We provide a range of services and clinics that deal with a variety of medical queries and routine appointments that can be booked through submitting a request online. Click here to see what online services we offer.
Associated Clinical Care
District Nurses
The District Nursing Team delivers nursing assessments and care to housebound patients with physical healthcare needs. They provide services in patients’ homes and residential care settings. The team supports individuals with disabilities and long-term conditions, helping them recover their health, manage health challenges, and achieve the highest possible level of independent living.
Health Visitors
The Health Visiting Team offers guidance and support in several areas, including:
- Antenatal groups
- Home visits following birth, offering advice on feeding, safe sleep, emotional well-being of parents, and child health
- Maternal and infant feeding advice at 6-8 weeks
- Health and developmental reviews for children at 9 months to 1 year and 2 to 2.5 years
- General parenting support
- Guidance on family health and managing minor illnesses
- Specialized assistance with conditions such as postnatal depression
- Immunisation and national screening program information
- Support for families transitioning to school
Additionally, the team runs a targeted service for children and families requiring extra support, providing assessments and referring them to appropriate services such as speech and language therapy.
Physiotherapy
A physiotherapy service is available at the practice on Mondays and Fridays, provided by a physiotherapist from St George’s Hospital. If you think physiotherapy might be beneficial, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Your doctor will guide you on how to access the service. Depending on availability, you may be seen either at the surgery or at St George’s Hospital if there is a long waiting list at the surgery.
The practice also offers an in-house First Contact Practitioner (FCP), a skilled physiotherapist who can assess, diagnose, and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as lower back pain, ankle sprains, or frozen shoulder. The FCP service allows patients with MSK issues to self-refer directly to a specialist, without needing to visit their GP first. Conditions such as back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and general joint discomfort can now be addressed by the FCP.
Child Immunizations
GP’s conduct baby checks at 8 weeks, and the practice nurses will administer childhood immunisations immediately after.
If you have any questions regarding childhood immunisations or are concerned that your child’s immunisations may be behind, please schedule an appointment with one of our practice nurses.
When booking your baby’s 8-week check, the receptionist will arrange a double appointment with a GP, followed by a double appointment with one of our practice nurses for the first set of immunisations on the same day, as close to the GP appointment time as possible.
Warning advice: Patient Notice
Vaccination Schedule
| Child Age | Vaccination required |
|---|---|
| 8 Weeks | 6-in-1 Vaccine: Diptheria, Hepatitis B, Hib, Polio Tetanus, Whooping Cough. Rotavirus Vaccine MenB |
| 12 Weeks | 6-in-1 Vaccine (2nd dose) Pneumococcal (PCV) Vaccine Rotavirus Vaccine (2nd dose) |
| 16 Weeks | 6-in-1 Vaccine (3rd dose) MenB (2nd dose) |
| 1 Year | MMR (1st dose) Hib/MenC (1st dose) Pneumococcal (PCV) Vaccine (2nd dose) MenB (3rd dose) |
| 18 Months | MMR Booster (if you require further information, please make an appointment) |
For full information on baby care please click here.
Cervical Screenings / Smears
All women and individuals with a cervix aged 25 to 64 will receive an invitation by letter for a smear test every 3 to 5 years. Smear tests are typically performed by the nurses during scheduled appointments. The practice also offers smear clinics on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please note that you are welcome to bring your child to the appointment if childcare is not available. To book an appointment with one of the nurses, please contact your surgery.
Chronic Disease Management
If you have one of the following conditions, we encourage you to have an annual review to monitor your health:
- Asthma / Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Coronary Heart Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure, and High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
- Diabetes
- Non-Diabetic Hyperglycaemia
- Dementia
- Learning Disabilities
- Mental Health Conditions
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
An annual review may include blood tests and is essential for all patients with chronic conditions. The purpose of this review is to ensure that you are on the right medication and receiving optimal care for your condition(s).
Our goal is to schedule annual reviews during your birth month. We will send you a reminder when your review is due. However, we encourage you to actively manage your own health, so if your birthday has passed and you haven’t received a reminder, please contact us to schedule your review.
Most annual reviews are carried out by our nursing team. You may need to attend appointments with both a Healthcare Assistant and a Practice Nurse. Please contact our reception team at 020 8673 1720, and they will guide you in booking the appropriate appointments.
Our invitation system for annual reviews is based on your birth month. You will receive up to three invites each year:
- The first invitation will be sent within a month of your birth month if you haven’t had a review since April.
- A second invite will be sent 1-2 months later if you haven’t booked.
- A third invite will be sent a few months after the second.
Attending your review appointment is crucial to ensure that your condition is effectively controlled and managed. If you run out of your repeat medication and have not had a review, we may not be able to authorize a refill for your medication.
Useful Links
Family Planning
All doctors are available to provide family planning advice during their regular surgery hours. To discuss family planning, please schedule an appointment with a practice nurse or a GP.
- Coils: Can be fitted by one of our clinicians or at the Sexual Health Clinic. To book, simply submit an admin form here or call 0333 300 2100.
- Contraceptive Implants: Can be fitted by one of our clinicians or at the Sexual Health Clinic. To book, simply submit an admin form here or call 0333 300 2100.
- Contraceptive Injections: Administered by the practice nurses.
- Emergency Contraception: Please contact a practice nurse or a GP as soon as possible.
Contraception
Our clinicians can offer both the coil and implant procedures for patients that wish to start these forms of contraception as an alternative to the contraceptive pill. They can also remove the devices from patients who no longer require having it, or would like to replace their current ones. The appointments for these procedures are as follow:
| appointment type | appointment times |
|---|---|
| Coil insertion | 1 x 20 minutes Doctors appointment |
| Coil removal | 1 x 20 minutes Doctors appointment |
| Coil removal and insertion | 2 x 20 minutes Doctors appointment |
| Implant insertion | 1 x 20 minutes doctors appointment 1 x 15 minute HCA appointment |
| Implant removal | 1 x 20 minutes doctors appointment 1 x 15 minute HCA appointment |
| Implant removal and insertion | 2 x 20 minutes doctors appointment 2 x 15 minute HCA appointment |
Health Checks
Newly registered patients can schedule a health check appointment at the surgery once their registration is complete. This consultation is typically carried out by a Health Care Assistant and may involve checking blood pressure, height, weight, and conducting a urinalysis. Discussions may also include diet, alcohol consumption, exercise, smoking status, and allergies.
An NHS Health Check is available for patients aged 40 to 74. This check aims to detect early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or dementia. As we age, the risk of developing these conditions increases, and the NHS Health Check helps identify ways to reduce this risk.
For more information, please contact the practice.
Home Visits
We are happy to provide home visits when clinically necessary, such as for housebound patients or those who are terminally ill.
If you would like to request a home visit, please contact the surgery as soon as possible so that doctors can plan their visits accordingly.
If possible, please try to come to book an in-person the surgery or a telephone consultation with one of our clinicians, as a doctor can see 4 or 5 patients in the time taken to complete one home visit. Home visits are only provided for valid health reasons, not for convenience.
Unless there are exceptional circumstances, we generally ask that young children be brought to the surgery, where we can provide the best care and conduct a more thorough assessment.
If you are registered as an “Out of Area” patient, the practice will not be able to provide a home visit. In this case, please contact 111, who will direct you to a local service.
Phlebotomy / Blood tests
Urgent advice: Important Information
Blood tests are conducted by our Health care assistants on weekdays before 3:30 pm and Saturday mornings to ensure samples are sent to the laboratory on the same day.
It is the patient’s responsibility to contact the doctor for the results.
To make it easier for patients, we offer a results checking system so you don’t need to schedule an appointment just to receive your test results. The doctor will leave clear instructions with the reception team to help you understand the results without the need to attend the surgery.
Waiting Times
Waiting times can vary depending on the time of day, the number of samples taken, and any complications that may arise during blood collection. Every effort is made to see patients promptly, with an average wait of about 5 minutes, though this can sometimes be longer depending on circumstances. Our busiest times are between 8:30 am and 10:30 am.
Procedure
The Phlebotomist will call you into the room, ask you to sit in a chair, and uncover your arm. After confirming your identity, a tourniquet will be applied above the elbow, and the area will be cleaned if necessary. A small needle will be gently inserted into a vein in the inner arm to collect the required blood samples.
Once the blood is collected, the needle will be removed, and pressure will be applied to the site using cotton wool or gauze to stop the bleeding. A small plaster will be applied to the area—please inform the Phlebotomist if you are allergic to sticking plaster. The blood is then placed in tubes and sent to the laboratory for testing.
Risks
Phlebotomy is generally safe when performed by a trained health professional. You may develop a small bruise at the puncture site. Bruising typically occurs due to insufficient pressure on the site or damage to the vein during the needle insertion. While bruises can be uncomfortable, they are usually harmless. If you experience frequent bruising, please inform your GP. If you feel faint or dizzy during or after the procedure, let the Phlebotomist know so they can help you feel more comfortable.
Results
It is important to follow up on your test results. If you’ve been asked to make a follow-up appointment, please be aware that results can take 1 to 2 weeks to be reported from the lab. Your GP will inform you if the results are expected to take longer.
To view your test results, please log in to your NHS App before contacting the surgery.
Test Results
GP’s review all test results and will contact you if any urgent follow-up is needed. If there’s no urgency, you may be contacted by phone or letter, or you may be asked to call the surgery. Ideally, you should speak with the GP who requested the tests. For full information on test results please see here.
Stop Smoking Services
If you need help to stop smoking don’t go it alone, call the Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service today on freephone 0800 389 7921 and get details of the best clinic for you.
You can also visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/stopsmoking or Healthy Wandsworth
Alternatively, our HCA’s are on hand to provide some support in the form of a Smoking Cessation session. To book an appointment simply fill in our online request form here between 8:00am – 3:00pm.
Travel Vaccinations
If you need vaccinations for international travel, please schedule an appointment with the practice nurse to review your travel plans. We only offer the NHS standard vaccinations for travel, so if you require any of the following then please refer to the travel clinic at Wandsworth Medical Centre.
You will need to provide details about the countries and specific regions you will be visiting, so the nurse can identify the necessary vaccinations and you must make an appointment with one of the nurses at least 4 weeks before you intend to travel. Please see Wandsworth Council’s online travel support here.
Additional information on vaccination requirements for different countries is also available here.
Please also see the Government’s advice on travelling abroad:
Non-urgent advice: Patient Notice
Eligible vaccinations
The following vaccination combinations are available on the NHS and free of charge and are the only vaccinations that we provide:
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio
Pharmacy First
In order to support our GP services, the NHS has started a new initiative called ‘Pharmacy First. There are a number of minor illnesses that our clinicians can now refer patients directly to pharmacists for, who will be able to support in organising the necessary medication. Patients can also contact your pharmacy directly if they think they might have any of the suggested concerns mentioned here and are within the recommended age range.
If you are unsure whether to contact your surgery or pharmacy then please fill out an online request form here. One of our clinicians can then review your submission and point you in the right direction. For the full information please see our Pharmacy First page.
Wandsworth’s getUBetter self-referral App
Please click on the link below and select the condition you’d like access to, such as lower back, back and leg, or neck pain. We will send you an email with all the information on how to get started.
The app is provided at no cost as part of your care in Wandsworth and offers:
- Easily accessible, personalized self-management information to guide you day by day, step by step
- Exercises tailored to your stage of recovery
- Direct booking for local treatments like physiotherapy and well-being services within Wandsworth
- Reassurance and support to help you manage your condition on your own.
Wandle Primary Care Network (PCN)
The Earlsfield Practice operates within The Wandle PCN, a network of Doctor’s practice’s within Wandsworth. It is a collaboration of five NHS GP practices based in the heart of Wandsworth. It serve a patient population of 55,000 and takes it’s name from the River Wandle, which flows through our catchment area into the Thames. While each practice maintains its own patient list, identity, premises, and team, they work together to offer a broader range of services. Having access to the PCN service has allowed Earlsfield to provide more clinical appointments to our patients, meaning that more patients can be seen sooner. Using the network to support on appointments does however mean that patients who are able may be asked to attend appointments at one of the PCN locations.
The practices that form Wandle PCN are:
- Wandsworth Medical Centre
- The Earlsfield Practice (us)
- Southfields Group Practice
- Elborough Street Surgery
- Triangle Surgery
Our Clinical Director, Dr. Laura Quinton, works closely with the clinical and management leads from all five practices to share ideas, best practices and plan improvements for local health and well-being, all in the aim to improve the quality of care we can provide to our patient lists. For more information on The Wandle PCN click here.
Asthma Support
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways, the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. In the UK, it impacts approximately 3 million people of all ages. Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
The exact cause of asthma is unclear, but a family history of asthma can increase the likelihood of developing the condition. Many people with asthma end up in the hospital when it could be avoided. In fact, 75% of hospital admissions could be prevented.
You can take charge of your asthma by understanding the right medications to take, how much to take, and when to take them. It’s also essential to identify and avoid asthma triggers. Consider scheduling an appointment with the Practice Nurse.
For more details, visit the National Asthma Campaign at www.asthma.org.uk.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition where the body struggles to regulate its blood sugar (glucose) levels. It affects around 2% of the population and can develop at any age. While some individuals with diabetes may require insulin injections, most can manage the condition through diet, medications, and lifestyle changes.
If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications. However, with proper monitoring and treatment, the risk of these complications can be significantly reduced. Our goal is to provide you with the support and guidance needed to maintain an active and healthy life.
Our Practice Nurses are trained to care for diabetic patients.
For more information about diabetes, visit www.diabetes.org.uk.
Sick notes
Please be aware that patients can self certify for employment sick notes for the first 7 working days – this means that they do not require and will not receive a note from a GP to confirm their illness if it is has been less than this. If patients have been sick for longer than 7 working days, we ask that they complete an online admin request form to apply for a sick note with on of our GPs.
Please note that these notes often take 5 working days for a clinician to complete, but can be back dated to the correct date that is required to confirm illness dates.
If a patient would like to have a sick note quicker than these NHS guidance timelines then they can choose to go private within the practice. There is a subsequent charge of £40 that will need to be taken prior to patients receiving their letters.
For more information on sick notes please click here.
