For help when we are closed please call 111. In a medical emergency please dial 999 or visit your local A&E. 

Kingston GP Chambers are running an out of hours service over the Christmas period, to book a GP appointment with them please call 0203 405 8631 more information on this service can be found on the home page. 

In October we answered 5,060 telephone calls and responded to 3,890 online queries.

Our average wait time until telephone calls are answered is 1 minutes and 13 seconds and our average inbound talk time is 2 minutes and 31 seconds. 

October is also Breast Cancer awareness month. All Women in the UK aged 50 to 71 are invited for breast screening once every three years; the first invitation will be sent by their 53rd birthday. Women aged 71 or over can self-refer for breast screening once every three years.

If you notice any changes to your breasts and have symptoms, such as lumps, pain, or discharge then contact your GP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It is important to recognise when something’s not right. Checking your breasts for any unusual changes can help discover breast cancer early. There is a handy youtube video below on how to check your breasts. 

We are looking for patients who are passionate about supporting and shaping the
outcomes for the patients and staff at Central Surgery. If you are interested in  participating please email your interest to us at 

swlicb.csppg@nhs.net

The next meeting will be in 2025 now and can be attended in person or via Teams.

In August we answered 4,366 telephone calls and responded to 3,339 online queries.

Our average wait time until telephone calls are answered is 2 minutes and 25 seconds and our average inbound talk time is 2 minutes and 45 seconds. 

There are two different RSV vaccination programmes starting in September. Please look out for a text or call from Central Surgery inviting you in for this vaccine from September.

One for pregnant women for infant protection and a separate one for older adults age 75 to 79 years old.

What is RSV

RSV has been described as “maybe the most common virus you have never heard of” by GP and journalist Dr Mark Porter. RSV, usually undiagnosed, will have caused great concern – and sometimes tragedy – for many parents whose babies have struggling to breathe and feed due to bronchiolitis or pneumonia. 20,000 infants are admitted to hospitals in England each winter due to RSV. The vast majority have no underlying medical conditions. Many need intensive care, and 20 to 30 die. RSV has wider impacts too, cancelling major paediatric surgery because critical care beds are needed to keep children with RSV breathing.

For older adults the clinical impact is less obvious, RSV can present as exacerbations of long-term conditions as well as acute respiratory infection syndromes, but it is no less serious. The latest estimates suggest around 80,000 GP attendances, around 9,000 admissions and over 2,000 deaths a year in the over 75s. Vaccine protection for older adults looks even more promising at around 80%. Monitoring is now being done internationally to see how for many years a single jab keeps older adults protected.

Pregnant woman to protect infants

All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant on 1 September 2024 should be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. After that, pregnant women will become eligible as they reach 28 weeks gestation, and remain eligible up to birth.

Programme for aged 75-79

All adults turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 will be eligible for the routine programme and should be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine on or after their 75th birthday. A one-off catch-up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024 should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity with the aim of completing the majority by 31 August 2025.

To offer the best protection, NHS England are asking providers to vaccinate as many people as possible during September and October 2024 prior to the expected RSV season. In line with JCVI guidance, individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, with the exception of people who turn 80 in the first year who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated.

For more information please see the attached leaflets:

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/ViewProduct.html?sp=Saguidetothersvvaccineforolderadultsleafletlargeprint 

https://www.healthpublications.gov.uk/ViewProduct.html?sp=Srsvposterforpregnantwomen

At Central Surgery we see over 2,000 patients a week. We are struggling like every other GP Surgery in England and working very hard to meet demands. We appreciate patients that seek self help and consult with community pharmacists prior to booking appointments. We have and always will do our very best to provide the best service for our patients and community. 

20240246-gp-patient-facing-surgery-poster_blue_v8.pdf

If you have not done so already, then please download the NHS app from your App/Google store today!Some perks of having the app are:

• You can see your medical history online
• Order repeat prescriptions
• See upcoming GP and hospital appointments
• View correspondance from Hospitals
• View test results

For more information, see the quick start guide below

NHS+App+quick+start+guide+A5+leaflet (1).pdf

Please see the link below on how to order prescriptions via the NHS App

NHS+App+Repeat+Prescriptions+A5+leaflet.pdf

Shingles vaccination eligibility is changing from 1st September, 65, 70 year olds and immunosuppressed patients age 50+ will become eligible if your birthday falls after 31st August 2023. We will be running a shingles vaccination clinic on Tuesday 30th July in the morning, please look out for a message inviting you for your vaccine.

Shingles eligibility from 1st September 2023

We are intending to start using the birth-month recall system from April 2024 for Long term conditions.

Most patients with one or more long-term conditions will receive an invitation just before their birthday month, asking them to book a review during their birth month. This should mean that patients need to attend fewer appointments as multiple tests and checks can be done at the same time.

The birth month recall system refers to how the surgery invites patients in for annual reviews of their long-term conditions. Below, you will find the process that will be followed for your annual review:

1. You will be invited to contact the surgery for your annual review just prior to the start of your birth month. This will be sent as a notification through the NHS app, a text message, phone call, an email or a letter depending on your communication preference.
2. This invite will prompt you to book your annual review, either by calling the surgery, or by sending us an e-Consult via the website or via the booking link.
3. You will then be booked in for your review during your birth month or the next available appointment after that month.
4. Your annual review will be done in as few appointments as possible and may include blood tests depending on your condition(s). This should save you having to come in for multiple blood tests and appointments as all your reviews should be completed in one go.
5. We may also send you an online questionnaire to gather some information before your appointment for example regarding your Asthma symptoms in the last month. Please do continue to complete these.

The conditions that are included in this system are:

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Asthma
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Dementia
• Pre-Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes
• Heart Failure
• Hypertension
• Mental Health
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Stroke/Transient Ischaemic Attack

Please note: This system does not currently include medication reviews

Paydens pharmacy will closing on the 14th February and Newmans Pharmacy are taking over the premises and closing their pharmacy on the Ewell Road. Please note that prescriptions sent electronically to Paydens will not work after this time. We recommend that you move your pharmacy to Newmans if you still wish to collect your prescriptions from the same location. Electronic prescriptions set up with Newmans wil automatically be transferred to the Surbiton Health Centre location when they take over.

We have also had notification that Boots chemist on Hook Parade in Chessington is also closing. If you collect your medicine from them, we recommend that you sign up to a new Chemist as soon as possible.

The data held in your GP medical records is shared with other healthcare professionals for the purposes of your individual care. It is also shared with other organisations to support health, care planning and research.

If you or a dependant (if you are the parent or legal guardian of the patient) do not want your personally identifiable patient data to be shared outside of your GP practice for purposes except for your own care, you can register an opt-out using the link below. This is known as a Type 1 Opt-out. You must register for this by sending the form to the practice.

To register a Type 1 Opt-out, for yourself or for a dependent you can download the form using this link Type 1 Opt out form.docx and return by email or post to us.

This request will be processed within 72 working hours and we will message you by text once we have updated your medical record with your opt out status or you can view this using your online access.

Please do not call the surgery with queries relating to this, however do email us on swlicb.centralsurgery@nhs.net. This is so that our phone lines are freed up for unwell patients to get through to us.

For more information, visit NHS Digital

We are pleased to offer our patients this service. Miss Bolu Ijaware, who is part of the our team as a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 

Her role is to triage, diagnose and give our patients expert advice regarding musculoskeletal conditions. She can recommend blood and diagnostic tests. 

If she assesses that you need further treatment with a physiotherapist he will refer you into the physio service at Kingston Hospital. Please note that she is not your physiotherapist, her role is to triage patients for any follow up care.

She can be booked by speaking directly with one of our reception team on 020 8399 6622.

Once you have been booked in to see him and awaiting your appointment, do use the link below that will give you some additional support 

https://www.swlondon.nhs.uk/ourwork/long-term-conditions/musculoskeletal-toolkit/

Clinical pharmacists are health professionals who train for many years to become specialists in medicines. They can work directly with you as part of the GP team to make sure your medicines help you to get better and stay well. Having a clinical pharmacist in the GP team means you can be treated by the best person to meet your needs. We currently have three working in the Central Team. They are experts regarding medications and our GPs regularly liase with them to discuss your medication. 

Watch this short video for a better understanding of their role: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtPlTyV5YsE&t=15s

The Young Women’s Trust supports women aged between 18-30 who are feeling particularly isolated at the moment. 

In addition, they offer free telephone coaching, help to build strong mental health, set goals to stay motivated and a free service giving personalised, detailed feedback on CVs and job applications. 

The service operates by triaging over the telephone and by email.

For more information and to self-refer easily online, click on the following link; https://www.youngwomenstrust.org/work-it-out-sign-up

Kingston Hospital’s Patient Portal is live and patients can now check up on their appointments.

Kingston Hospital's Patient Portal is a new online tool created to give patients quick and secure access to view outpatient appointments at Kingston Hospital. If you have received a link to sign up to the portal, you can follow the simple instructions to register for an account and view your appointment letter. The secure online platform means you can receive details of your appointment when it is scheduled, without having to wait for a letter to arrive in the post.

If you have any questions or would like to find out more, you can visit www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/patient-portal or download the attached leaflet. 

If you would like more information click here to see what patients have access to, and what will be coming in the future.

Express CIC supports families in Kingston upon Thames and beyond providing a range of services to autistic children, young people and their parents/carers.

Express has launched a new counselling service for young people on the autism spectrum (age 18-25).

As an autistic young person, life can be very challenging. You may have had your diagnosis when you were young or much more recently; either way the world can be difficult to navigate. It can be hard to talk to others about your feelings because you don’t want to burden them, or you fear they won’t understand.

Counselling can offer a safe space where you can talk through all your difficulties and anxieties. A counsellor is trained to listen and support you in a non-judgmental way, creating a safe space for you to express your thoughts and feelings, whatever they may be.

Our new service offers weekly counselling sessions with a specialist counsellor who has knowledge and understanding of autism.  The sessions are one-to-one and held online or face-to-face at the Express offices in Tolworth.  This is a low-cost service and we offer up to 12 sessions initially.

For more information, please contact counselling@expresscic.org.uk. 

Kingston Hospital’s radiology department has recently returned to a walk-in service for x-rays. Patients are no longer required to book an appointment.

 The radiology department can be found in Kingston Hospital’s outpatient department (ground floor). View hospital map.

 If you have any clinical radiology queries (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm) please call 020 8934 2812.

Please note these events are open to anyone interested in attending, no need to book in advance, you will just need to click the link to join the session that you like a few minutes before the session. Please note there are couple of sessions using phone lines too. Please feel free to pass this information onto your friends and family.

For more details about the dates of the events, please follow this link https://www.kingston.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/health-wellbeing-events/1 

NEW Think NHS 111 service launches 

As of this week, anyone who needs urgent, but not life-threatening care should call NHS 111 before turning up to an emergency department. If, following a conversation with NHS 111, it is appropriate for someone to attend the emergency department they may be scheduled a time to attend.

A London-wide advertising campaign has launched to support this, and we are backing this up locally in Kingston.

Thinking NHS 111 First will;

• help people get to the most appropriate service – such as a GP, a GP hub or Teddington Hospital appointment – when they may not have to attend the emergency department; 
• minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 by helping patients with non-emergency conditions to avoid having to wait for hours in waiting rooms.
• shorter waiting times ​via a booked appointment or referral to another appropriate service 
• safe social distancing in hospital to protect you and others from COVID-19​.