No need to see a GP. Book directly
2. Direct access physiotherapy
No need to see a GP. Book directly
9. Access new treatments through our research hub
All local patients can access our research hub based at Richford Gate Medical Centre which is run by our doctors and nurses. Ask your GP if you’re interested. Our recent/current studies have covered hypertension, lipid management, treatments for covid, and a home monitoring programme for frail patients living alone. All of these studies help the NHS improve care and find new treatments
5. Diabetes
We run specialist clinics for people with diabetes.
Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure, have a really positive effect on minimising the long term effects of diabetes. Our clinical team also provides advice about diet and lifestyle and can offer motivational support. The doctors are supported by two health coaches that run group and individual sessions to help you understand what you can do to improve your health and mood.
No judgement, no lecturing, just empathetic support and encouragement.
1. Sickness Certificates
The NHS provides sickness certification (Fit Notes) only after seven continuous days of illness. If you need a sick note to cover a shorter period of sickness you should complete a Self Certification (SC2) form which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.
Please visit the Direct Gov website for full information about fitness for work following a period of sickness. After this period a NHS certificate may be issued but you will need to contact the surgery as it may be necessary to discuss your request with your GP.
Do I need a note saying I’m fit for work?
No. You do not need to see your GP again to be ‘signed back to work’.
8. Cancer Screening
Early detection of cancer significantly improves outcomes. Ask about breast, cervical, and bowel cancer screening.
Cervical Screening Test
Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.
Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.
Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.
These appointments typically take around 15 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust NHS Choices – Cervical ScreeningBreast Screening
The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.
Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.
The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50. If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.
West London Breast ScreeningBowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon, rectum or the small bowel.
The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
- Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
- A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 4 to 6 weeks
- A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
- A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
- Losing weight
- Pain in your abdomen or back passage
- A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)
Bowel Cancer Screening
How do I get a screening kit?
If you are aged 60-69 years, you will be sent your screening invitation automatically through the post. All you need to do is make sure that your GP has your correct address.
‘People aged 70 years and over or under the age of 60, who wish to be screened, should request a kit. Simply telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.’
Non-urgent advice: Symptoms to look out for
Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support
Have questions about cancer? Click the button below or call 0808 808 000 free (Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm).
More InformationServices you may need to pay for
Some services are not funded by the NHS
The NHS provides free healthcare. If you request our assistance for something not related to NHS treatment you will need to pay a charge for our time and resources.
Medical reports or certificates you ask us to prepare, non-NHS forms you ask us to fill in or sign, anything you ask us to do in support of privately funded treatment, and occupational medical checks you ask us to undertake, are all examples of requests we receive that are not part of the NHS service.
Please note that there may be occasions where we can’t provide a service at all, or can’t provide it within the timescale you need. Please be patient and we will do our best. All non-NHS services are provided at our discretion on a case-by-case basis.
A price guide is shown below but do ask us to confirm what the charge will be before we carry out the work. The completed report or form will not be returned to you until you have paid.
Certificates, forms, letters and reports
| Straightforward certificates of fact, or letters of fact | £30 |
| Private sick note (incapacity certificate) required by the patient for presentation to an employer. Excludes sick notes which the doctor is obliged to provide for statutory sick pay purposes | £40 |
| Accident or sickness insurance: short certificates of incapacity without examination for the patient to claim under accident or sickness insurance | £40 |
| Freedom from infection certificate (only for repatriation of deceased) | £40 |
| Validation of private medical insurance (PMI) claim form, to support a claim for benefit in connection with private medical insurance, or completion of a pre-treatment form | £45 |
| Health club brief written report | £45 |
| School fees and holiday insurance certificates | £45 |
| Gym membership cancelation letter | £40 |
| Firearm license / shotgun license form (no medical examination required) | £120 |
| Private prescription for medication related to travel (at clinician’s discretion). Per item | £20 |
| Digital copy of records requested by patient / solicitor – no charge Printed copy of records requested by patient / solicitor – charged at 10p per page | |
| Report on a pro forma, no examination (£30 per 15 minutes) – patient will be advised on likely charge once GP has seen form – usually between £30 and £120 | |
| Written report without examination, providing a detailed opinion and statement on the condition of the patient (£30 per 15 minutes. Minimum 30 minutes). Patient will be advised on likely charge once GP has seen form – usually between £60 and £200 Examples of forms include: – accident or sickness insurance to support a claim for payment of a benefit under an accident or sickness insurance policy – employment report pre-employment, or report on an employee, requested by an employer – fitness for education to attend university, college, teacher, and nurses training. pharmaceutical trials report on the suitability of patients to take part as a non-patient volunteer – private medical insurance: report on the prospective subscriber to private medical insurance (PMI) scheme (e.g. BUPA, PPP, WPA, etc.). | |
| Lasting Power of Attorney / Capacity Assessment: we do not provide these services | n/a |
| DVLA medical exam and report (taxi or lorry) | £120 |