Covid-19: Managing your health at home
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak means you should only leave your home if it’s essential, unless you feel very unwell or you are told to attend an existing appointment for ongoing treatment. While you are at home it’s still easy to get NHS help using your smartphone, tablet or computer. The Health at Home webpage has information letting you know how to: contact your GP order repeat prescriptions manage long-term conditions maintain your mental and physical wellbeing If you need an NHS service, try to do it online first. If you cannot get what you need this way try asking a…
South east London CCG appoints new Southwark borough director
Sam Hepplewhite has been appointed as Southwark’s new Director for NHS south east London Clinical Commissioning Group (SEL CCG). Previously director of integrated commissioning for the borough, Sam was responsible for providing leadership across Southwark. In her new role, Sam will lead Southwark’s team and will be part of SEL CCG’s executive team where she will be a voting member of the Governing Body. She is due to take to take up her post with immediate effect replacing Southwark borough’s previous director, Ross Graves.
COVID-19 advice now available in different languages
Public Health England have published two COVID-19 related leaflets in different languages. ‘Shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable’ and ‘Stay at home advice for households with possible Coronavirus infection’ are both available to download and print.
Our PCCC Meeting in April
Our Primary Care Commissioning Committee (PCCC) will take place at 2.30pm on 16 April 2020. In line with current national requirements, this will be a virtual meeting. For more information on how to ask questions at the meeting and to read the papers, please visit our PCCC page on the website.
Pharmacy Easter opening hours
All local pharmacies will be open on both bank holidays. Some pharmacies may have adjusted their usual opening times so we would advise you phone them and check before you travel. You can find your nearest pharmacy by visiting www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy You can see a list of local pharmacy opening hours here. During these unprecedented times and to help our community pharmacies cope under increasing pressure, we are asking patients and members of the public to: Avoid pharmacies if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19. If you have a dry, persistent cough, fever or shortness of breath, please avoid entering your local…
Covid-19 clinics in Lambeth
Nationally a network of new primary care Covid-19 centres is being rapidly established to manage the growth of coronavirus cases in the community. As part of Lambeth’s Covid-19 Emergency Response we are temporarily opening a number of Covid-19 clinics across he borough. Patients should not go to any of the centres without an appointment via their GP or 111. GP services have already moved to a telephone triage model where patients have an initial telephone conversation rather than a face to face appointment. This next step will bring services together to help manage the expected high numbers requiring Covid-19 care…
Information on NHS services over Easter Bank Holiday
Everyone should stay home in line with government guidance. If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms (high temperature and / or a new continuous cough) Stay at home. If your symptoms worsen or you feel that you cannot manage at home, please refer to the NHS111 online coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you can’t get online or you’ve been instructed to.Please do not go to your GP practice or community pharmacy. If you or people you live with don’t have coronavirus symptoms and you think you need advice from a GP practice or pharmacy for a…
Guidance for parents – when to go to hospital or your GP during the Covid-19 outbreak
Hospitals and GPs across London have put together some guidance for parents on when to go to their local hospital or GP during the Covid-19 outbreak. It is important for parents to continue to seek the advice and support of medical professionals for any non-coronavirus related issues or conditions. The handy poster below provides guidelines for when parents should contact 111, their GP, A&E or 999.
Covid-19 community centres in Lewisham
As part of Lewisham’s Covid-19 emergency response, two Covid-19 community centres are being opened in the south of the borough at Marvels Lane Surgery (37 Marvel Lane, SE12 9PN) and the north of the borough at the Waldron Centre (Amersham Vale, London SE14 6LD). This is part of a national network new primary care Covid-19 centres which are being established rapidly to manage the growth of coronavirus cases in the community. The two community centres in Lewisham will provide care for patients who are unwell with suspected Covid-19 symptoms requiring medical attention. The centres will offer additional support to secondary…
GPs in Southwark start new ways of working to tackle Coronavirus
Patients in Southwark who are ill with suspected Covid-19 and need to see their GP or practice nurse, but can’t travel in their own car, will be the first in London to be able to use a new black cab service to take them to one of two new dedicated Covid-19 community centres. Southwark’s GPs have been working together to come up with new models of care for patients who need to see a GP or nurse for a face to face appointment. The black cab scheme was the brainchild of Southwark GP, Dr Gavin McColl, who realised that black…
More emotional support for young people across south east London
Young people aged 11 – 19 years across south east London (Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich) are able to access confidential and free, digital mental health support service complementing existing mental health provision. XenZone’s online counselling and emotional wellbeing service, Kooth, was initially established in Lewisham four years ago and following this success it was rolled out to the other five South East London boroughs in February 2019. From 1 April the age group has been able to incorporate those up to the age of 25 with a key focus on those who may be particularly vulnerable to…
Information transfer to NHS SEL CCG
On 1 April 2020, NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) was established. The new CCG is made up of the previous six south east London CCGs in Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Information that has been held previously by those six CCGs transferred to the new CCG on 1 April 2020. The new CCG will become the new controller for the data held by the superseded organisations. If you have any further questions about the use of data by NHS SEL CCG, please contact: nelcsu.information-governance@nhs.net