assistant, please call the surgery on 02084758500 at any time during our opening hours.
EXTENDED ACCESS SERVICE
The Extended Access Service provides GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP), Nurse and HCA appointments Monday- Friday evenings and Saturday day time.
All clinicians will have basic access to your medical records to be better able to assist you. They are also able to prescribe, send for tests and make referrals if necessary. This service is simply an extension to the service we provide at the practice.
All GP and ANP appointments will be telephone triaged initially. A face to face appointment will then be offered if deemed clinically necessary. Patients will also be able to request a face to face appointment and this can be arranged.
Patients can also book, cancel or reschedule an appointment in the enhanced access service by contacting the:
Single Point of Access (SPA) on: 0203 839 7513, which is open 7 days a week, from 10am to 8pm.
HOME VISITS
Home visits are mainly carried out for those who are housebound, as home visits take up more of a doctor’s time than a consultation in the surgery. Therefore, if you are able to, it would be best to be seen at the surgery.
If you require a home visit, please call the surgery as early as possible. Your call will be logged by the Receptionist and the Doctor will phone you back as soon as they can.
Home visits will be granted at the doctors’ discretion and if a home visit is not required, you may be advised to attend the surgery.
Out of Hours Service, when the surgery is closed
If your medical concern cannot wait for the next day, please call NHS Advice Line on 111, who will be able to help. Emergency calls will be monitored by the Practice and patients who use this service inappropriately will be sent a letter or you may be invited to discuss your needs with the Doctor.
Urgent Care Centre
If your injury is not serious, you can get help from a minor injuries unit (MIU) or urgent care centre (UCC), rather than going to an A&E department. This will allow A&E staff to concentrate on people with serious, life-threatening conditions and will save you a potentially long wait.
Minor injuries units and urgent care centres can treat:
- sprains and strains
- broken bones
- wound infections
- minor burns and scalds
- minor head injuries
- insect and animal bites
- minor eye injuries
- injuries to the back, shoulder and chest
Minor injuries units and urgent care centres cannot treat:
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- major injuries
- problems usually dealt with by a GP
- stomach pains
- gynaecological problems
- pregnancy problems
- allergic reactions
- overdoses
- alcohol related problems
- mental health problems
- conditions likely to require hospital admission
