Important: Measles Alert

Following a recent outbreak of measles in London, we strongly advise all parents and carers to ensure that children are fully immunised with the MMR vaccine.

For further information: listerpractice.co.uk/news/measles/

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Referrals to Other Health and Social Care Services

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There may be times where your GP needs to refer you to other health and social care providers. Generally, you cannot self-refer to a specialist at a hospital within the NHS, except when accessing sexual health clinics or A&E treatment. A specialist will only see you with a letter of referral from your GP.

The letter will give the specialist essential information, such as your medical history, and it’ll also contain details that the specialist needs to pay particular attention to.

The GP will mark your referral as urgent or routine, based on your needs.

Your GP practice does not have access to waiting times for appointments. Please contact the provider to you have been referred to, directly, to discuss your appointment.

Other services you may access through your GP

As well as specialist referrals, your GP can help you find the right stop smoking services, weight loss service or other self-management programmes that help prevent or manage a condition.

Self-management programmes are not simply about educating you about your condition. They also let you take control of your health by learning new skills to manage your condition on a daily basis. But these services may not be available on the NHS and you may have to pay for them yourself.

Some areas may offer local schemes that allow patients to have subsidised access to gyms, exercise programmes or weight loss services.

It’s worth asking your GP if there are any local services that can help you.

Find services in your area

You can self-refer yourself to a number of local services including, physiotherapists, mental health services, antenatal care and minor eye conditions.

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

Self register for the getUBetter – getUBetter App

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 The Lister Practice.

Talking Therapies

Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners. They can help if you’re struggling with things like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

You can access talking therapies for free on the NHS.

You can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP, or a GP can refer you.

Help is available in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course.

You can find out more about our local talking therapies service here. 

You can refer yourself to them online here or call them on 0203 228 2194.

Southwark Minor Eye Condition Service (MECS)

If you’re living in the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark you can now access a new service called MECS that provides assessment for many common eye conditions through your local optician. You can find out more about the MECS and how to self-refer, here.

Medical eye conditions that can be treated by MECS

  • Sudden or recent reduction in vision in one or both eyes
  • Red eye(s) or eye lids
  • Pain and / or discomfort in the eyes, around the eye area or temples
  • Recent onset or sudden increase of flashes and / or floaters in one or both eyes (appears like a fly, black specks or a cobweb moving across your vision)
  • Mild trauma, for example a scratch to the outer surface of the eye(s) or lid(s)
  • Suspected foreign body in the eye
  • Recent onset of double vision
  • Significant recent discharge from or watering of the eye

If you are unsure whether your symptoms qualify, please contact one of the approved opticians who can offer help and advice.

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