We are taking every precaution to ensure our patient, visitors and staff are safe in our surgery during the Covid-19 pandemic.
If you display any symptoms of Covid-19, please do not visit the surgery – we should be able to offer you a telephone consultation instead.
For the latest information, guidance and advice on Covid-19 please visit the dedicated government webpage Gov.uk/coronavirus or speak with your GP.
We now have access to Covid-19 PCR swab testing kits. These tests are mainly useful when symptomatic as you would be shedding virus at that stage, but will determine whether Covid-19 is the actual cause. Test kits can be posted, couriered to your home or you can get a family member or friend to collect. You should not attend the surgery yourself if symptomatic. The swabs are self-administered and full instructions are provided, then posted directly to the laboratory for processing. The results are usually available within 48 hours. The cost for the tests are £150 plus a telephone consultation fee to assess whether it is indicated. Please call reception to discuss with a GP if you would like to arrange a test. We do not perform antibody testing to check on immunity at present as no tests have yet proven to be reliable enough.
Whilst coronavirus is infectious to children it is rarely serious. If your child is unwell it is likely to be a non-coronavirus illness, rather than coronavirus itself. Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell. Please arrange a telephone consult if you are concerned about your child and we will advise accordingly. You may find useful the following attached document on what to do if your child is unwell.
We sincerely hope you are coping with the current Covid-19 crisis and we are doing all we can to help under the circumstances. Obviously this is a worrying time so we are happy to provide telephone consultations to give advice. Please do not come to the surgery if you have a fever and/or cough.
In line with NHS England’s advice however we must advise those most at risk to self-isolate and take extra precautions (as many of you are already doing) these include patients who:
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- People with specific cancers:
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
- People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
- People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
- Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
Some of you will receive a letter from the NHS in the next few days.
Please also follow NHS 111 advice about self-isolating for seven days if you get symptoms (or until your fever has resolved), or for 14 days from the start of symptoms in the first person in your household. Please remember you may cough for a few weeks after the infection but you can stop isolation.
Covid-19 testing compliant with Public Health England is still not available in the community at present (even privately) and we do not advise using the kits you may find available online or elsewhere.
We do understand how difficult this is for everyone but please bear with us at this difficult time.
We are mindful that everyone is becoming increasingly concerned about the coronavirus (COVID19) outbreak that originated in Wuhan City. The situation is constantly changing along with the level of risk to everyone in the UK.
Please see below a link to the latest recommendations of Public Health England. Given the constantly changing nature of the advice we would ask patients to use this link for the latest information.
In line with their recommendations, we advise that if you have returned from any of the affected areas listed, or are concerned about contact with COVID19 here in the UK, that you follow their recommendations about self-isolation and contacting NHS 111 for further advice about how to access medical support or to arrange testing. Testing is not available through private laboratories.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public
We ask that patients who feel they may be at risk due to symptoms, from travel or exposure do not visit the surgery to avoid further transmission risk but self-isolate at home whilst seeking advice from NHS 111.
We remain here to offer support and we are happy to offer a telephone consultation with one of the GP team. If you have a flu like illness and are uncertain about your level of risk we would ask that you request a telephone consultation in the first instance rather than attending in person.
We encourage our patients to keep healthy and health screening is an important way to detect disease early in individuals that can lead to earlier diagnosis and help you to continue to lead healthy, happier lives. We offer different levels of state of the art comprehensive of health screening that can be tailored to suit you as an individual. If we do find anything that needs investigating further we have personal links to refer you to the best specialists in London for your ongoing care.
We would recommend health screens are performed on an annual basis. If you have any questions about health screening, please do ask a GP or a member of staff.
Annual Health Screen
- Review of past medical history and current concerns
- Full physical examination
- Blood, urine and stool investigations
- Resting ECG test
- Medical advice and referral to a specialist, if need be
Gold Comprehensive Health Screen Including CT Scans
- Full medical history and physical examination
- Comprehensive blood, urine and stool tests
- Resting ECG test
- CT scans including heart calcium score, chest, abdomen, pelvis and colon
Platinum Comprehensive Health Screen Including CT Scans
- Full medical history and physical examination
- Comprehensive blood, urine and stool test
- Resting ECG test
- CT scans including heart calcium score, coronary angiogram, chest, abdomen, pelvis and colon
To book a health screen or discuss any of our services, please call 020 8962 0635 or enquire online.
Ski season has arrived and many of us may be preparing to hit the slopes in the coming weeks. Skiing is an exhilarating sport enjoyed by thousands over the winter months. There are obvious health benefits from such physical activity.
However, as with any sport there is an associated risk of injury. The good news is that the risk is actually relatively low. In fact, one study found that the percentage of overall injuries had reduced by 55% over a 34 year period (Johnson R.J, 2008). Only 1.9% of visits to the slopes per 1000 days resulted in injury.
So, the risk of injuring your ACL knee ligament as an example, is relatively low. An injury feared by most athletes. However, there is further good news. There’s now evidence that up to 50% of ACL ruptures will not even require surgery (Frobell et al in 2013). As such injuries can fully heal or recover with rehabilitation alone. Returning to pre-injury sporting levels within 3 months in many cases. Very good news considering ACL surgery takes 9 months.
Why overall injury levels have dropped is probably due to multiple factors. Although, one of the greatest risks for injury is a rapid change in unaccustomed load. In other words, if you are unconditioned to the activity you will run the risk of injury.
Lots can be done to prepare you for skiing including strengthening exercises, balance work and general cardiovascular fitness. Physiotherapy rehab and strengthening can very beneficial in these circumstances. It is this sort of conditioning that many believe has reduce injury rates.
To book a physiotherapy appointment, please call Reception on 020 8962 0635 or enquire online.