Services

The role of the midwife

A Midwife is a qualified nurse who has undertaken further training to provide and promote normal midwifery.

They help you to prepare for motherhood and promote good health for yourself and your baby by advising on the effects of drinking, smoking and good diet whilst you are pregnant.

The Midwife guides you through your pregnancy and endeavours to detect any problems and make relevant referrals if necessary.

Health Start

Healthy Start is a government scheme that aims to improve the health of pregnant women and mothers on benefits or low incomes, all pregnant women under 18 years of age and c Your antenatal care

When you first learn that you’re pregnant, get in touch with a Midwife or GP as soon as possible. Ideally this should be by 10 weeks of your pregnancy. Telling your GP and/or Midwife promptly will help to make sure you receive maternity healthcare that takes into account all your health needs and preferences.

• Healthy Start website
• Further information available from NHS UK

Birth to Five information

Birth to Five information

Children who are under 5 years of age. Families who are supported by the scheme receive vouchers to spend on milk (including infant formula), fresh fruit and vegetables.

Find NHS funded community adult audiology providers that you can self-refer to.

Complete a self-assessment form

Changes to the Childhood Immunisation Schedule from July 2025

The changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule are designed to provide even better protection for babies and young children across the UK. These updates are based on the latest medical advice and will come into effect in phases, starting from July 2025, with further adjustments from January 2026.

Our priority is always to ensure your child receives the best possible protection against preventable diseases. We understand that changes to schedules can sometimes lead to questions, and we're here to help.

What's Changed from 1st July 2025?

Here's a summary of the key modifications to the vaccination programme:

• Meningitis B (MenB) Vaccine:
  • Old Schedule: Given at 8 weeks and 16 weeks.
  • New Schedule: Now given at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. This change aims to protect babies earlier, when they are most vulnerable to this serious infection.
• Pneumococcal (PCV13) Vaccine:
  • Old Schedule: Given at 12 weeks
  • New Schedule: Now given at 16 weeks. This adjustment helps to reduce the number of injections administered at the 12-week appointment, making it more comfortable for your baby.
  • Hib/MenC Vaccine:
    • This vaccine will be phased out for children born after 1st July 2024 due to the reduced need for it within the updated schedule.
  • Hepatitis B (selective group only):
    • For babies identified as being at risk of Hepatitis B, the final dose will now be included in the new 18-month appointment, rather than requiring a separate booster at 12 months.

Introducing a New 18-Month Appointment (from January 2026):

For babies born after 1st July 2024, a significant new appointment will be introduced at 18 months of age. This appointment will include:

• A booster vaccine (hexavalent) to provide continued protection.
• The second dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, if not already given at the 3 year 4-month appointment.

What Stays the Same?

• 8-week appointment: There are no changes to the vaccines given at the 8-week appointment.
• 3 year 4-month appointment: This appointment will still include the dTaP/IPV (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated polio) vaccine and the second MMR dose, if it hasn’t been administered at the 18-month appointment.

Why are These Changes Being Made?

These updates to the childhood immunisation schedule are being implemented to:

• Protect babies earlier when they are most at risk from certain diseases.
• Simplify the overall vaccine schedule, making it easier to follow.
• Reduce the number of injections given at individual visits, improving the experience for young children and their parents.

Where Can You Find More Information?

We understand you may have questions about these changes. Our team is available to discuss the updated schedule with you and address any concerns you may have.

For comprehensive information on all childhood immunisations and the updated schedule, please visit the official NHS vaccinations website.

These are primarily for our diabetic patients who do not use insulin. You will be advised by the doctor if you need to attend.

Further information about Diabetes is available on the NHS England website and our Diabetes page on this website

In general practice, a digital front door is the online entry point patients use to access healthcare service, like booking appointments, messaging their doctor, viewing results, or using symptom checkers, without needing to call or visit the clinic first. Staff can help you set up the NHS App for example and complete the online triage form, anything digital

Here is a timetable per site for our Digital Inclusion Hubs. 

• Belmont Hill: Thursdays 11:30pm to 12.00pm
• Hilly Fields: Tuesday 2:00pm to 3:00pm
• Honor Oak: Mondays 11:30am to 12:00pm
• Morden Hill: Fridays 11:00am to 11:30am
• St Johns: Wednesdays 10:00am to 12:00pm

District nurses have been at the front line of health care in the community for many years. If you can’t leave your home due to poor health, problems getting around or a long-term condition, your district nurse is here to help.

District Nurses carry out many roles for housebound and older patients, including:

• General nursing procedures and investigations
• Post-surgery care
• Assessment of patients’ needs
• Care for terminally ill patients
• Loaning of equipment
• Looking after wounds and leg ulcers
• Educating patients about self-care

This surgery now offers a faster way for patients over the age of 12 to book and see a Physiotherapist.

Do you have any of the following problems affecting?

• Neck
• Back
• Joints
• Muscle
• Soft tissue

This is the only problem that you need to be seen for?

Do you feel you need an appointment in the next few days?

Would you be happy to see someone other than a GP?

If the answer to all of the above is Yes, you can call the surgery and ask the receptionist to book you an appointment to be seen by the First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP) Team.

You will be given a face to face appointment slot with an expert physiotherapist with specialist training to be able to see all of these conditions, assist with any relevant medication and organise any tests/referrals if needed.

FAQ

What is a First Contact Physiotherapist?

An FCP is a highly trained physiotherapist who is able to assess and diagnose people with muscle, bone and joint conditions.

What can they offer?

• Expert advice
• Exercise plans
• Referral for tests and hospital clinics if required
• Liaise with you GP about any medical concerns or medication you might need

Is it safe to see a physiotherapist first?

FCPs are highly trained and can liaise with your GP and/or refer you for tests or to the hospital if required.

What if I am not getting better after speaking to the FCP?

The FCP will give you advice on any worrying signs to look out for as part of your treatment plan. They will also organise a follow up. You are always able to contact any of the healthcare services for emergencies.

What is the advantage of seeing an FCP rather than my GP?

• They can give you advice and a treatment plan much faster than seeing a physiotherapist in out-patients.
• People make a faster recovery the quicker they have advice on musculoskeletal problems
• FCPs can spend longer with you discussing your problem than your GP and frees up your GP for other appointments.

Our Practice Nurses have a wide range of expertise and can offer advice and checks on Blood pressure, Diet, Lifestyle, Health Screening, Vaccinations, Giving up Smoking, Diabetic and Asthma care.

They also carry out our New Patient Health Checks. If you feel you need their services, please make an appointment by telephone stating that you wish to see a Practice Nurse.

GPs do not provide an occupational health service as part of their NHS responsibility nor can they provide this service to you even if you are willing to pay for it.

Under Health and Safety Regulations, your employer or University/College has a duty to provide a safe working environment, and should provide this vaccination.

GPs are not obliged to provide the hepatitis B vaccine on the NHS if you’re not thought to be at risk.

We advise you to contact your employer or University/College and refer them to this page on our website. They will be able to make arrangements with an occupational health provider for the provision of any immunisation which you may require following an appropriate assessment.

Further information about Hepatitis B

An interpreting service is available free of charge for patients using GP and NHS Hospital Services in England. This includes interpreting for people who are deaf or deaf/blind.

We do not allow children to act as interpreters during your treatment or appointments. 

Interpreting Service Telephone: 020 7716 7056

A member of the Team from the Practice or the Hospital Department dealing with your treatment or appointment will arrange the interpreter. To make sure we can support you effectively we need you to do certain things so please do let us know you need interpreting help as soon as possible. Preferably, this should be as soon as you make an appointment with your GP.

• If you are going into Hospital, contact the ward or department to let them know you need an interpreter, as soon as you receive your hospital appointment. You may need a friend or relative who speaks English to tell us that you need an interpreter, the first time.
• Be sure to let us know if you will not be coming for your appointment or treatment. If you do not tell us you might stop another patient getting the help they need.
• Be sure to tell us if you will be late for your appointment or treatment. Another patient somewhere else might need the interpreter. If you are late the next patient might miss their appointment or not get the help they need.
• Let us know if you have had any problems with communication during your appointment or treatment. This will help us improve the service.
• Tell us if communication was good. This also helps us provide a good service.

Long Term Conditions (LTC) are health conditions that can impact on a person’s life, and may require ongoing care and support. We organise appointments and provide support for people who have an LTC by putting in place a way of working called ‘Care and Support Planning’. Long Term Conditions (LTC) are health conditions that can impact on a person’s life, and may require ongoing care and support. We organise appointments and provide support for people who have an LTC by putting in place a way of working called ‘Care and Support Planning’.

What is care and support planning?

• This way of working aims to give you the opportunity to get more out of your annual review appointments by reorganising the way things happen and giving you more information before you see one of our Nurses. It should help you talk about:
• What support you may need
• What is important to you
• What you can do to look after your health and stay well

Who is it for?

• Any patient who has a Long Term Condition (LTC).

The Benefits

• This way of working is nearly always preferred by patients. It will help both you and our Nurse make the best use of the time you have in your care and support planning appointment. All the important tests and results needed at your appointment will be available for discussion at your second appointment.

What does this mean for me?

• This means that your care and support planning review will take place over two separate appointments and you will have time to think about what you want to get out of these visits.

What happens at the first appointment?

• At the first appointment, you will be asked to attend the surgery to have a number of tests done with a Practice Nurse or Healthcare Assistant. The tests may include a blood test (non-fasting), weight, blood pressure and, if you’re diabetic, a foot check. The Practice Nurse or Healthcare Assistant will either book your next appointment which will be with one of our Nurses, or ask you to arrange this appointment with the Reception desk.

What happens next?

• ]Your test results from this appointment will be available when you attend to see the Nurse. The results of this test will be discussed with the Nurse and any appropriate action taken.

What happens at the care and support planning appointment?

• At your care and support planning appointment you will be able to ask questions and talk about what’s important to you. The Nurse will raise any issues she is concerned about. Once you both agree on the main things to work on, you will get the chance to work out a plan and identify any support you need to help you look after your health.
• There are a number of services that can help you when it comes to looking after yourself if you have the following Long Term Conditions – Diabetes, Chronic Heart Disease, (CHD), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Further Information

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death both in the UK and worldwide. CHD is sometimes called Ischaemic heart disease. Further information about CHD available from NHS UK
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. Further information about COPD available from NHS UK
• Diabetes UK
• NHS UK Diabetes Information Site

What is care and support planning?

This way of working aims to give you the opportunity to get more out of your annual review appointments by reorganising the way things happen and giving you more information before you see one of our Nurses. It should help you talk about:

• What support you may need
• What is important to you
• What you can do to look after your health and stay well

Who is it for?

• Any patient who has a Long Term Condition (LTC).

The Benefits

This way of working is nearly always preferred by patients. It will help both you and our Nurse make the best use of the time you have in your care and support planning appointment. All the important tests and results needed at your appointment will be available for discussion at your second appointment.

What does this mean for me?

This means that your care and support planning review will take place over two separate appointments and you will have time to think about what you want to get out of these visits.

What happens at the first appointment?

At the first appointment, you will be asked to attend the surgery to have a number of tests done with a Practice Nurse or Healthcare Assistant. The tests may include a blood test (non-fasting), weight, blood pressure and, if you’re diabetic, a foot check. The Practice Nurse or Healthcare Assistant will either book your next appointment which will be with one of our Nurses, or ask you to arrange this appointment with the Reception desk.

What happens next?

Your test results from this appointment will be available when you attend to see the Nurse. The results of this test will be discussed with the Nurse and any appropriate action taken.

What happens at the care and support planning appointment?

At your care and support planning appointment you will be able to ask questions and talk about what’s important to you. The Nurse will raise any issues she is concerned about. Once you both agree on the main things to work on, you will get the chance to work out a plan and identify any support you need to help you look after your health. There are a number of services that can help you when it comes to looking after yourself if you have the following Long Term Conditions – Diabetes, Chronic Heart Disease, (CHD), Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Coping with a long-term condition: the care plan

A Midwife is also attached to the practice and is involved in all aspects of maternity care. Our Care Navigators can advise you on how to contact them.

For out of hours contact you should telephone the Maternity Ward of Lewisham Hospital on 020 8333 3018.

Speak to a Midwife

If you would like to speak to a midwife you can do this in a number of ways.

Non-urgent enquiries – ask a question about your pregnancy

We hold Multi-Morbidity Clinics for our patients that suffer with 3 or more long term conditions. You will be advised or booked in by a clinician if you need to attend.

The NHS offers screening, free of charge, to identify pre-existing health problems of which you may not be aware, nor be exhibiting any symptoms. The NHS screening may be as part of a national programme for specific demographic groups or may be opportunistic screening when a patient discusses a related problem with their GP.

Further information about NHS Screening Services

• Psychological Counselling
• Clinical Psychologist

We have a social prescriber that can help you with any non-medical issues you may have. You can self-refer or be referred by your clinician.

The term ‘social prescribing’ is used to describe a service which supports people to access a range of non-medical services and activities in their local area.

Social prescribing can help people with different social, emotional or practical needs to find the right support and improve their health and wellbeing.

The service can help you:

• Get support to improve your physical health
• Find employment or volunteering opportunities or learn a new skill
• Tackle money, housing, work or benefits issues
• Cope with a particular condition or difficulty
• Access ways of improving your emotional wellbeing such as befriending schemes, peer support or arts and leisure activities

You can also self refer. Please click here.

Our Practice Nurses provide Well Person Clinics for routine health checks for both men and women. These involve full lifestyle evaluations.