Appointments

For your safety it is better for you to consult with your registered doctor for on-going problems or with the doctor who has been dealing with your problem. Therefore, unless it is an emergency and where possible, please ask to consult with the doctor who is dealing with your problem.

What is an Emergency?

Whatever the time of day, if you or someone else experiences the symptoms below and you feel it is so serious that it cannot wait, go to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department or call 999.

Symptoms include

Chest pain
Severe abdominal pain
Vomiting blood
Black stools
Breathlessness
Non-blanching rashes (the glass test)
Possible anaphylactic shock (swelling of mouth and throat)
Emergencies will be dealt with as a priority by a GP.

Don’t go to A&E if it not serious emergency

NHS Services are everywhere, Self-care to treat very minor illness and injuries

Self-care

A lot of common illnesses can be treated at home by using over-the-counter medicine and getting plenty of rest. It is worth keeping paracetamol or aspirin, anti-diarrhoea medicine, rehydration mixture, indigestion remedy, plasters and a thermometer in your medicine cabinet. Self-care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries. For more information about looking after yourself visit www.nhs.uk.

Ask Your Pharmacist

Your local pharmacist can give you friendly, expert advice about over-the-counter medicines that can help with lots of common conditions such as diarrhoea, a runny nose, a painful cough or a headache, without the need for an appointment. As well as dispensing prescriptions, pharmacists provide a range of services related to specific health issues and can advise on minor ailments such as colds, skin conditions and allergies. Other services include emergency contraception and incontinence supplies. For help finding your nearest pharmacist, use the online search on www.nhs.uk or Visit the National Pharmacy Association website for more information.

GP

Make an appointment with your local GP when you have an illness or injury that will not go away, including persistent vomiting, ear pain, stomach ache or back ache. Get the treatment you need at a convenient time and place and reduce the demand on our emergency services. Registering is free and means you can make an appointment with a doctor for medical advice, examinations and prescriptions. For help finding your nearest GP, use the online search on www.nhs.uk or call 0300 311 22 33. If you need to see a GP urgently when your practice is closed, call 111 for fast medical advice.

Urgent care and walk-in centres

Local urgent care centres and walk-in centres provide fast medical treatment and advice for patients with injuries which are urgent but do not need a visit to A&E. They can also be used when you can’t wait for an appointment with your GP. These centres treat injuries and illnesses such as cuts, sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings. You don’t need to book an appointment – just turn up and you will be seen promptly by a doctor or nurse. To find your nearest urgent care or walk-in centre visit NHS Choices on www.nhs.uk. You can also call 111 for urgent medical advice.

Minor Injuries

If you have had a minor injury within the last 48 hours why wait in A&E, contact the surgery for a Minor Injury appointment.

A&E

The nearest A&E department is Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.

NHS 111 Urgent Care Services

Call 111 if you need medical help fast, but it’s not life-threatening. For example, if you;
Think you need to go to hospital
Don’t know who to call for medical help
Don’t have a GP to call
Need medical advice or reassurance about what to do next

If you require immediate medical attention please call NHS 111 for medical advice, or 999 in an emergency.

Hubs

In addition, this surgery is part of the West London GP Federation, a group of practices in the local area that work together to provide evening and weekend appointments.

You must be registered with a member practice, such as this one to access these services.

The practice is part of the West London GP Federation meaning our patients have access to GP led services (this will not be your usual GP) via the Extended Hours Hubs for acute problems only.

This excludes:

• Long-term, ongoing conditions, for example diabetes, asthma, etc.
• Referrals to hospitals and other services
• Investigations including blood test, x-rays, scans
• Repeat prescriptions

Appointments are available Monday – Friday from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm and during weekends. To access appointments from this service, call your normal surgery and request an Extended Hours appointment.

If the practice is at full capacity appointments will be offered at our remote sites either:

• Violet Melchett Health Centre, 30 Flood Walk, Chelsea, London SW3 5RR
• St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Exmoor St, London W10 6DZ

It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you.

Home visits are for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery. Home visits are not for those who do not have transport.

If you need a home visit please Call surgery before 9am, Home Visit requests will be directed to the Home Visiting service and carried out by the GP hub.

• Prepare your thoughts and problems in advance by writing down your problem e.g: When your symptoms started, how they have changed.
• Do your Blood pressure in the waiting room
• Do a urine sample if you have pain passing urine or lower abdominal pain.
• Do not try to add another person in on your consultation. Let reception know you need another appointment for this individual or prioritise who needs the appointment more.
• Be honest with the doctor. It is important to tell the doctor the main reason you are there at the start of the consultation. If you are embarrassed, don’t be, the doctor is there to help and won’t be shocked.
• If you have more than one problem please let reception know and they will try and get you a longer appointment if possible. Otherwise, let your doctor know at the beginning of your consultation. They may be able to deal with more than one problem if they are related. However, your doctor may make you another appointment for your other problems, especially if they are new or complex problems.
• If you have any special needs please inform reception in advance so we can prepare the appointment for you first time (e.g. need an interpreter, visual impairment, hearing impairment, prefer male/female doctor etc..)
• If you know you have difficulty understanding or explaining things bring someone you trust with you or if you require an advocate see NHS choices for available advocacy services.
• Dress accordingly for possible examination. Loose clothing is best and remove any layers in advance.
• Please let reception know if you would like a chaperone.
• All our doctors have a special interest in certain medical areas. Why not consult with a doctor who has an interest in the area of your problem in the first instance?

A consultation is about sharing in decisions about your care and goals. To make a good consultation you should let your doctor know about your goals, hopes, fears and expectations. This is why doctors ask you for YOUR thoughts. At the end of a consultation you should know:

• What is your main problem
• What do you need to do about it
• What to do if it does not get any better

Useful Links

• NHS Choices – Get the most from a doctor’s appointment

The practice offers a fully triaged booking system.

The triage system is in place to provide same day access to GP advice and if an appointment is required we will allocate you to the doctor best suited to your concern based on an available appointment.