Private Medical Practise in Portobello, London

Flu vaccines are now in stock.

The regular annual influenza vaccine is now available at the surgery. Our nurse will be holding clinics on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the next 3 weeks. Please call to book an appointment. Alternatively, your GP can administer the vaccine at your routine appointment. Please note this is NOT the swine flu vaccine.

Update on Swine Flu Vaccine

We have just been informed that the swine flu vaccine will NOT be made available to any private doctors. It is only being rolled out through the NHS. We are no longer able to prescribe anti-viral medication either, following a similar directive and our local (Kensington & Chelsea) PCT has issued the following advice.

“We have received new instructions from the Department of Health that the anti-viral vouchers are only for use by NHS prescribers. If you have patients who have swine flu and require access to anti-virals they are able to use the National Pandemic Flu Service either via the internet or by telephone (see contact details below).

They could also register with an NHS GP as a temporary resident. Residents can visit NHS Choices online: http://www.nhs.uk to find a practice convenient to them. They can also call our Patient Advice and Liaison service on 020 8962 4547.

The National Pandemic Flu Service can be contacted on 0800 1 513 100 (for treatment) and 0800 1 513 513 (for information) or online at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu"

To clarify the position on this issue: anyone who is registered solely in the private sector who believes they are in a priority risk group (as set out by Sir Liam Donaldson on 13 August) will need to register with a local NHS GP to receive the vaccine. A patient from a priority risk group seeking to be vaccinated should go to their NHS GP to receive the vaccine free. Anyone legally residing in England can register with a GP. Private practices will not be able to obtain the vaccine from the Department of Health.


Whist we as a practice have registered a major complaint and protest at this nationwide decision, we feel that the most important thing to do is to inform our members so that they can make appropriate alternative arrangements. We therefore urge everyone to contact their NHS practice to seek guidance on how the vaccine will be distributed. Anyone without an NHS registration must register as a temporary resident to secure access to the vaccination system. Should there be any change of policy, we will of course inform you.