Practice News
Access to patient health records
Please click on the links below for information on how to access your patient record.
https://practice365.co.uk/contentlib/my-access-to-my-medical-records/
Accessing the Right service at the Right time
Your NHS now offers lots of community services and self-care options that you can access without needing to see your GP first.
When you request an appointment at your surgery, the receptionist will ask you the reason why you are calling.
If you tell us the reason for your call, the receptionist might be able to give you information about services or self-care options that you could access for your symptoms.
You do not have to say what your symptoms are if you don’t want to, but if you do it might get you the help and information that you need more easily and quickly.
* Receptionists are NOT trying to be doctors or make medical assessments and they are duty bound to respect your confidentiality, in exactly the same way the GPs are.
When you telephone the surgery to book an appointment, the receptionist will ask you the following question:
Can I ask the reason for your appointment today?
This is because the receptionist has a number of different options and types of appointments available, and can direct you to the most appropriate option for your specific problem.
The best option might be to go to the pharmacy or the dentist, or if you do need an appointment it might be the Practice Nurse is the best trained person to help, or perhaps another member of our clinical team.
This way, when you really do need to see a GP, there will be a free appointment for you and the GP will have more time to spend with you.
The following list may help you understand the choices available.
We very much hope that this system will make the best use of the services available both at the Practice and in the wider community.
Optician - Any eye problems
Dentist - Any issues with teeth, mouth ulcers, abscesses
Pharmacy - Acne, Athletes foot, Backache, Bites and Stings, Chicken Pox, Cold sores, Colic, Conjunctivitis, Constipation, Coughs and Colds, Diarrhoea, Dry Eyes, Earache (less than 3 days), Haemorrhoids, Hay fever, Headlice, Indigestion, Mouth ulcers, Nappy rash, Oral Thrush, Ringworm, Scabies, Sore throat, Teething, Threadworms, UTI, Vaginal Thrush.
Practice Nurse - Asthma, Contraception, COPD, Diabetes, Hypertension, UTI (if the pharmacy cant help)
Social Prescriber - Childcare, Social issues, Housing/Benefits, Homelessness, Relationship/Sexual Issues, Smoking, Exercise, Wellbeing, Anxiety and Stress, Bereavement
GP - Acute new onset rash, Chest Infection, Acute severe back pain, Concerns over children, Earache (for more than 3 days) Children with tummy pain, Heart Palpitations (not chest pain), Pregnancy (vomiting, pain or bleeding), Severe depression, Severe new headache, Suicidal thoughts, Testicular lumps/pain, Unwell child with high fever
A&E - Acute new onset chest pain, Difficulty breathing, Unconscious, Stroke, Fitting, Floppy ill child, Severe bleeding, Spinal injury, Severe allergic reaction, Head injury, Broken bones, Poisoning, Burns/scalds, Traumatic Injury, Road Traffic Accident, Sprain (unable to use limb), Nose bleed for longer than 20 minutes.
Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
#CervicalCancerPreventionWeek
17 - 23 January 2022
One in three women and people with a cervix don’t attend cervical screening. You should have received a text message or a letter inviting you if you are eligible.
Please book an appointment now with our female nurse. There are lots of appointments available, including on a Saturday morning. These can be booked online or by calling reception on 02086820521.#Please email us on swlccg.tootingsouthmedicalcentre@nhs.net if we can assist you further with your decision or booking.
Please visit Jo's Trust for more information: Cervical screening (smear test) | Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust (jostrust.org.uk)
Notice of Death
Dear Patient,
It is with deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Dr Shiraz (retired Senior GP) who passed away peacefully on 5th October 2021.
Dr Shiraz was the pioneer of the practice and will be deeply missed by her colleagues, friends and patients.
Caring For Carers
If your surgery know you are a carer, they can help you.
It’s a great idea to register as a carer at your GPs. If your doctor knows you are a carer, she can ask you about any physical or mental health issues you may have because of caring. And the practice can try to be more flexible in terms of finding you appointments, etc.
If your doctor and surgery know you are a carer they can:
support you with any physical health issues related to your caring role, like tiredness
make you aware of the carer’s flu jab each year and arrange for you to have the Covid vaccine as well.
talk to you about your mental health and the impact of your caring role
provide you with general information and advice
refer you to helpful organisations and services that can improve your caring situation
give you flexible appointments at times that suit you
refer you for a Carer’s Break payment if your caring role is impacting your health, potentially meaning you can take a break.
Speak to your GP – they can help you in your caring role.
Why are GP practices working differently?
Please click on the link below to read about how GP Practices are working.
Face masks and coverings to be worn by all NHS staff and visitors
Patients and staff will still be required to wear face coverings in GP practices and other healthcare settings when COVID-19 restrictions ease.
The guidance from the NHS for healthcare settings has not changed, and patients who are not exempt from wearing a face covering should continue to wear one, follow social distancing and hand hygiene guidance.
If patients are exempt from wearing a mask, a face shield may be offered as an alternative.
COVID-19 infection rates are rising in all areas of the country which means its vitally important we continue to do all we can against the virus. Wearing a face covering is an effective way of reducing transmission. It’s also really important that anyone who is eligible for a vaccine and hasn’t yet come forward does so without delay, it’s the best defence we have against COVID-19.
Cancer Early Detection
Early detection is the detection of cancer at the earliest possible stage, when the disease is easiest to treat. It looks to identify those few people at risk of cancer within the larger population, and to assess the best possible actions for those people.
Cancers can be detected earlier through a number of approaches, including screening programmes across the population, surveillance of people with high-risk conditions and individual personal education to support early diagnosis of warning signs for potential cancer. You may be concerned about adding extra pressure to the NHS or your safety.
Whether you, or a loved one, has a routine cancer screening appointment, or a potential cancer symptom, our message is clear, WE ARE OPEN. Our GPs are now offering phone or face to face appointments and have also put in place new measures for your safety if you need to come into the practice.
Bowel Screening
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. The aim of the National Bowel Screening Programme is to discover bowel cancer at an early stage. The sooner it’s caught, the easier it is to treat.
Bowel screening involves a simple test that you conduct at home. For these reasons, we encourage you to consider participating in the bowel screening programme.
Whether or not to take part in bowel screening is your choice.
Men and women aged between 60 and 74 years old are eligible to take part every 2 years.
National Bowel Screening Program
View a leaflet about tips for collecting your poo
Cervical Smears
Our nursing team carry out cervical smear tests on-site. A routine smear test is recommended every 3 years for all women aged 25-49 yrs and every 5 years for women aged 50 - 64 who are, or have been, sexually active ( unless otherwise advised due to abnormal results ).
Please ask for a specific smear appointment with one of our nurses when calling to book an appointment.
If you have had a recent smear test abroad please bring in a copy of the result so we can update your records and establish a recall programme in the UK.
Breast Screening
Breast screening is offered to women aged 50-70 every 3 years. The aim of breast screening is to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, often before the woman is aware of any problem. Early detection may mean simpler and more successful treatment.
If you have missed an appointment or you are over 70, you can request screening by calling the London Breast Screening Hub on 0203 7582024 or via the link below:
https://www.london-breastscreening.org.uk/About-breast-screening
If you feel a lump in your breast, you should always get it checked by a GP. Most breast lumps are harmless, but some can be serious.
The first symptom of breast cancer that most women notice is a lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by a doctor.
You should see a GP if you notice any of the following:
a new lump or area of thickened tissue in either breast that was not there before
a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
a discharge of fluid from wither of your nipples
a lump or swelling in either of your armpits
dimpling on the skin of your breasts
a rash on or around your nipple
a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Breast pain is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
Please click on the link below to watch a short video about understanding breast pain
Easy Guide Links on Cancer Screening
If you would like easy read leaflet, please click on the link below:
About the Cervical Cancer Vaccination
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/About-the-Cervical-Cancer-Vaccination.pdf
An Easy Guide to Bowel Cancer Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/An-Easy-Guide-to-Bowel-Cancer-Screening.pdf
An Easy Guide to Having a Colonoscopy
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/An-Easy-Guide-to-Having-a-Colonoscopy.pdf
Barium Meal Test
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Barium-Meal-Test.pdf
Be Breast Aware
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Be_Breast_Aware.pdf
Bowel Cancer and Bowel Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bowel-Cancer-Bowel-Screening.pdf
Bowel Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/bowel-cancer.pdf
Bowel Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/bowel-screening.pdf
Breast Cancer & Breast Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Breast-Cancer-Breast-Screening.pdf
Cervical Cancer & Cervical Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Cervical-Cancer-Cervical-Screening.pdf
Cervical Screening
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/cervical_screening.pdf
Chemotherapy
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/chemotherapy_info.pdf
Common Types of Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/common_types_of_cancer.pdf
Endoscopy
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/endoscopy-no-author.pdf
Have you seen blood in your pee, even once? Then it’s time to tell your doctor
Having a Mammogram
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Having-a-mammogram.pdf
How can you prevent cancer?
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/how_can_you_help_to_prevent_cancer.pdf
Looking After Your Breasts
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Looking-after-your-breasts.pdf
Lung Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Lung-Cancer.pdf
My Boobs and Me
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/My-boobs-and-me.pdf
Ovarian Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Ovarian-Cancer.pdf
Prostate Awareness
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/prostate-awareness-1.pdf
Prostate Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Prostate-Cancer-NHS.pdf
Prostate Cancer – Why You Need to Know
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Prostate-Cancer-copy.pdf
Radiotherapy
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/radiotherapy_info.pdf
Skin Cancer and Sun Safety
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Skin-Cancer-Sun-Safety.pdf
Skin Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/skin-cancer.pdf
Sun Beds
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Sun-Beds.pdf
Telling you about Stomach Cancer
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Telling-you-about-Stomach-Cancer.pdf
Testicular Awareness
https://www.easyhealth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/testicular-awareness-no-author.pdf
Are you aged over 75 years?
We are delighted to announce a direct phone number for vulnerable patients aged 75 years and above. This number is operational between 10am to 12pm for booking routine appointments only.
Please contact reception on 020 86825 0521 to ask for the phone number if you are over 75.
Thank you!
GP National Survey
We request to all our patients to complete and return the GP National Survey that NHS England has been posting to random patients. The survey is anonymous and we appreciate your participation.
The results of the survey will benefit us in offering patients an excellent service.
Thankyou.
Patient Group
The practice has had an active Patient Group since 2006 who meet regularly to discuss areas such as service development, commissioning services, improving the practice appointment system and patient feedback. Patient feedback is extremely valued and is also an important part of the development of the practice.
Get Involved
Patient feedback contributes to the development of the practice and we are keen to continue working with patients from our practice population. Participating in our patient group could include:
Attending our Patient Participation/Focus Group meetings
Receiving regular updates
Taking part in surveys/questionnaires
Attending locality/borough wide Patient Participation Group meetings
Sharing your views
If you are interested in participating in the Patient Group and would like to contribute to the future of our practice please email the practice at tootingsouth.medicalcentre@nhs.net or leave your contact details with reception.
Meeting Minutes
2020
2019
Patient Surveys
2015-16
2013-14
2012-13
Accessible Information
Communication with Our Patients
We want to get better at communicating with our patients.
We want to make sure you can read and understand the information we send you.
If you find it hard to read our letters or if you need someone to support you at appointments, please let us know.
We want to know if you need information in braille, large print or easy read.
We want to know if you need a British Sign Language interpreter or advocate.
We want to know if we can support you to lip-read or use a hearing aid or communication tool.
Please tell the receptionist if you need information in a different format or communication support.
Balham, Tooting and Furzedown PCN - First Contact Practitioner
What is First Contact Practitioner?
First Contact Practitioner’s (FCP) are specialised Band 6/7/8 Physiotherapists, who have had a number of years’ experience working in an MSK setting. The idea of the FCP service is to offload the MSK caseload from the GP’s. This means that patients get to speak to a highly experienced physiotherapist within days of contacting their GP practice about any MSK conditions. The FCP will then assess and diagnose the patient before providing self-management advice, therefore cutting onward referrals and wait times at major MSK providers such as SGH or they can refer onto the most relevant service such as Physio, Orthopaedics or Scanning. By having this early input from a physiotherapist it gives the patient the best possible change of recovery and a smooth journey through the NHS MSK pathway.
Who are We?
Surrey Physio provide the FCP service in nearly all the PCN’s in Croydon and Wandsworth, as well as an expanding service in Lambeth and Merton. We also are an AQP Provider in Wandsworth for MSK Physiotherapy. We pride ourselves on providing high quality and individual personalised patient centred care from an exceptional team of physiotherapists and FCP’s.
How Can You See Us?
If you call your surgery with any MSK problem the administration team can book you straight in with a FCP, a GP can also do this if you speak to them about your MSK problem.
Information- Who are the Balham, Tooting and Furezedown FCP Team?
Matt Tay, FCP
Matt is a physiotherapist from Perth, Australia and has recently moved to London with his wife in January 2020 (what a time to come!) He graduated from Curtin University in Perth in 2013. Since graduating, he has worked in private musculoskeletal clinics and residential aged care facilities. Upon moving to London, he joined the FCP team in April. Matt loves exercising and Liverpool FC and can’t wait to head over to watch a game once stadiums open up again!
Matt currently looks after our largest PCN Balham, Tooting and Furzedown where he juggles a number of clinics.
Tessa Davie-Martin
Tessa grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where an interest in Gymnastics and hockey led her to study Physiotherapy. She completed her studies at AUT University and then moved to Melbourne soon after. There she worked in private practices where she gained further training in Dry Needling and Clinical Pilates. After this she took some time off to travel for 6 months before moving to Manchester and then to London where she has spent the last few years working in the Private sector, before joining Surrey Physio as a First Contact Physiotherapist.
Tessa currently works in our largest PCN Balham, Tooting and Furzedown where she works across a number of busy clinics.
Key Contacts for Surrey Physio
Will Bateman – Clinical Lead FCP
Email: will.bateman@nhs.net
Will is the Clinical Lead for FCP at Surrey Physio, overseeing the whole South London area specifically Wandworth and Lambeth where he is also the Clinical Lead for the AQP service.
Please contact Will if you have any clinical questions or feedback regarding FCP.
Luke Woodward – Business and FCP Lead
Email: luke.woodward@nhs.net
Luke is the Surrey Physio Business Lead where he is instrumental in setting up new FCP services as well as being the central link between GP Practices and Surrey Physio. Please do contact Luke if you have any questions about the FCP service or feedback regarding our FCP’s.
Find out more about Wandsworth IAPT and Psychological Therapies
Wandsworth IAPT service is part of a national initiative to help people with common mental health problems gain timely access to effective psychological therapies.
Their aim is to improve the public health and wellbeing of Wandsworth’s diverse communities, as well as reduce health inequalities by supporting people into employment.
Get U Better - Wandsworth Self-Management App
The App is provided free as part of your care in Wandsworth and will provide you with:
Easily accessible, targeted and personalised self-management information to help you day by day, and step by step
Exercises based on your stage of recovery
Direct booking of local treatments such as physiotherapy and well-being services within Wandsworth
Reassurance and support to self-manage
All the information you need to get better day-by-day. Download the app on Apple or Android or via the Web app
Surgical Procedures
We wish to inform you that Tooting South Medical Centre no longer perform surgical procedures.
Should you require this service, we will refer patients to the relevant services to have the necessary procedures.
Thank you!
Drawings Gallery
Drawings Gallery
Displayed around our practice are images of Tooting which have been created by local school children. As well as brightening up the practice they show a surprising and insightful range of impressions of Tooting from a child’s point of view.
Tooting South Medical Centre: Dedication and Service with Proven Impact
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Lessons Learned: The Key to Non-Profit Program Evaluation
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