From the week beginning 24/04/2023 the surgery will no longer be open until 8:30pm on Wednesdays. The practice will now close at 6:30pm on Wednesdays. For evening and weekend appointments patients can now book in at one of the enhanced access hubs in the local area. Please ask at reception or click on the link below for more information on how to book an appointment https://belgravia-surgery-sw1.nhs.uk/appointments/gp-access-centres/ 

Please see the practice opening times over the Christmas period 2023-24 below 

Monday 25th December- Closed

Tuesday 26th December- Closed

Monday 1st January- Closed

We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching a new online consultation tool called PATCHS at our GP practice on 8th July 2022. We have selected PATCHS to take the place of our current online consultation service (eConsult) to improve the experience for our patients.

The new online consultation service offers a secure, simple and flexible way for patients and carers to contact their GP practice – it will not replace face to face appointments, it is in addition to routine contact with Practices. This should not be used for emergencies when you should contact 999 or visit A&E.

By registering you will have easy access to a range of services from your computer or smartphone, including:

• reporting symptoms to your GP
• booking virtual appointments
• accessing health advice

To request repeat prescriptions, you should continue to follow the current process we have in place.

You can register via the [link] on our website homepage.
All you will need to do is provide an email address and set up a password.

For more information on PATCHS you can visit their website.

Your local NHS is seeking your views about the best times and locations for GP (doctor) and nurse appointments in the evenings and weekends.

Nationally the NHS has asked local practices to review the times to provide appointments at evenings and weekends. We want to capture information to support decision-making and make sure we are providing times, and locations that meet the needs of local people.

Our short survey will take no more than two minutes and your answers will help us to provide the best possible times and locations for our evening and weekend GP services.

Please complete our survey https://forms.office.com/r/Z5g9sxW1wf

(GP and nurse appointments are already available in the evening and at the weekend and can be booked by calling your GP practice or 111).

Q&A

Why are you asking people about this?

Nationally the NHS has asked groups of GP Practices (Primary Care Networks) to develop a plan for providing appointments at evenings and weekends. To inform these plans we want to make sure we are also providing times, and locations that meet the needs of local people.

What changes are you planning to make?

At this stage we really don’t know – we currently provide weekend and evening appointments from 6:30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on the weekends in each borough. Provided by local GPs. We want to know if these times are still right for patients?

What are the proposed national changes?

Local GPs currently offer appointments seven days of the week; the new guidance does mean that appointments don’t have to be provided on a Sunday. We are not proposing we don’t offer a service on a Sunday, but we do want to understand what local people need.

I just want to be able to see a doctor, face-to-face not on the phone?

All GP practices provide telephone and face-to-face appointments. This means we can see as many patients as possible each day. If you need to be seen face-to-face you will be invited into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment.

When will the changes happen?

Nationally the new changes to the way GP networks provide evening and weekend services will come into place in October.

Will my feedback really make a difference?

Yes, we want to ensure we are providing service times that work for local people.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization have all reiterated that the benefits of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the prevention of COVID-19 far outweigh any possible risk of blood clots amongst those groups currently eligible to receive their first vaccination, as well as all of those due their 2nd dose. 
 
Offering further reassurance, the EMA said that these extremely isolated cases “should be listed as very rare side effects”. 

In those aged 18-29, an alternative vaccine will be offered when the time is right for vaccinating this group, and GPs will ensure the appropriate vaccine is offered, and any questions are answered. The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has stated that this change in course has been made – not because there is a high risk to the under 30s from this vaccine, but due to them having taken an approach of the utmost caution - which should provide great reassurance, and is quite normal in the rollout of a global vaccination program. 

More information can be found here: 

COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting 

The UK vaccination programme has been very successful with more than 30 million people vaccinated and more than 6,000 lives already saved. 

What is the concern? 

Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear. 

Although this condition remains extremely rare there appears to be a higher risk in people who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AZ vaccine doses given. 

This is seen slightly more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 2 weeks following vaccination. 

Benefits and risks of the vaccination

This condition can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection. An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored. 
 
What to look out for after vaccination

Although serious side effects are very rare, if you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently: 

• a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse 
• a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over 
• an unusual headache that may be accompanied by: 

• blurred vision, nausea and vomiting 
• difficulty with your speech 
• weakness, drowsiness or seizures 
• new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding 
• shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain  

What you should do next 

Over 50 years of age or with underlying medical conditions 

All older adults (including health and social care workers over 50 years of age), care home residents, health and social care workers (includes unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed) and adults with certain medical conditions were prioritised in the first phase of the programme because they were at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that you should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose. 

If your first dose was with AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should have the second dose on time as you may still be at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. Having the second dose will give you higher and longer lasting protection. 
 

If you are a healthy person over 30 to 50 years of age 

The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. 

The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose. 

If you are a healthy younger person aged 18 to 39 

The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose. 

Currently JCVI has advised that it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AZ. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you. 
 

About the second dose 

If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed. It is expected that the first dose of the vaccine will have given you some protection, particularly against severe disease. 

Further information can be found at  NHS.UK. 

NEW*** Free Online Contraception
If you live in Westminster or Kensington and Chelsea and you’re over 16, you can order your free contraception and sexual health test online through SHL.uk London’s online sexual health service.

All you need to do is register online at SHL.uk and you will be directed to the contraception methods available including Emergency Hormonal Contraception.

If you would like to speak to a health advisor for advice and information on the most suitable contraception you can call 020 3315 9779.