Tel: 02074875244
Out of Hours: 111
Appointments
We offer a variety of appointment types including telephone appointments, Skype/video appointments, email consultations and face to face appointments at the practice.
Remember that you may not always need to see a GP as there are services you can self-refer to or other places where you can obtain expert professional advice (see "Who Do I See" section on our homepage).
We have tried to listen to feedback that there is a long wait for routine appointments and have responded by changing our booking system. The demand on our surgery has increased dramatically since pre covid times. In addition, there has been a huge increase in missed appointments which is making our wait time longer. We had 244 missed appointments in September.
We have made changes to our appointment system to make it more accessible and hopefully reduce the wait time. Appointments are now offered to you based upon clinical need and appropriateness after a doctor has read your AccuRx e-consult form.
Of course, we always have access on the day for urgent problems via our duty doctor, but this will be accessed via AccuRx triage.
AccuRx Triage
A new, easier way to request an appointment
From Monday 13 July, Cavendish Health Centre is changing how you ask us for a routine or urgent GP appointment.
What's changing
Instead of calling first thing and hoping to get through, you'll be able to tell us what you need using our simple online form, powered by Accurx. There are only a few questions, so it doesn't take long. Fill in the online form here
Can't get online?
That's absolutely fine. Our reception team can complete the form with you over the phone or in person, so nobody is disadvantaged by this change. Just let them know what you need help with.
What happens after you submit a request
A GP will review your request within 24 hours and the practice will respond to you.
One more change for the better
We're moving away from asking patients to "phone back later" if we don't have availability on the day. Once you've submitted your request, we'll get back to you with next steps — you shouldn't need to keep calling back.
Why we're doing this
We believe this will help us see patients faster, make sure you reach the right clinician first time, and make requesting an appointment less stressful. We'll be keeping a close eye on how it's working and welcome your feedback.
Please help us to help you:
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Cancel your appointment if it is no longer needed so it can be given to someone else.
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Please fill out the AccuRx form - the link is on our homepage and then you will be contacted with a response within one working day.
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If you cannot complete an AccuRx form, please be ready to explain to the receptionist the nature of your problem when requesting an appointment (urgent or routine) – this is so that our admin team can help fill in the AccuRx form on your behalf for review by the doctor.
There are also routine appointments available at hub practices with short waiting times: Connaught Square and Pimlico (evening and weekend)
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GP (telephone)
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Advanced Nurse Practitioner (Pimlico only)
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Nurse
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Healthcare Assistant
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Clinical Pharmacist
Do You Need to See a GP?
Please consider whether you need to see a GP or whether it will be more efficient for you to seek advice from one of our wider team members. Examples include:
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First Choice Practitioner - At the practice we are lucky to be able to offer directly bookable sessions with senior physiotherapists for your musculoskeletal needs
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Cora Health - we are partnered with Coral Health too and they provide a range of musculoskeletal services. You can self-refer to them via their website by clicking here
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Practice Pharmacist - our friendly practice pharmacy team can help with medication reviews and medication queries as well as minor ailments
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Mental Health - you can self refer to IAPT for help with anxiety and depression. Click here
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Our nursing and HCA team can help with asthma and diabetes and mental health checks, wounds, dressings, immunisations, cervical screening, phlebotomy, annual health checks and much more.
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For antenatal care you can self-refer to your hospital of choice - see here
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For sexual health screening and contraceptive advice please see London SHL and Mortimer Market websites.
GP Appointments
Appointments are booked at 10 minute intervals so please try to bear in mind each appointment can only deal with one issue.
Longer appointments can sometimes be arranged in special circumstances (e.g. if you need an interpreter) so that adequate time is allocated. Please make this clear on your AccuRx form or let our reception team know.
Although you will be registered with one doctor, you may see any doctor you choose. However we recommend you try to see the same doctor each time, as far as possible, so that you have better continuity of care.
Urgent appointments
From Monday to Friday, some appointments are reserved for patients with conditions needing urgent medical advice and attention on the same day. These spaces are not to be used for long-standing medical problems, medical certificates or repeat prescriptions. If you think you need to be seen on the same day, please try to fill out the AccuRx form as early in the day as possible.
Please remember these urgent appointments are booked on a ‘first come first served’ basis and you will be contacted by the practice after the doctor on call has reviewed your triage form. You may be offered advice, a same day appointment or a routine appointment, depending on the condition. It may not always be possible to see the doctor of your choice in an emergency.
Telephone/Skype/Video Consultations
We offer a number of types of consultations so our patients are able to choose a consultation that suits them.
Please click here for information on telephone appointments.
Please click here for information on Skype/video appointments.
Nursing / Pharmacist/ Physiotherapy Appointments
In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse or healthcare assistant rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly. Please click below for more information on what our nurses and healthcare assistant can do for you.
We are also pleased to be able to offer appointments with an NHS physiotherapist to help you with musculoskeletal problems and practice pharmacists who can assist you with medication queries and medication reviews.
Special Needs
If you need an interpreter for your appointment, please put it on your AccuRx form or ask our reception team to book this service through Silent Sounds which includes a wide range of languages. If you need an interpreter, please inform the reception staff at least 1 week before your appointment so they can arrange this for you. If you have a hearing impairment, a sign language interpreter can be booked for you. These services need to be booked at least one week in advance.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Patients who regularly miss appointments will receive a warning letter and may be removed from our list. If you are more than 10 minutes late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
Did Not Attend (DNA) policy
You may not be aware of our three time DNA policy. This means that if you do not attend or cancel three appointments within one year without reason, we will need to remove you from our registered patient list.
Late for Appointments
Whilst we appreciate clinics are often running late, this usually happens because a doctor is having to spend extra time looking after an unwell patient.
In order to treat each patient fairly, if you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment the doctor may ask you to reschedule or wait until the end of the clinic to see you.