Blood Tests

The way patients get blood tests are changing from the NEW DATE which is the 24th August 2023.

Patients will now need to go onto the swiftque app and book an appointment at Gracefield Gardens or Guys and St Thomas's hospital to have their blood tests done. This is no longer a walk in service.

You must speak with a GP before hand so they can give you the correct form to take with you to your appointment.

Please use the link below to see further information.

Swiftque Patient information

Online Appointment Healthcare Platform | Swiftqueue

Nursing Services

We provide a full nursing service to include cervical smears, childhood immunisations, flu jabs, diabetes and asthma/COPD checks and blood tests.

Smoking Cessation

We provide NHS stop smoking services at Pavilion Medical Centre.

If you decide to give up, you will be seen on a one-to-one basis and will be offered appropriate treatment including nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, gum, lozenges, microtabs, inhalators and nasal sprays.  

We can also prescribe bupropion (Zyban), a drug that reduces the craving for nicotine. This isn't for everyone as it can cause epileptic fits in people prone to them and can affect liver and blood pressure, so needs close monitoring. Some people do very well with the medication, so it's worth considering.  

There is also a recently introduced drug called varenicline (Champix), which blocks the effect of nicotine in the brain.  

Patients can book to see our nurse or one of the GP’s by calling the surgery. Other resources: Link to NHS Lambeth leaflet

Diabetes

The practice provides diabetes checkups for all those affected by, or have a family history of diabetes. We are fortunate to be supported by the Lambeth Diabetes Intermediate Care Team to support the practice.

For more information on diabetes click here

• http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes/Pages/Diabetes.aspx
• http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

If you are keen for a check up, then please book an appointment for blood tests and then a second appointment with the nurse or a GP to get the results.

Contraceptive Advice

Confidential contraceptive advice is available, regardless of age, and is given by the practice nurse or GP’s. A full choice of methods is offered, including contraceptive implants and IUCDs (coils).

Emergency postcoital contraception is available, up to 120 hours after unprotected sex by hormonal methods, or 5 days by fitting IUCD (coil). Click here for more information

• http://www.fpa.org.uk/helpandadvice/contraception/emergencycontraception
• http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/emergency-contraception/Pages/Introduction.aspx

An appointment will always be made for you as necessary. We can refer for termination of pregnancy, where appropriate, regardless of age. We can also give details of specialist contraceptive services.

Chlamydia Screening

As part of a national programme, we offer screening for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, aimed at young men and women. This is a simple and painless urine test for people who do not have any symptoms.  We also offer routine sexual health screening.

Mental Health

We have counselling and psychology services available at the practice. There are also strong links with our local community health team.

We work closely with a number of services offering support and treatment for people with drug or alcohol problems, and now have a weekly specialist clinic on Friday mornings with the Lambeth Community Drug & Alcohol Team, offering advice for any drug or alcohol problems. Ask at reception for an appointment.

Local Services Finder

You can find other local services via the link below

Find services near you - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Primary Care Psychology Services

Lambeth IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy) is a team of 36 mental health workers, including clinical and counselling psychologists, CBT therapists and psychological wellbeing practitioners, providing CBT and guided self help for people with common mental illnesses (predominately anxiety disorders and depression) across the borough of Lambeth. We have three additional target groups- those suffering the effects of worklessness , BME communities, and offenders and ex offenders.

Self Referral through getUBetter:

The Lambeth MSK app (powered by getUBetter) is provided free of charge by

Lambeth CCG for patients registered at Hetherington Group Practice. It can be accessed on a Smartphone or on the Web and guides you day-by-day through a sequence of exercises and tips to help you get better from a range of new or recurrent musculoskeletal conditions:
• Lower back pain
• Back and leg pain
• Neck Pain
• Shoulder Pain
• Ankle Pain
• Knee Pain
• Soft Tissue Lower Limb
• Hip

You will be referred to the app by one of our GPs or Physio, or you can self-register by clicking on this link https://app.getubetter.com/request-access/1/41f1f19176d383480afa65d325c06ed0  or the app image Please use an email address that is unique to you and select the condition you need help to manage. You will then be sent an email with all the information you need to get started.

You can download the getUBetter app to your Smartphone for easiest access. If you develop another condition select your new condition from within the app and it will be added to your account. The app will also connect you to your local; treatment, healthcare providers or
support services if needed like Physiotherapy.

Non NHS services

The NHS may not cover certain things; for instance, visitors from abroad may not always be eligible for free treatment (although emergencies are always covered). We can also provide certain services outside the NHS, such as LGV or Taxi medicals, insurance examinations, for which a fee is payable. Our charges for these are listed in reception and attached.  Private fees.   We do not countersign passports. 

Treatment Access Policy

This policy deals with treatment & procedures - if a procedure is not listed then it is not commissioned and not available.

South East London Treatment Access Policy

Health Inclusion Team

On Tuesdays and Fridays we host  a specialist clinic offering health care to refugees and asylum seekers who may struggle to access GP services

This is run by the Health Inclusion Team from Guys and St Thomas' Hospital https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/community-health-inclusion-team/overview.aspx 

You do need to be referred by a caseworker or health worker to register for this service. Please ask them to contact us on 02072749252 or email the team directly on gst-tr.referralsHIT@nhs.net 

BACK PAIN SELF-REFERRAL

Do you have LOWER BACK PAIN or SCIATICA?

If you are pregnant or under 17 years of age, please contact your GP as we can accept your referral at this time.

If you have LOWER BACK PAIN or SCIATICA, you can now refer yourself to the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Physiotherapy service.

What is self-referral?

Self-referral offers you access to a musculoskeletal physiotherapist without the need to see your GP first. Self-referral may reduce your wait to access an expert opinion, advice and treatment of your back pain and puts you in control of your care.

 What to expect when you self-refer to Physiotherapy at Guy’s & St Thomas’:

 Your referral will be reviewed within TWO WORKING DAYS

• You can expect to be offered an appointment within TWO WEEKS

• You will be contacted and because of the coronavirus outbreak you will receive a telephone advice service only.

 What is Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy?

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a specialist area of physiotherapy treating injuries and conditions which affect muscles, joints and soft tissues. Conditions which can be treated by musculoskeletal physiotherapy include arthritis, back and neck pain, knee and lower limb complaints, shoulder and upper limb complaints, such as muscle strains and ligaments sprains.

What to expect when you see a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist?

A physiotherapist will make a detailed specialist assessment of your problems including you in your individualised care. Treatment may involve movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice to maximise recovery, function and quality of life through focussing on physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing.

To self-refer to physiotherapy at Guy’s & St Thomas’, please click the button below.

http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/Physiotherapy-self-referral-form/

Travel Vaccinations

We provide travel vaccinations to our registered patients.

Please contact us at least 5-6 weeks prior to your trip where possible as some vaccinations require multiple appointments and time to become effective.

You can find information on www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk about your travel health and vaccinations

Vaccine charges

The following travel vaccinations are usually available free on the NHS:

• Diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A – including when combined with typhoid or hepatitis B
• Cholera

These vaccines are usually free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

For other travel vaccinations please enquire at reception regarding prices as these prices are subject to change depending on changes in purchase costs.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful when planning your travels:

• www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk  information on vaccinations and advice on travel.
• www.ehic.org.uk  request a European Health Insurance Card for free emergency care within the EU.
• www.fco.gov.uk  the FCO provide current safety advice on travelling to other countries from the UK.

NHS Lambeth CCG no longer supports the routine prescribing of malaria prevention or the routine prescribing of the following vaccinations for travel abroad.

• hepatitis B vaccine (monovalent vaccine and combination vaccine with hepatitis A)
• meningitis ACWY135 vaccine
• yellow fever vaccine
• Japanese B encephalitis vaccine
• tick-borne encephalitis vaccine
• rabies vaccine

Please refer to the travel health web pages for patients and position statements.

Travel health http://www.lambethccg.nhs.uk/your-health/keeping-well/Pages/Travel-health.aspx 

• Position Statement for Prescribing Malaria Prevention Medicines on the NHS for Travel Abroad
• Position Statement for Prescribing Selected Vaccines on the NHS for Travel Abroad

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Chargeable Non NHS Services

Non - nhs Charges

Why do GPs charge fees? Your questions answered

Isn't the NHS supposed to be free?

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions.
Prescription charges have existed since 1951, and there are a number of other services for which
fees are charged.

Sometimes the charge is made to cover some of the cost of treatment, for example, dental fees.
In other cases it is because the service is not covered by the NHS, for example, medical reports for
insurance companies, claim forms for referral for private care and other letters and forms which
require the doctor to review the patient's medical records .

Surely the doctor is being paid anyway?

It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self employed, and they
have to cover their costs - staff, buildings, heating, lighting etc - in the same way as any small
business.

The NHS pays the doctor for specific NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the
doctor's costs.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?

The government's contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients.
In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of
non-medical work.

Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the
community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information
provided is true and accurate.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge are:

• Travel fees, Certificates and Forms
• Full Medical Examination & Reports
• Copies of Medical Records

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

Time spent completing forms and preparing reports takes the GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. Most GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.

I only need the doctor's signature - what is the problem?

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the Medical Register that they only sign what they know to be true.

Therefore, in order to complete even the simplest of forms, the doctor needs to check the patient's entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor, with the General Medical Council or even the Police. At Pavilion Medical Practice we are unable to sign passport application forms.

What will I be charged?

The BMA recommends that GPs tell patients in advance if they will be charged, and how much. It is up to the individual practice to decide how much to charge, but the BMA produces lists of suggested fees for the Doctors to use as a guideline.

What can I do to help?

Not all documents need a signature by a doctor. For example, you could ask another person in a position of trust, who may be willing to sign a passport application free of charge. (Teacher, Accountant, etc)

You can complete the form to the best of your ability in pencil, so the doctor just has to quickly verify your entries against the information we hold.

Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight, urgent requests may mean that a doctor has to make special arrangements to process the form quickly, and this will cost more.

Test Results

Please call between 10:00 and 14:00 to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times.

When you take your test your doctor or nurse will tell you how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice and will usually book you a future appointment with your GP to discuss the results.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if your are advised to do so.

Blood Tests

A blood test is when a sample of blood is taken for testing in a laboratory. Blood tests have a wide range of uses and are one of the most common types of medical test. For example, a blood test can be used to:

• assess your general state of health
• confirm the presence of a bacterial or viral infection
• see how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

A blood test usually involves the phlebotomist taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. and the usual place for a sample is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface. Blood samples from children are most commonly taken from the back of the hand. The child's hand will be anaesthetised (numbed) with a special cream before the sample is taken.

You can find out more about blood tests, their purpose and the way they are performed on the NHS Choices website.

X-Ray

An X-ray is a widely used diagnostic test to examine the inside of the body. X-rays are a very effective way of detecting problems with bones, such as fractures. They can also often identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

If you have a X-ray, you will be asked to lie on a table or stand against a surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

An X-ray is usually carried out by a radiographer, a healthcare professional who specialises in using imaging technology, such as X-rays and ultrasound scanners.

You can find out more about x-ray tests, how they are performed, their function and the risks by visiting the NHS Choices website.