If you are travelling abroad please make sure you contact either the practice or the below pharmacies in plenty of time to arrange any vaccinations that may be necessary:

• Mangal Pharmacy – (0208 859 0036)
• Roopson Pharmacy – (0208 856 3366)

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Information about travel vaccines in the NHS

Some vaccines are available free on the NHS if they are needed for travel, but others are only available free on the NHS for reasons other than travel.

You will need to pay for the travel vaccines that are not available on the NHS. You should not be asked to pay for these vaccines for other reasons.

Aren’t all travel vaccines free on the NHS?

Some travel vaccines are free on the NHS to reduce the risk of certain infections being brought back into the country and leading to wider spread.

These currently include cholera, polio (mainly given as combined tetanus-diphtheria-polio vaccine), hepatitis A and typhoid.

Which vaccines are not available on the NHS just for the purposes of travel?

The following vaccines may be recommended for travel, but are not available free on the NHS if they are only needed for the purposes of travel:

• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• BCG
• Meningitis ACWY
• Japanese encephalitis
• Yellow fever
• Tick-borne encephalitis

What does this mean for me if I am planning to travel?

The vaccines listed above will need to be paid for if they are given only for travel. Although you may have had some of these vaccines free in the past, the NHS has asked GPs to make sure that they follow the existing NHS Regulations around travel vaccines in future.

What if I need one of these vaccines for reasons other than travel?

There are many situations where the vaccines listed above are provided free on the NHS.

• Some vaccines are given to certain age groups as part of the NHS vaccination schedule. For example the meningitis ACWY vaccine is given to teenagers and students.
• Some vaccines, such as hepatitis B, are given to people with certain medical conditions, or to those who take part in high-risk activities.
• Some vaccines are needed very quickly if you have contact with an infection. For example, you may need a rabies vaccination if you are bitten by a bat in the UK or by another animal overseas.

When these vaccines are recommended by your doctor they should be provided free on the NHS.

Vaccines that are required in the course of your work should normally be organised through your employer.

If you are in any doubt about whether you need a vaccine, you should consult your GP.

Where can I find more information and support?

• You can speak to your local pharmacist, GP or practice nurse.
• The NHS provides advice about all vaccines (including travel) at NHS: Vaccinations.
• The Patients Association can also offer support and advice. Please visit www.patients-association.org.uk or call 0800 345 7115 (Weekdays 09:30 – 17:00).

If you have any questions about travel vaccine prescribing, please email them to: england.medicines@nhs.net.

The patient transport service provides ambulances to patients who need support to reach their healthcare appointment, or for their admission to and discharge from hospital, due to their medical/clinical needs.

For more information about the service, please contact us by completing the Contact the Practice form.

All patient areas are on the ground floor and there are special wc facilities. There is a limited parking facility for disabled patients at the front of the building. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any special difficulties or requirements when visiting the practice.

Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services, which fall outside their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them.

Your Questions Answered

Isn’t The NHS Supposed To Be Free?

The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions. For example medical reports for insurance companies. GPs are self employed and contracted to provide NHS general medical services for their patients.

Surely The Doctor Is Being Paid Anyway?

It is important to understand that GPs are not employed by the NHS, they are self employed and they have to cover their costs including staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc. in the same way as any small business. The NHS covers these costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work the fee has to cover the doctor’s costs.

In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge their NHS patients are:

• Accident/sickness insurance certificates
• Certain travel vaccinations
• Private medical insurance reports
• Statements of fact relating to general health e.g. for children’s dance classes
• Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
• Holiday cancellation claim forms
• Referral for private care forms

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:

• Medical reports for an insurance company
• Some reports for the DSS/Benefits Agency
• Examinations of occupational health

Why Does It Sometimes Take My GP A Long Time To Complete My Form?

Most GPs have a very heavy workload, the majority work up to 70 hours a week, and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time. Therefore many GPs find they have to take some paperwork home at night and weekends.

I Only Need The Doctor’s Signature – What Is The Problem?

When a doctor signs a certificate or completes a report, it is a condition of remaining on the medical register that they only sign what they know to be true. In order to complete even the simplest of forms, therefore, the doctor might have to check the patient’s entire medical record. Carelessness or an inaccurate report can have serious consequences for the doctor with the General Medical Council or even the police.

What Can I Do To Help?

• If you have several forms requiring completion, present them all at once
• Do not expect your GP to process forms overnight

Examples Of Non-NHS Services

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

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 deafblind.

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

A member of staff 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 to do certain things so let us know you need this help as soon as possible. This should be as soon as you make an appointment with your GP.

• If you are coming 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 this the first time you need an interpreter.
• 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.
• Lets us know if you have had any problems with communication during your appointment or treatment. This will help us improve the 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.

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 appointments 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.

Find out more about CHD on the NHS website.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Find our more about COPD on the NHS website.