Social Prescribing

The Social Prescribing Service is a brief intervention that aims to help people find ways to improve their health and wellbeing, by linking them to information, services, organisations and local activities to support their present emotional, physical and social needs.

It is based around “what matters to you”.

The focus is on empowering people to take control of their lives, to discover their options, and come up with their own solutions where possible.

For more information please contact the practice.

Blood Tests/ Phlebotomy

We now offer Phlebotomy Services within the Practice; however if you wish to have the bloods done at the hospital, you can the locations below.

Some of the blood test locations and times Monday to Friday:

  • Queen’s Hospital and King George Hospital – 7am to 4:30pm
  • Elm Park Clinic – 8:30am to 12pm
  • Fanshawe Centre – 9am to 3:45pm
  • Loxford Polyclinic – 8am to 1pm
  • Rainham Health Centre – 9:30am to 11:15am
  • Victoria Hospital – 8:30am to 12:30pm

Sexual Health Services

The London Borough of Redbridge provide a Sexual Health Service for Young People under 25 years of Age.

The service is provided by Barking, havering and redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) at:

Loxford Polyclinic
417 Ilford Lane
Ilford
IG1 2SN

Opening Times:
Thursday 5.15pm – 7.30pm
Saturday 12.00-2.00pm

Telephone Number: 01708 503838

The details of the service are:

  • Free Condoms
  • Chlamydia testing
  • Contraception Methods, including emergency contraception.
  • Referral to other services.

NHS Health Checks

What happens at the health check, and how to get one

Everyone is at some risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. An NHS Health Check aims to help you lower your risk of developing these common but often preventable diseases.

You will be invited for a NHS Health Check once every five years if you are between 40 and 74 years old and haven’t already been diagnosed with vascular diseases or have certain risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol treated by medication.

At the check, your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes will be assessed through some straightforward tests and standard questions about your lifestyle and family medical history; you’ll be offered personalised advice and support to help you lower that risk and stay healthy.

This could include suggestions on small changes to your diet or how much exercise you take if your risk is low or moderate. If you are at higher risk, you might be offered things such as medicines to control your blood pressure, along with help to take action including losing weight or stopping smoking.

It makes sense for all eligible people to have a routine NHS Health Check for these conditions every five years; that means you can take action early, and greatly improve your chance of a healthier and longer life. Small, long-lasting changes to your lifestyle can make a huge difference.

The check will take around 20 to 30 minutes:

  • You’ll be asked some simple questions about your family history, whether or not you smoke and how much alcohol you drink.
  • Your height, weight, sex, ethnicity and age will be recorded.
  • Your blood pressure will be taken.
  • A simple blood test will check your cholesterol level.
  • Your body mass index (BMI) will be calculated. BMI is a measure of whether you’re a healthy weight for your height.

Non-urgent advice: Patient Notice

Please call the surgery to make an appointment, or book online.

Test Results

Please call between 11am and 3.30pm to enquire about your test results as our reception staff will have more time to deal with your request between these times.

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.

When you take your test you will be told how long it will be before the results are returned to the practice.

It is your responsibility to check your results and to make an appointment to discuss them with your doctor if your are advised to do so.