It’s easy to get help for the following conditions.
You can refer yourself right now, without needing a doctor’s appointment.
Adult care needs
For assessments around care needs or help in the home for older adults or adults with additional needs, you can go directly to Lewisham Council.
Anxiety or depressed mood
Lewisham IAPT can offer counselling and therapy sessions. But you’re also welcome to book an appointment with one of our clinicians if you’d like to discuss medicines.
Audiology (Hearing tests and hearing aids)
You can refer yourself directly to NHS funded community adult audiology providers.
Bowel and bladder problems in adults (continence aids, continence pads)
You can refer yourself to the Lewisham Bowel and Bladder team.
Children’s occupational therapy (problems with eating, using toilet, dressing, and other areas)
You can refer your child to the Lewisham Children’s OT team.
Children’s speech and language problems
You can drop in to local clinics.
Drug and alcohol support
If you need support or help around the use of alcohol or recreational drugs, you can refer yourself to Humankind Primary Care Recovery Service, who work out of Rushey Green Group Practice.
Earache (aged 1-17)
For children aged 1 to 17 years, any pharmacist in Lewisham can assess the child and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Eye Problems (irritated eyes, watering eyes, dry eyes)
You are able to self-refer to an optician under the NHS Minor Eye Conditions (MECS) scheme for conditions like sore eyes, allergic eyes, watering eyes, or recurrent conjunctivitis/stye.
Impetigo
For those aged 1 year and over, any pharmacist in Lewisham can assess you and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Infected insect bites
For those aged 1 year and over, any pharmacist in Lewisham can assess you and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Maternity services
If you’ve found out you’re pregnant, congratulations! A home pregnancy test is accurate, and so you don’t need a GP appointment to confirm. You can refer yourself directly to your preferred hospital:
Quitting smoking
For help quitting smoking, see Smoke Free Lewisham.
Sexual health screening (no symptoms)
This is organised online via www.shl.uk.
Sexual health treatment (suffering symptoms)
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust have comprehensive sexual health services. Some clinics are run in the same building as Rushey Green Group Practice.
Shingles
For those 18 years and over, any pharmacist in Lewisham can assess you and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Sinusitis
For those aged 12 years and over, any pharmacist in Lewisham can assess you and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Social Prescriber Support
Many things that affect our health can’t be treated by doctors or medicine alone. Like loneliness, debt, or stress due to financial pressures or poor housing. Social prescribing connects people to non-medical support to address these issues and other needs. You can refer yourself here.
Sore throat
For those aged 5 years and over, any pharmacist in Lewisham can see the child and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Toenail and foot problems (Podiatry)
You can refer yourself to the Lewisham Foot Health team.
Urinary tract infections (UTI)
For women aged 16 to 64 years with a one-off UTI (so, not something that’s a recurrent problem) any pharmacist in Lewisham can see you and prescribe, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Page last reviewed: 12 January 2025