If you are between the ages of 15 and 25 years you can have an NHS Chlamydia test. This is done on a urine sample. The results are confidential and can be sent to your mobile phone. Ask the doctors, advanced nurse practitioners or nurses for the test.
Cervical Cytology (Smear Tests)
To reduce the risk of cervical cancer, smear tests should be performed every 3 years (unless otherwise indicated by the Doctors) between the ages of 25 and 65 years. You will be informed by letter that your smear is due and we will send text reminders.
Smear appointments are available to book by our receptionists either here at the practice or at our local GP hub based at Spa Medical, Old Jamaica Rd, if weekend appointments suit your schedule better.
Cardio Vascular Services
All patients who have a history of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Angina and Heart Failure will be invited to attend an annual assessment with one of our Practice Nurses.
In addition to recording vital medical statistics, comprehensive advice will be given on lifestyle and support offered to patients enabling them to live as ordinary a life as possible.
Baby Clinic
Telephone advice and consultations
Telephone advice
Telephone advice may include queries about a prescription, a test result, a hospital appointment, a referral, a form that needs to be completed or advice about a minor ailment. Please call and ask the receptionist who will be able to help you.
Telephone appointments
Alongside our GP triage service for urgent medical issues we also provide bookable telephone appointments if deemed clinically appropriate. These can only be booked on the day and may save you having to visit the practice for a face to face appointment.
Advice is also available from the NHS 111 service.
Physiotherapy
First Contact Practitioners
Our First Contact Practitioner (FCP) assessment clinics are for patients (over 16 years old) with new or newly recurrent muscle or joint pains.
FCPs are physiotherapists who are expert in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
The clinics are based at a few locations in North Southwark including a weekly clinic here at Villa Street. The FCP will physically assess your condition and either give you advice there and then or refer you on to the correct service in the hospital bypassing the need for a GP referral.
Physio Self Management App (getUBetter)
Download the physio app called getUBetter for a personally tailored sequence of exercises and tips to help you get better from a range of new or recurrent musculoskeletal conditions:
- Lower back pain
- Back and leg pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Ankle Pain
- Knee Pain
- Soft Tissue Lower Limb Pain
- Hip Pain
Our clinicians will also refer you to this app depending on your condition.
Please use an email address that is unique to you and select the condition you need help to manage. You will then be sent an email with all the information you need to get started.
You can download the getUBetter App to your Smartphone for easiest access or use the Webapp.
If you develop another condition select your new condition from within the app and it will be added to your account.
The app will also connect you to your local; treatment, healthcare providers or support services such as Physiotherapy (if needed).
This app is provided at no additional charge for patients registered at Villa Street Medical Centre.
Physiotherapy Self Referrals
You can refer yourself to physiotherapy for specialist assessment and management for an urgent issue. The physiotherapy department at Guys and St Thomas’ will only accept urgent physiotherapy self referrals. Please click on the link for more information of how to self refer for urgent appointments.
Interpreting Services
If English isn’t your first language we can provide interpreting services to help with translation in your appointments.
We can arrange for a telephone interpreter for your appointment.
We are able to arrange this for most languages. This service is free of charge to the patient.
If you would like to find out more please ask at reception, we can also arrange a telephone interpreter for this conversation if needed.
Travel Health and Immunisations
We are pleased to offer our registered patients an NHS travel health service.
Travel Advice
We offer the following travel vaccines as an NHS service:
- Hepatitis A
- Typhoid
- Tetanus /Polio / Diphtheria (all in one)
We require SIX weeks’ notice for all travel vaccines for the following reasons:
- Lead time required to place orders for travel vaccines
- Multiple injections maybe required to complete the course
- Specialist advice maybe required to ensure we are giving you the best care
If you require travel vaccines with less than six weeks’ notice you should contact a private travel clinic.
We do not provide any other travel vaccinations and are not a registered Yellow Fever provider.
To book a travel vaccination, please contact the practice and request a travel call back from a member of our nurse team. A nurse will call you to discuss your travel plans, advise what vaccinations you need and arrange an appointment time. You will need a separate call back and appointment for each person that is travelling, even if all members of the same family. Once our travel appointments are fully booked, depending on the timings of your travel, we can offer next available options at the practice or you may need to go to a private travel clinic.
See this link for more NHS travel information.
Holiday health
It is always a wise precaution to pack some essential items in case of illness on holiday. Do choose medicines according to your needs and the country you are intending to visit. lf you take prescription medicines regularly remember to pack them too.
You may want to consider packing the following:
- Paracetamol Travel Sickness tablets Plasters and a small crepe bandage
- Rehydration solutions such as Dioralyte, Anti diarrhoeal for example lmodium
- High factor sunscreen
- Anti material tablets, Water purification tablets, Insect repellent
- Condoms or other contraceptives
- Sunhats for yourself and children
Mosquito Bite Avoidance for Travellers
In many tropical countries, mosquitoes can spread diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Zika. Here are five simple rules you should follow to reduce your risk of infections spread by mosquitoes.
Malaria tablets are not provided on the NHS and patients will need to purchase them privately from a pharmacy or travel clinic.
Remember malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease and we strongly advise patients to take preventative measures to protect yourself if travelling to areas of risk. Your local or online pharmacist or a travel clinic. Do Not Gamble, Get Advice.