Practice news and developments

This page contains news of practice news and developments. If there are any issues you think we should cover here, please let us know and we will do our best to do so. Details of national NHS news can be obtained from the news desk at the Department of Health web site. The BBC's news site is another good site for health news.

2008 News & Developments

Phlebotomist service started (February 2008)

Practice started Phlebotomist service from february 2008.Apppointments can be taken any time between 8.30a.m to 11a.m, Monday to Friday.This service will allow the patient in drawing venous blood for testing or donation.

Dr Verma joins practice(January 2008)

Dr Verma joined the practice in January 2008. He will work on Monday,Tuesday and Friday.This will allow us to offer extra appointments every week and provide better service to our patient.

Practice started EMIS Access(January 2008)

In co-operation with emis, we're providing a service that enables you access to your healthcare online.Once you've created an account you can book and cancel appointments with your doctor. You may also be able to request your repeat medication, send messages to our practice.You can create your account here-EMIS Access

2004 News & Developments

Advanced Access (April 2004)

The practice has now started operating 'Advanced Access' for offering appointments. This means that most appointments are booked on the day you need to be seen. This is the method of booking appointments that is being encouraged by the Department of Health and by Lambeth PCT.

Dr Andrea Davis joins practice (January 2004)

Dr Andrea Davis joined the practice in January 2004. Dr Davis will initially work on Wednesdays and Fridays. This will allow us to offer extra appointments every week and reduce the waiting time for routine appointments.

Dr Majeed moves to Imperial College (January 2004)

Dr Majeed took up the post of Professor of Primary Care and Head of the Department of Primary Health Care & General Practice at Imperial College London in January 2004. In April 2004, Dr Majeed became head of the Department of Primary Care & Social Medicine when his department merged with another department at Imperial College.

2002 News & Developments

Holiday opening hours (December 2002)

The practice will close at 1pm on Tuesday December 24th and re-open at 8-30am on Friday December 27th. The practice will also close at 1pm on Tuesday December 31st. We will re-open at 8-30am on Thursday January 2nd. Medical advice can be obtained from either NHS Direct or SELDOC while we are closed.

Mr Murray King to leave practice (November 2002)

Our practice manager, Mr Murray King, will be leaving in January 2002 to take up a senior management role in the Lambeth Primary Care Trust. Murray has been our practice manager since 1996 and will be greatly missed. He has helped oversee the development of the practice and has helped us introduce many improvements in the services we offer. We wish Murray the best for the future. We will be recruiting a new practice manager in the near future, in collaboration with the Lambeth Primary Care Trust.

Influenza vaccination (October 2002)

We have now started our annual winter influenza vaccination programme. If you are aged 65 years or over, or suffer with a chronic disease such as asthma or chronic bronchitis, and would like a flu jab, please contact reception to arrange a vaccination. We will also be using our computerised medical records to identify suitable patients and you may therefore receive a letter inviting you to have a vaccination. Please do attend if you are invited for a flu jab.

Staff changes (August 2002)

One of our counsellors, John O’Reilly, is leaving the practice at the end of August, to take up a lecturer’s post with Relate. We extend our thanks to him for all his work and support over the time he has been with us. We are working on a reconfiguration of the counselling service in the light of his departure. Two of our receptionists, Julia Davies and Marion Doherty are also leaving us at the end of the summer. Both are moving away from the London area for personal/family reasons. We are very grateful to them for all of their work and contribution to the team, and wish them all the best for their futures.  

Dr Majeed's new health column (August 2002)

Dr Majeed's monthly column on health and medical related issues can be viewed at http://www.azmaj.org/Column.htm. The first article in the column is on hormone replacement therapy and was published in August 2002. Comments on the column and suggestions for articles are welcome.

Dr Oakeshott awarded FRCP (July 2002)

Dr Pippa Oakeshott has been made a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Many congratulation to Dr Oakeshott for achieving this honour.

Dr McKenzie on extended leave (July 2002)

Dr Rebecca McKenzie will be on extended leave from July 19th onwards. She will return to work in January 2003. Dr Vanessa Dane will be joining us on July 29 to replace Dr McKenzie while she is away from the practice. Dr Dane was working in Cheltenham before she joined us, and has also practised medicine in Australia, Nepal, New Zealand and Vietnam. She has particular interests in sports medicine and child health. We are fortunate to have her on the team, and look forward to working with her over the coming months.  

Dr Majeed promoted to Professor (May 2002). 

Dr Azeem Majeed was promoted to Professor of Primary Medical Care by University College London in May 2002.

New nursing hours (May 2002)

Now that we have our full complement of practice nurses, we are able to offer more extensive opening hours.

New doctor joins practice (April 2002)

Dr Edward Smythe joined the practice in April 2002. Dr Smythe will work at the practice four days each week.

New practice website (March 2002)

The practice website has been redesigned, using Microsoft FrontPage 2000. The new design has a more modern look and should be easier to navigate. Please send feedback to the practice manager, Mr Warren de Souza.

New nurse joins practice (February 2002)

Ms Kate Hague-Holmes joined the practice in February 2002. She will join our existing practice nurse, Mrs Tess Monem. Our other practice nurse, Mrs Bea Sarsah, will return from her sabbatical in April 2002.

Patient input in planning our services (February 2002)

We are currently thinking how we can get input from our patients when modifying our current services and planning new services. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please email our practice manager Warren de Souza (email warren.desouza@gp-G85708.nhs.uk).

Dr Wallat to leave practice (February 2002)

Dr Wallat has announced that for personal reasons he will be leaving the practice at the end of March. Dr Wallat has been with the practice for several years and we wish him well for the future. We will be recruiting a replacement for him in the near future.

Dr Majeed launches new website (February 2002)

Dr Majeed has recently set up a new web site, outlining his academic work and containing copies of some of his publications. The site can be viewed at www.azmaj.org.

2001 News & Developments

Influenza Vaccination (October 2001)

We have now started our annual winter influenza vaccination programme. If you are aged 65 years or over, or suffer with a chronic disease such as asthma or chronic bronchitis, and would like a flu jab, please contact Tess Monem, our practice nurse in October or November to arrange a vaccination. We will also be using our computerised medical records to identify suitable patients and you may therefore receive a letter inviting you to have a vaccination. Please do attend if you are invited for a flu jab.

Pharmacist-Led Clinic (September 2001)

Pharmacists from St. Thomas' Hospital, led by Duncan Mc Robbie, have recently established a medication review clinic at the practice, held on Thursday afternoons. Initially, the clinic will help improve the management of patients with heart disorders such as coronary heart disease and heart failure. If you are sent an invitation for this clinic, please do attend.

Visit by American and Cuban Doctors (July 2001)

The practice was recently visited by Professor Andrew Bindman, Professor of Primary Care at the University of California San Francisco and by Dr Felix Sanso, a primary care physician in Cuba.

Change in Practice Nurses (July 2001)

Following her recent marriage, Pennie Stevens has stopped working in the practice to live in Kent with her new husband. We wish Pennie the best for the future. A new nurse, Eunice, has been recruited to replace Pennie and will start work with us in the near future.

PMS Status (April 2001)

The practice has converted from a GMS (General Medical Services) contract to a PMS (Personal Medical Services) contract. This will not have any immediate effect on the services the practice offers but in the longer term we hope to use the flexibility offered by the new contract to provide an enhanced range of services, particularly for people with heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases, and also for people with mental health problems living in the community as part of 'care in the community' programmes.

2000 News & Developments

Practice Email addresses (November 2000)

All the doctors and some of the other practice staff are now contactable by email. The email addresses are available on the 'Contact Us' page. We can now also take repeat prescription requests by email.

New doctor joins practice (October 2000)

Dr Thomas Wrigley joined the practice in October 2000. Dr Wrigley will be working with us part-time for one year. Dr Wrigley will be in the surgery on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Website featured in The Lancet (September 2000)

The practice website was featured in an article in the Lancet, a leading medical journal.

NHS Plan Launched (July 2000)

On July 27, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, announced details of a reform programme for the NHS in England that he believes will once again make it "the healthcare system the world most envies." The plan contains numerous targets and objectives, including changes to GPs and consultants contracts; more doctors and nurses; sets waiting times for treatment; and aims to improve the nation's health, particularly the health of people from lower socio-economic groups. Only time will tell whether the plan achieves its targets or goes the way of all previous government plans for the NHS over the last 20 years. You can read the plan in full at www.nhs.uk/nhsplan.

NHS Smoking Helpline Launched (July 2000)

A new phone line offering advice and help to people who want to give up smoking has been launched. Smokers wanting advice, information or support can ring the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800-169-0-169. The line is open every day from 7am to 11pm. There is also a helpline for pregnant women who smoke, The number is 0800-169-9-169.

Influenza Vaccination (May 2000)

We are currently planning our annual winter influenza vaccination programme. If you are aged 65 years or over, or suffer with a chronic disease such as asthma or chronic bronchitis, and would like a flu jab, please contact Tess Monem, our practice nurse in October or November to arrange a vaccination. We will also be using our computerised medical records to identify suitable patients and you may therefore receive a letter inviting you to have a vaccination later this year.

Battersea Research Group (May 2000)

The Battersea Research Group was successful in its bid to obtain funds from the NHS Executive to support research and development activities in primary care. The Battersea Research Group is a network of practices and professionals working in primary care in the Battersea and Clapham areas. Our practice is one of the members. The funds will be used to support a programme of research activities in collaboration with University College London and St. George's Hospital Medical School.

Connection to NHS Net (April 2000)

The computers in each consultation room we use to record your details of your consultations and store your medical records have now all been connected to the NHS Net via an ISDN line. This means that the doctors and nurses working in the health centre can now access the Internet and the NHS Net from their desktops. The connection to NHS Net means that we can now also send and receive email from our desktop computers. We are currently discussing how best to use email to communicate with our patients. Possible options include using email to request repeat prescriptions and test results, book appointments, and receive advice on medical queries. However, we first need to ensure that communication by email will be secure and will not result in confidential information being inadvertently released to the wrong person.

New nurse joins practice (April 2000)

Pennie Stevens joined the practice in May 2000. Pennie is our third practice nurse and means that we now have more nursing time available in the practice. Like the other nurses in the practice, Pennie is available for health advice, general health checks, travel advice, and other nursing services.

New Emergency Contraceptive Launched (January 2000)

A new emergency contraceptive, Levonelle-2, was licensed for use in early 2000. Levonelle-2 is manufactured by Schering Health Care (who also manufacture the existing emergency contraceptive Schering PC4). Each pack of Levonelle-2 contains two 750 microgramme tablets of Levonorgestrel (a progestogen). Levonelle-2 does not contain any Oestrogen and so is less likely to cause nausea and vomiting. It is also less likely to cause other side-effects. Like Schering PC4, it has to be taken within 72 hours of the episode of unprotected intercourse. Research carried out by the World Health Organisation has shown that Levonorgestrel is more effective than PC4 in preventing unwanted pregnancies. Consequently, the practice will phase out the use of Schering PC4 and will start to use Levonelle-2 as our first choice for emergency contraception.

1999 News & Developments

New Meningitis Immunisation Campaign (November 1999)

A new meningitis immunisation campaign started in November 1999. The new vaccine will protect against group C meningitis and septicaemia. it will not protect against other causes of meningitis and septicaemia. Babies aged two, three and four months will have doses with each of their DTP-Hib and polio immunisations. Babies aged over four months and up to one year will have two doses at least one month apart. Children over one year and adults need only one dose. The immunisation will be given first to those at greatest risk - babies and young people. Other groups will be invited for immunisation over the course of 1999-2000. To download an information leaflet on the new vaccine, click here.
For further information about meningitis and the new vaccine, visit the NHS immunisation website or the website of the Health Education Board for Scotland.

NHS Direct Web Site (November 1999)

NHS Direct is a 24 hour telephone helpline staffed by nurses gives advice and information about health and the NHS so that people can take better care of themselves and their families. The telephone number is 0845-4647. NHS Direct can also advise people on their best course of action - whether to stay at home and what to do at home, whether to contact a GP or whether to go to A&E. NHS Direct now also has an web site for patients which contains guidance on how to deal with common medical problems. This was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, on December 7, 1999.

Practice Computerisation (October 1999)

You may have noticed that when you see a doctor a nurse in the practice, they no longer record details of your consultation on your paper medical record. Instead, all information is recorded on a computer. Most laboratory results are also sent directly from the hospital laboratory to your record on the computer. We hope that in the future, hospital letters about you will also be sent to us electronically. Storing your information on computer has many potential benefits, principally in the ease of accessing, receiving and transmitting information. The government hopes that by 2005 all general practices will be storing all important information about patients on computers. For further details about computerisation in the NHS, take a look at the web site of the NHS Information Authority or the Information Technology Section of the Department of Health's Web Site. 

New Partner Joins Practice (October 1999)

Dr Azeem Majeed joined the practice as a part-time partner in October 1999. Dr Majeed has worked intermittently at the practice over the last two years and some of you may already seen him before he officially joined the practice.