Change in opening hours

From July 2023 we will no longer be offering evening appointments on Tuesdays. Instead the clinic will close at 6.30pm so we are aligned with other local practices. However there are still extended hours appointments in our local hubs - please click here for more info on these.

Cavendish Health Centre is sad to announce that Dr Lucy Gowling will be leaving our team in July 2023. Please see message from her:

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"Dear Patients, I wanted to let you know that after nearly 5 years at Cavendish Health Centre, I will be leaving the practice at the end of June. It has been wonderful to be a part of the Cavendish team and look after so many of you over the years. I have relocated out of London with my family and will be taking up a new post closer to home. We have a new doctor starting who I am sure some of you will meet soon. Wishing you all the best. Dr Gowling"

We are supporting a London-wide campaign to encourage more patients to do their free NHS bowel cancer screening home test, which checks if you could have bowel cancer.

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People who are the right age are sent a free NHS FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) kit every two years. You use it to collect a small sample of poo and post it back to an NHS lab.

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The campaign by NHS London, “Your next poo could save your life”, urges more people to use their kit – a message we wholeheartedly endorse.

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Screening can help prevent bowel cancer and find it at an early stage when it’s easier to treat. People who complete their screening are 25% less likely to die of bowel cancer.

The kits are for people with no symptoms and most people get the all-clear.

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If you are aged 56, 58 (on or after 16 May 2022) or 60 to 74 and we have your correct address, you will be sent a kit every 2 years. Please use it. By April 2025, Bowel cancer screening kits will be for everyone aged 50 to 74 in England.

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To find out more and hear from other Londoners about their experience of bowel cancer screening, visit www.healthylondon.org/bcs

 

If you have symptoms of bowel cancer which last for three weeks or more, please contact the practice and ask for an appointment.

We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching a new online consultation tool called PATCHS at our GP practice on 8th July. We have selected PATCHS to take the place of our current online consultation service to improve the experience for our patients.

 

The new online consultation service offers a secure, simple and flexible way for patients and carers to contact their GP practice - it will not replace face to face appointments, it is in addition to routine contact with Practices. This should not be used for emergencies when you should contact 999 or visit A&E.

 

By registering you will have easy access to a range of services from your computer or smartphone, including:

 

- reporting symptoms to your GP

- booking virtual appointments

- accessing health advice

 

To request repeat prescriptions, you should continue to follow the current process we have in place.

 

You can register via clicking here or on our website homepage. All you will need to do is provide an email address and set up a password.

For more information on PATCHS you can visit their website.

We are delighted to tell you that Cavendish Health Centre is relocating to a newly refurbished site on the corner of Marylebone High Street and Marylebone Road. The practice will be located on one level on the lower ground floor and there is a lift for patients with mobility issues. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to have access to an affordable purpose built site in Westminster where property comes at such high premiums.

 

Our new address will be: Lower Ground Floor, 15 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JD (entrance at Marylebone High Street side). A 7 minute walk from our current premises.

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Our move date is: Tuesday 3rd May 2022 (after the bank holiday)

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How can I get there?

Walk

Bike racks on Marylebone High Street

TfL Bicycles on Beaumont Street (3 minutes’ walk)

Baker Street Underground Station (6 minutes’ walk)

Regents Park Underground Station (5 minutes’ walk)

Great Portland Street Underground Station (8 minutes’ walk)

Bus Stops nearby 18, 27, 30, 205, 452 (2 minutes’ walk)

Taxi (Taxicards are available from Westminster Council for eligible people

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Please see this link for FAQs and further information

We are continuing to offer face to face appointments at the practice but please help to protect everyone and opt for a telephone or video appointment where possible.

 

If you do need an appointment at the practice (eg for an examination which can’t be done by telephone or video, blood tests, smears etc) then please DO NOT come the the practice if you are:

 

-self isolating

-have symptoms of COVID (high temperature, new persistent cough, loss of or change in smell/taste)

-have been abroad within the last 10 days (speak to a doctor first)

 

If you have an appointment to come to the practice, you should receive a text message with COVID screening questions. Please answer this to ensure that the practice is a safe place for those who need to attend the practice in person.

 

Finally don’t forget to book your COVID vaccinations https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

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COVID VACCINE BOOSTERS

Please wait to receive an invite to book your vaccine via SMS. Once you are eligible this invite will come through if the mobile number we have on record is current. Alternatively you can access the National Booking System online or via 119 where you will be able to book once you are eligible. In the meantime all of our clinics in Westminster are available to walk-ins, however, please check your eligibility before attending or we will not be able to guarantee you will be vaccinated and we do recommend that you book where possible to ensure that your vaccine can go ahead.

A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests.

 

Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems, will still get one but where your clinician feels that it is appropriate to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.

 

Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.

 

If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.

 

This is a link to the NHS England guidance:-

 

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/B0933-bd-blood-collection-supply-disruption-v2.pdf

Cavendish Health Centre

**UPDATE 17/02/2021**

We are now contacting patients in priority group 6 (clinical at risk groups). You will receive a text message with instructions on how to book your vaccine. Those in group 5 will be contacted to book on the national booking system for a vaccine in a large scale vaccination centre (eg ExCel Centre or Wembley) or at a pharmacy.

Please note that we are not allowed to book second doses until 12 weeks after the first one.

 

**UPDATE 11/02/2021**

If you are aged over 70, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination appointment without needing an invitation letter by visiting www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination, or by calling 119, free of charge.

If you are aged over 70, you no longer need a letter to book a vaccination appointment at your local vaccination centre or community pharmacy.

 

**UPDATE 08/02/2021** This week, we will also be calling patients in priority group 5 (65 years and over). The vaccine will still be available to those in priority groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well if anyone who hasn’t had their first dose yet changes their mind.

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12/01/2021

Cavendish Health Centre

The NHS is very busy responding to the coronavirus pandemic and, at certain times, your GP practice may need to prioritise patients with the most urgent health needs.

If you have a health issue that isn’t urgent, advice is available on the NHS website (www.nhs.uk) or NHS app or you can speak to your local pharmacist. You can also use send us a message via the online system. If you aren’t sure what to do, please contact the practice who can advise you on how to get the help you need.

Please continue to attend tests, vaccinations and screening when invited.

www.111.nhs.uk is also available 24/7 for urgent health advice or by calling 111, and 999 is for emergencies.

The NHS will contact you when we are able to offer you an appointment, this will either be a letter or phone call from your GP. If you miss the phone call please don’t worry, we will call again or send you a letter.

Please also be aware some people may receive more than one invite. If this happens, please pick the site you would prefer to go for your vaccination and follow the booking-in advice provided. You can ignore the other invites.

There is also a National Booking Service which you can access here. This is only for booking at the large vaccination sites (ExCel, Wembley) and pharmacies, not at the local sites including Lord’s and South Westminster Centre.

 

The government priority list (correct at the time of writing – 22/01/2021) is:-

1. Residents in a care home for older adults
Staff working in care homes for older adults

2. All those 80 years of age and over
Frontline Health and social care workers

3. All those 75 years of age and over

4. All those 70 years of age and over
Clinically extremely vulnerable ‘shielding’ individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age)

5. All those 65 years of age and over

6. Adults aged 16 to 65 years in an at-risk group (these are patients who are on the list for an annual flu vaccine on the NHS)

7. All those 60 years of age and over

8. All those 55 years of age and over

9. All those 50 years of age and over

 

See this link on guidance for patients who meet the definition of patients on the clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding) list.

You can find more details here:

More information including FAQs

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

 NWL CCG’s website

28/12/2020

If you are worried that you may have coronavirus, please check the 111 website and/or read this leaflet for further advice (including when to call 111 or attend A&E). Please make sure that you self-isolate in line with government guidelines and also arrange a test via the government website.

 

If you are worried that your child may have coronavirus, please have a look at this leaflet for more advice (including when to call 111 or attend A&E).

 

If your child under 5 is unwell, please have a look at this booklet which provides information about common ailments. 

 

Here is a list of local emergency services for children available during coronavirus.

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COVID Vaccines

11/12/2020

We are working with local practices to make the COVID vaccine available to our patients. This is likely to be given at two large sites in Westminster (not at Cavendish Health Centre for logistical reasons).

We will be following the government priority list. You will be contacted as soon as the vaccine becomes available to you.

Please don’t contact us – we will contact you!

Please visit the following for more information.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

 

 

**UPDATE 17/12/2020**

All those the slots 18th/19th December have been filled (we have prioritised the oldest patients and the highest risk patients first). The next delivery of vaccines for Westminster hasn’t been confirmed yet but it is likely to be in January.

Please don’t contact us – we will contact you!

 

**UPDATE 15/12/2020**

Vaccine mobilisation has started in Westminster with the most clinically vulnerable groups as defined by the UK government being offered the vaccine first.
Please do not contact your practice for this – you will be contacted as vaccines are delivered.
Our initial wave begins December 18th/19th with a very small number of vaccines being delivered. Eligible patients will be contacted. Priority is for the oldest, most high risk patients first.
Thereafter we will begin at a larger scale in January. This will take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground and the South Westminster Centre.

06/07/2020

Find out more about how to get support for yourself, family members and carers on the Post COVID hub or on the NHS COVID Recovery website.

Download this programme of free weekly webinars for managing Long Covid. These are running between 27th October to 22nd December. You need to download the booklet and click on the join button to start the relevant webinar.

11/06/2020

It is even more important than ever to make sure your little ones are protected from getting potentially dangerous infections. Call us now to book an appointment with a nurse for your child’s immunisations. Click here for more info.

21/05/2020

General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)

This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital.

The health and social care system is facing significant pressures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Health and care information is essential to deliver care to individuals, to support health, social care and other public services and to protect public health. Information will also be vital in researching, monitoring, tracking and managing the coronavirus outbreak. In the current emergency it has become even more important to share health and care information across relevant organisations. This practice is supporting vital coronavirus planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital, the national safe haven for health and social care data in England. 

Our legal basis for sharing data with NHS Digital

NHS Digital has been legally directed to collect and analyse patient data from all GP practices in England to support the coronavirus response for the duration of the outbreak. NHS Digital will become the controller under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 (GDPR) of the personal data collected and analysed jointly with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who has directed NHS Digital to collect and analyse this data under the COVID-19 Public Health Directions 2020(COVID-19 Direction).

All GP practices in England are legally required to share data with NHS Digital for this purpose under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (2012 Act). More information about this requirement is contained in the data provision notice issued by NHS Digital to GP practices.

Under GDPR our legal basis for sharing this personal data with NHS Digital is Article 6(1)(c) – legal obligation. Our legal basis for sharing personal data relating to health, is Article 9(2)(g) – substantial public interest, for the purposes of NHS Digital exercising its statutory functions under the COVID-19 Direction.

The type of personal data we are sharing with NHS Digital

The data being shared with NHS Digital will include information about patients who are currently registered with a GP practice or who have a date of death on or after 1 November 2019 whose record contains coded information relevant to coronavirus planning and research. The data contains NHS Number, postcode, address, surname, forename, sex, ethnicity, date of birth and date of death for those patients. It will also include coded health data which is held in your GP record such as details of:

• diagnoses and findings

• medications and other prescribed items

• investigations, tests and results

• treatments and outcomes

• vaccinations and immunisations

How NHS Digital will use and share your data

NHS Digital will analyse the data they collect and securely and lawfully share data with other appropriate organisations, including health and care organisations, bodies engaged in disease surveillance and research organisations for coronavirus response purposes only. These purposes include protecting public health, planning and providing health, social care and public services, identifying coronavirus trends and risks to public health, monitoring and managing the outbreak and carrying out of vital coronavirus research and clinical trials. The British Medical Association, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the National Data Guardian are all supportive of this initiative.

NHS Digital has various legal powers to share data for purposes relating to the coronavirus response. It is also required to share data in certain circumstances set out in the COVID-19 Direction and to share confidential patient information to support the response under a legal notice issued to it by the Secretary of State under the Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 (COPI Regulations).

Legal notices under the COPI Regulations have also been issued to other health and social care organisations requiring those organisations to process and share confidential patient information to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Any information used or shared during the outbreak under these legal notices or the COPI Regulations will be limited to the period of the outbreak unless there is another legal basis for organisations to continue to use the information. 

Data which is shared by NHS Digital will be subject to robust rules relating to privacy, security and confidentiality and only the minimum amount of data necessary to achieve the coronavirus purpose will be shared. Organisations using your data will also need to have a clear legal basis to do so and will enter into a data sharing agreement with NHS Digital. Information about the data that NHS Digital shares, including who with and for what purpose will be published in the NHS Digital data release register.

For more information about how NHS Digital will use your data please see the NHS Digital Transparency Notice for GP Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19).

National Data Opt-Out

The application of the National Data Opt-Out to information shared by NHS Digital will be considered on a case by case basis and may or may not apply depending on the specific purposes for which the data is to be used. This is because during this period of emergency, the National Data Opt-Out will not generally apply where data is used to support the coronavirus outbreak, due to the public interest and legal requirements to share information.

Your rights over your personal data

To read more about the health and care information NHS Digital collects, its legal basis for collecting this information and what choices and rights you have in relation to the processing by NHS Digital of your personal data, see:

• the NHS Digital GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19) Transparency Notice

• the NHS Digital Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Transparency Notice

• the NHS Digital General Transparency Notice

• how NHS Digital looks after your health and care information