Notice: Updates on COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccine fraud alert!

Please see the trading standards flyer which warns about COVID-19 scams and offers advice on how to avoid them. Some of these scams are quite sophisticated with texts claiming to be from the NHS.

• Never give out personal or financial details in response to any COVID-19 vaccine texts, emails or phone calls even if they claim to be from the NHS.
• COVID-19 vaccines are provided free by the NHS, so ignore anyone offering you one in exchange for money.

You can visit South East London CCG's COVID page by clicking here.

Welcome to Sidcup Medical Centre

At Sidcup Medical Centre we use the 'Total Triage' system for all requests whether it be for an appointment or any other type of requests both clinical and administrative. The exceptions to this are appointments with the practice nurse. Your requests received by eConsult will be assessed promptly and an appropriate decision will be made e.g. booking an appointment, arranging an investigation or administrative task to be carried out. You can complete your own eConsult on your smartphone via the NHS app or on your computer/laptop browser by clicking here.

For anyone in our patient list that is unable to complete an eConsult (including children under 6 months of age), please contact the surgery and we will arrange for a dedicated administrator to contact you and complete an eConsult on your behalf.

Our team at Sidcup Medical Centre are dedicated to your continued good health and approach your care with professionalism, discretion and friendliness.

eConsult - contact our doctors online

Using eConsult at the weekends

If you require support over the weekend (including bank holidays) you can still use the eConsult service for self-help and pharmacy advice regarding your condition.

If you have a medical problem and you're not sure what to do, please use the 111 online service which you can access here - NHS 111 online

As always for immediate emergencies, call 999.

What is eConsult?

We have been using eConsult for some time now and the majority of our patients will be familiar with using this service already. For patients that have not used it yet, it is an NHS approved 'digital triage and history taking tool'. The eConsult form guides patients through a series of questions in relation the the issue that has been selected. This service has been designed to enhance patient access and improve practice efficiency. 

Try the NHS app

A simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the NHS app or check your symptoms and get instant advice, order repeat prescriptions, view your medical record and more. You can register and verify your identity through the NHS app, once you are registered you can also access the NHS app on your computer/laptop browser by clicking here.

Please complete an online services registration form if;

• You are unable to verify your identity through the app.
• You will like to donate 'proxy access' to allow another person access to your medical records.
• You would like 'proxy access' to your child's medical records (for children under 10 years of age).

Alternatively you can use Patient Access.

Sickness certificate (med3)

You should not require a sick certificate from a clinician for the first seven days of your sickness. However, your employer may require you to complete a self-certificate (SC2). For any illness lasting longer than seven days you may need to see a clinician to obtain a sickness certificate or or subsequent renewals. All types of requests for sickness certificate must be made via eConsult.

Please do not ask your GP for a sickness certificate if you are off work because of coronavirus. Instead you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to stay home. For more information please visit coronavirus self-isolation advice. You can apply for an isolation note by clicking here. Employers can check the validity of an isolation note using check isolation note service.

Prescriptions

Collecting scripts from the surgery is being suspended.

If you do not already have a nominated pharmacy to collect your prescriptions please see Dr Deshmukh's letter. Please complete an electronic prescription service (EPS) nomination form as soon as possible. If you do not have a nominated pharmacy you risk being left without medication if we a required to close the surgery doors. Please click here for more information about EPS.

Advice for women during COVID-19

Please note that;

• Contraception
• Emergency contraception
• Abortion care
• Sexual assault care
• Emergency removal of LARCs

Have been classified as essential, meaning that you should always be able to access these services. Your first of contact should be the place you usually access care for your sexual or reproductive healthcare. This could be your GP surgery, local sexual health or family planning clinic. Please complete an eConsult should you require an appointment or advice from a GP at Sidcup Medical Centre.

Please see Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare's leaflet for more information in regards to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare as lockdown eases.