COVID Passport & Certificates
If you have received your COVID vaccine abroad, we cannot provide a COVID passport.
For more details please visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-covid-pass or call 119
Why are GP practices working differently?
GP practices are open but the pandemic is not over
In South West London there are still thousands of people getting Covid-19 every week, with many being admitted into hospital and some into intensive care. Local GP practices treated people throughout the Covid lockdowns and continue to do so. We must make sure our practices are safe for our staff and protect patients who need to attend in person.
How are practices working now?
When people need seeing face to face this should happen as quickly and safely as possible and it is important that people are assessed first to decide who needs:
- to be seen in person by one of the team
- a phone consultation
- a video consultation
- help from a community pharmacy or another health service
We also want to avoid asking people to travel to practices, where they may come into contact with unwell or infectious people, when this is not essential.
How can I contact my GP?
You can still telephone your GP practice but, if your practice offers it and you are able to, the best thing to do is to use an online service on the practice website. You will then be contacted with the best appointment for you.
If you need help with minor injuries at any time or urgent care when your GP practice or pharmacy is closed visit 111.nhs.uk or dial 111. 111 can also book out of hours appointments.
You can access NHS 111, contact your practice and get your Covid Pass using the NHS App. Search NHS App in your app store.
Why do receptionists ask personal questions?
GP reception staff are skilled professionals and ask questions to make sure you see the right person at the right time and treat all information confidentially. If you don’t want to speak on the phone, you can use the online service on the practice website, if your practice offers this.
I wanted to see my GP, so why am I seeing someone else?
Many GP practices now include a range of professionals like physician’s associates, nurses, practice pharmacists and paramedics who can help you. This means you can often be seen more quickly and if you then need to be seen by your GP they will organise this for you.
Where else can I get help?
Always dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Visit www.nhs.uk for advice on common symptoms and a list of local services or speak to your community pharmacist first for advice on minor illnesses nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy.
Supply disruption for routine blood tests
A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests.
Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems, will still get one but where your clinician recommends that it’s safe to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.
Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.
If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.
Letter to all patients
Dear patient
Firstly we’d like to thank you for your patience and understanding during what has been an extremely challenging last 18 months. We have been working hard to offer you a good level of service and understand there have been occasions where you feel things haven’t gone the way you’d like them to.
We have taken on quite a bit of feedback from patients over the period of the pandemic into how we provide services to our patients. The way we provide care for you has understandably changed due to the impact of COVID-19.
We have though, remained open throughout the pandemic and have continued to see patients face to face when needed.
We have also added in new work streams to make it easier for other patient cohorts to contact a doctor or nurse. These include video appointments and text message communications which have both been warmly embraced and received very good feedback from our patients.
However, in line with instructions from NHS England we have had to change to a triage model whereby all calls are triaged at the point of contact before being assessed by a member of the clinical team. The clinician in charge then processes this and books an appointment based on clinical need and any potential COVID risk to other patients and staff.
I can assure you that reception staff do not make this call. All calls are discussed with a partner and assessed immediately. They are then dealt with based on clinical need and an appropriate time frame for an appointment is found.
We have found this system to work well in freeing up a lot of emergency slots on the day - resulting in patients with an actual emergency medical need, being able to see a doctor or a nurse on the day. Previously these appointments were being booked inappropriately at times.
Overall the response has been good and we will continue to review and improve our workflow systems to enable us to offer prompt medical care when needed. We are seeing a huge increase in clinical demand at the moment and are continually assessing how best we can service this.
We continue to see patients face to face when appropriate and will continue to assess how this can be best managed as the pandemic evolves.
Whilst he vaccination programme has been very successful and life is beginning to return to something like normal - a word of caution. We are unfortunately seeing quite a few cases of double vaccinated individuals contracting COVID-19 (in most cases the delta variant). It is for this reason that we continue to operate the way we do, with safeguards in place to keep both our patients and our staff safe. It has not been easy but we do this with the best of intent.
Please do remember that this virus is still looming and that is why we remain cautious.
Thank you for your feedback and I hope you find this explanation helpful.
The partners
TRP
Thank you
Dr Jonathan Christopher
Free well-being programme
Free 6 week programme for people aged 60 and above in Battersea starting on Mondays at 1pm from July 12th 2021.
Includes an exercise session, refreshments and a wellbeing topic each week.
Meet new people and find out more about what is happening in the Battersea community
For more information contact Sarah or Dawn at Katherine Low Settlement, 108 Battersea High Street, 0207 223 2845, sarahg@klsettlement.org.uk, dawn@klsettlement.org.uk
Covid Vaccination Programme
COVID Vaccination Update – 12/03/2021
Thurleigh Road Practice – part of the Clapham junction health centre vaccination team
Please be aware we are working our hardest to ensure all patients in groups 1-6 have had the opportunity to have their Covid vaccination at our vaccination hub and as we are sure you are aware this is a huge task to undertake, we have already invited all those in groups 1-6. Any patient within these groups who have not had the vaccine as of yet and now wishes to take up the offer can arrange this through the Covid Vaccination National Service.
Patient in groups 7-8 (Ages 55-64), should have received a letter from the NHS to book your vaccination through the national service. Please ensure you book your appointment by following the instructions in the letter.
Patients in group 9 (Ages 50-54) will start to be invited to our local vaccination hub in the next couple of weeks, invites will mainly go out via text message and you will either receive a text message with how to book (if we have your correct mobile contact details) or we will call you within due course to arrange your vaccination. If you have any further questions regarding the Covid vaccination or having problems booking your vaccination please call the practice after 10am and we will endeavour to deal with your concern as quickly as possible.
Covid Vaccination National Service
All Patients who are in groups 1-8 can now also book their vaccination through the national Covid vaccination centres.
You can only use this service if any of the following apply:
• you are aged 55 or over
• you have previously received a letter saying you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health worker
• you are an eligible frontline social care worker
• you get Carer’s Allowance – find out more about Carer’s Allowance on GOV.UK
You can book via the NHS website – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
In the meantime, more information about the Covid-19 vaccine can be found here.
Private prescriptions
At Thurleigh Road Practice, we are grateful to receive the support of our private consultant colleagues in the ongoing management of our patients.
As a result, we receive a large volume of requests for private prescriptions to be converted to NHS ones.
Whenever a GP prescribes something for you, they are taking full responsibility for this even if the medication has been recommended by another doctor. Therefore all such prescriptions requested will be reviewed by a GP and where possible and appropriate, will be turned around in 2 working days from receipt.
However there are some medications which, for safety and monitoring reasons should only be started by a consultant. Some examples can be found in the list below however this list is not exhaustive and all medication requests will be assessed on an individual basis:
- Medication for ADHD
- Lithium
- Bupropion
- Methotrexate
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Mycophenolate
When a patient is stable on such medications, it may be possible for us as your GPs to take over the prescribing responsibility but only after discussion and written agreement with the responsible consultant.
We will always try and accommodate all prescription requests that we receive however there may still be some instances where we as your GPs may not agree to prescribe a certain medication. Such instances include:
- If the GP does not feel that they have significant expertise to safely prescribe such a specialist drug
- There has not been enough communication from the private doctor about the rationale behind using such medication
- The use of such medicine is not in line with local or national guidance
- If a medication if not licensed for use for that specific condition/diagnosis or is not licensed in the UK
We thank you for your understanding.
Battersea COVID-19 Vaccination Programme – Volunteers Needed
We Need YOU – We are currently planning for an effective Covid-19 vaccination programme in Battersea.
We are working very hard with other local Battersea GP practices to get this essential service up and running for our local population by the beginning of January 2021. However, the scale and pace of the Covid-19 vaccination programme will require additional support and we are looking for volunteers to help to ensure the programme runs safely, smoothly and efficiently.
If you would like to contribute to the success of our local Covid-19 vaccination programme at The Junction Health Centre as a steward, please email: swlccg.covidvacc@nhs.net
Thank you.
Routine immunisations during the pandemic
NHS services in London are working hard to make sure all adults and babies still receive their routine vaccinations. When you visit your GP surgery, things may be a little different: social distancing and infection prevention control measures may be in place. This is all to keep you and staff safe. If you are due a vaccination, contact your GP today. nhs.uk/vaccinations
