Practice Newsletter: January 2026

 

Happy new year!

We wish you a joyous and healthy 2026.  We would like to thank you for the Christmas cards, gifts, chocolates and biscuits we received from you this Christmas. This is appreciated. May the New Year bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity.   

At the beginning of each year, people tend to make decisions about lifestyle changes. We are always looking for ways to help our patients to stay healthy, as well as helping them when they get ill. One of the best ways to protect your health, as you are probably aware, is to stop smoking. We offer support to help you quit smoking. Please contact the Practice for support or visit the Smoke Free Lewisham website

Also if you are trying to lose weight, we provide a weight management programme, which can support you in making positive sustainable lifestyle changes. Please book an appointment with Stanly the health and wellbeing coach. 

 

Carers’ coffee morning

We are pleased to share that our first Carers’ Coffee Morning took place on Saturday 13th December. We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to what was a very positive and supportive session. A great deal of useful information and experiences were shared among Carers.

The next Carers’ Coffee Morning will be held on Saturday 10th January at 11am, and we warmly encourage you to come along. This is an opportunity to share your experiences, connect with other Carers, and receive helpful information in a friendly setting.

The group is self-run. Please see the photo included in this newsletter, showing some of the Carers who attended the December coffee morning who kindly agreed to have their photos shared.

If you provide unpaid care for a relative, friend, or loved one, you are a carer. Please let us know so we can ensure you receive relevant information and updates.

 

Facts and figures

Here’s a quick look at what we achieved together in December:

Your calls

  • Incoming Calls: 270
  • Answered:266(98.5%)

Your requests

Total Requests: 3457 

  • Via NHS App: 267
  • Care Navigators: 359
  • Online: 2831

Average: 265 per 1,000 patients (National average: 118. Regional average: 138)

Appointments and services

  • Telephone Appointments: 682
  • GP Appointments Offered: 2637
  • Blood Tests: 544
  • Prescriptions Issued: 3,233
  • Home Visits: 43

Your feedback

  • Friends & Family Test: 98.2% of patients rated our services as Very Good or Good. 
 

Appointments and our total triage system

First, thank you for your continued support and understanding. Our whole team is committed to doing our very best to provide safe, fair, and timely care for all our patients. To help us manage appointments as effectively as possible, we use a Total Triage system.

What does this mean?

All appointment requests are first looked at by a clinician. This helps us make sure you are seen by the right person, in the right way, and at the right time.

How do I request an appointment?

You do not need to know what type of appointment you need. Just tell us what the problem is.

What happens next?

After reviewing your request, a clinician will decide the best next step. This might be:

  • A GP appointment (face-to-face or telephone)
  • An appointment with another member of our healthcare team
  • Advice, a prescription, or a referral
  • Guidance on how to self-manage your condition where appropriate

Please be aware that appointments are subject to availability, and we will always prioritise patients whose problems are clinically urgent.

Why we use Total Triage

  • It helps urgent problems be dealt with more quickly
  • It ensures patients see the most appropriate clinician
  • It helps us use our appointments fairly and safely

We understand that not every health issue needs a GP appointment. Where it is safe to do so, we may advise self-care or self-management, and provide guidance or trusted resources to support you.

We are here to help

If you are not able to use online services, or if you’re unsure what to do, our care navigating team is always happy to help.

Thank you again for your patience and support as we continue to work hard to care for our patients.

 

Adolescent clinic 

Just a reminder that the Adolescent Clinic with Dr Iche White who has a special interest in adolescent medicine, and the clinic is for young people aged 13 to 19.  It is a safe space to talk to a GP about any health worries. Conversations are confidential, although parents or carers will be involved if needed.

To book an appointment, please email selicb.aplosmhcoordinator@nhs.net and put “Adolescent Clinic” in the subject line.

Published: Jan 7, 2026