Referrals

What to expect if you have been referred to the hospital 

Your GP practice will process your referral and send it to the appropriate department at the hospital. This is not always the same day as your initial appointment.

If the GP feels you require an urgent referral it will be marked as such. 

Once the referral has been sent, the practice has NO control over what happens once it has been received and reviewed by the hospital.

Your GP practice cannot speed up the time it takes for you to get an appointment, but if your symptoms change or get worse while you are waiting to hear from the hospital, the GP will review them. If you have been referred under a two week wait, you will hear from the hospital within two weeks.

You can see information about waiting times at hospitals on the My Planned Care website: www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk

Patient Referral Help line: 0300 443 0120

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Letter to take prescriptions abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales which you will be advised on prior to collection.

We do not class any NON-NHS work as priority over NHS services. We have a strict 21 day timescale. We politely ask that you do not chase your NON-NHS work, we understand that waiting can be frustrating and we appreciate your patience. 
 

(HGV, PSV etc.) Hand your paperwork in to reception and we will be in touch with an appointment.

Private letters must be requested in writing.

Mental Health in Adults

For immediate help with mental health you can call 111 option 2 for the crisis team or you can attend A&E for immediate help.

The 24-hour service, launched by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), offers immediate and specialist support to adults experiencing mental health crisis.

Anyone in need can dial 111 at any time and select the option for mental health crisis (option 2).

Callers will be connected to trained staff at EPUT who can provide timely and appropriate support and advice.

The service is for people aged 18 and over and aims to ensure those in need of support can access it quickly when they need it most.

Samaritans

When life is tough, Samaritans are here to listen at any time of the day or night. You can talk to them about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult:

• call free on 116 123
• or visit https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=onebox

For information, advice and support for your mental health, see the MIND website: https://www.mind.org.uk/

See the following website about anxiety. It gives information on causes, lifestyle tips and treatment options. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/

You can contact our NHS counselling service Therapy For You on 01268 739 128  - https://www.therapyforyou.co.uk/

Self Help Apps

• Headspace
• Calm
• Sleepi0
  

We also recommend that you speak to your local pharmacist for 3 months of over the counter vitamin D tablets as they may be of help too.

Crisis support for young people

Papyrus

If you’re under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends:

• call HopelineUK on 0800 068 41 41
• text 07860 039967
• or visit https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Childline

If you’re under 19, you can also speak to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill:

• call Childline on 0800 1111

Clinics 

The Practice holds the following clinics:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Childhood Vaccinations/Immunisations
• Adult Vaccinations/Immunisations
• Cervical Screening
• Contraception Services
• Counselling - available following a GP referral
• Clinical Pharmacist 
• Flu vacination
• Menopause
• HRT
• Physio - referral

Test Results

No need to contact the surgery. The appropriate person or service will be in contact if there is any action needed.

Allow at least:

• Blood Tests: Times will vary
• X-ray: 7 - 10 days

Results can be viewed through online services.

Smear test results are sent to patients directly from Health Authority.

Flu

Flu vaccinations are available between October and March at the surgery.

These will be bookable online or you can call the surgery on 01268 222188 to book an appointment with our HCA.

RSV

RSV vaccinations will be available at the surgery from September 2024 - for more information follow the link below.

For adults: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-for-older-adults/your-guide-to-the-rsv-vaccine-for-older-adults

For pregnant women: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-maternal-vaccination/a-guide-to-rsv-vaccination-for-pregnant-women#:~:text=From%201%20September%202024%2C%20pregnant,to%20breathe%20and%20to%20feed.

COVID

Covid Winter booster 2024

The Primary Care Network will be providing this years Covid vaccination booster for people aged 75 and over and over 18's with a weakened immune system.

The first walk-in clinic will be on the 5th October 2024 between 8am - 12pm on the first floor of the Central Canvey Primary Care Centre.

For further clinic please call 01268 222188 and press option 7

From Samaritans website:

Samaritans, a unique charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide, has a free app that can provide veterans with emotional support after their career in the Armed Forces. 

The free app from Samaritans comes on the back of joint research carried out in 2021 with the Royal British Legion, which found that veterans wanted to understand more about their emotional wellbeing and to hear from people with similar experiences. Those leaving the military and former Armed Forces personnel can access emotional health and wellbeing information, videos, exercises, podcasts, and create wellbeing to-do-lists in the app to help look after themselves and connect with the veteran community.

Through the app veterans will be supported to:

• Reflect: Fully reflect on your service so you can better understand your experiences and move forward.
• Manage: Learn ways to manage your emotional responses and deal with your new day-to-day reality.
• Identify: Identify the challenges you may face and develop ways to overcome them.
• Connect: Access volunteering and peer support by connecting you to the wider veteran community.
• Additional Support: Discover what additional support is out there for you and your individual needs.

The Samaritans Veterans app can be accessed on a desktop, tablet or mobile device via this link https://www.samaritansveterans.org/#/access/signin

E-CONSULT - Can be found on Home page

Please read the following important information before completing an E-Consult

• This service is only running during surgery opening hours only.
• Only complete an E-Consult if you are doing a annual review a medical certificate or if you have been asked to complete one.
• Do not send photo's for anyone under 18 and do not send any intimate arears or facial features.
• Do not request medication or send medication reviews through e-Consult.
• This service is not appropriate for immediate medical attention.

Canvey Island Primary Care Network (PCN)

What is a Primary Care Network?

Primary Care Networks (PCN) offer a new way of organising care, bringing together all local health and care services in a local area to deliver more joined up care to local populations (usually covering around 50,000 people)

To find out more follow https://www.canveypcn.nhs.uk/ 

Click on the link for information

Dementia

Children's toilet training

Essex Sexual Health Service 

• 0300 003 1212

• https://essexsexualhealthservice.org.uk/self-test/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations you can find more information on https://gphealthcarealliance.co.uk/travel-health-clinic/ on how to book these.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below: 

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the travel nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. 

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.