Clinics & Services
NHS Referrals Information
Understanding Your Referral
When you are referred for further care, the majority of our referrals are made through the NHS e-Referral System (ERS). This convenient service allows you to manage your appointment booking.
What to Expect:
- Following your consultation, we will process your referral via ERS.
- You will receive a text message, email, or letter from us containing your login details for the ERS system.
- This communication will also include clear instructions on how to activate your referral and book your appointment online or by phone.
Please ensure your contact details are up to date to receive this information promptly.
Adult ADHD/ASD referrals
From 1 April 2025, all referrals for adult ADHD assessments, diagnosis, prescribing and titration (the process that introduces your body to medication safely and establishes an effective dosage), as well as autism assessments, will fall under the Right To Choose (RTC) scheme, in line with new procurement legislation.
NHS Kent and Medway has a list of preferred accredited providers for patients seeking an autism or ADHD assessment. You just need to check the list of providers, choose the service you would like, fill in the appropriate referral form and pass it to the surgery. For further information on the service please use the following links:
https://www.ndkentandmedway.co.uk/
https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
Please be advised that should you choose a private provider that is not an NHS accredited provider, the GP is unable to enter into a shared care agreement and treat you under the NHS for this service. Further information can be found using the following link. https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/about-us/who-we-are/medicines-optimisation/mixing-private-and-nhs-treatment
In addition to general medical consultations we are pleased to be able to provide specialist clinics and services covering the following areas:
Antenatal
If you are pregnant you can now self-refer to the Midwife who is based at the Rainham Healthy Living Centre on 01634 337600
Whooping Cough and Pregnancy – help protect your baby
There is a lot of whooping cough around at the moment and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk. Expectant mothers can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated against whooping cough from week 28 of their pregnancy. Don’t take the risk. Act now to protect your baby from whooping cough from birth. Contact the surgery to get the vaccination or speak to your midwife for further information.
REGISTERING THE BIRTH
You will need a birth certificate for a wide range of things, including applying for a school place, opening a bank account and applying for a passport. You need to register the birth as soon as possible and it becomes more difficult over a period of time.
For babies born in Medway you can book an appointment to register by phoning 01634 338998.
Asthma
If you have asthma or use an inhaler you are invited to make an appointment with our specialist asthma nurse.
Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Chlamydia Screening
Contraception
Thames Avenue Surgery are able to offer a fully comprehensive Contraception Service and all of our Doctors and Nurses are able to provide contraceptive advice. If you are interested in taking the Contraceptive Pill, you will be required to see one of our Nurses by contacting the surgery and booking an appointment.
Other forms of contraception offered at Thames Avenue Surgery include:-
- Contraceptive Injections (also known as Depo)
We are no longer able to offer the Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) service at the surgery. For all enquiries relating to
- Contraceptive Implants (Nexplanon)
- Contraceptive Coils (Mirena Coil or Copper Coil)
please contact Clover Street on 0300 123 1678
Diabetes
Health Checks
All registered patients aged 16-74 are invited to have a health check every 3 years and all patients over 75 to have an annual health check. All patients suffering from long term health conditions such as Diabetes, Respiratory Disease, Heart Disease/Stroke and Hypertension are invited to attend for an annual health review. Our Practice Nurses provide support, monitoring and advice in conjunction with the GP.
Heart Disease / Stroke
Vaccinations and Immunisations
If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel, you need to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.
There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below:-
To help us offer the appropriate advice, you will be required to print and complete a Travel Risk Assessment Form, which should be done well in advance of your departure date (at least 8 weeks) and either post or drop it in to the surgery. If you do not have access to a printer, please contact the surgery and we can provide you with one of the forms.
Once we have received the completed form, the Practice Nurse will then go through the form to see what vaccinations and advice is needed, and will be in contact with you around 4-6 weeks prior to your date of travel.
Please only contact Reception if you have not heard from the Practice Nurse within 3 weeks of your holiday.
IF THE TRAVEL RISK ASSESSMENT FORM IS RETURNED WITH LESS THAN 3 WEEKS’ NOTICE, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE AN APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR TRAVEL VACCINATIONS AND YOU WILL BE SIGNPOSTED ELSEWHERE.
IF THE WHOLE FAMILY ARE TRAVELLING, SEPARATE QUESTIONNAIRES WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
Childhood Immunisations
By appointment only. Please note that we see babies generally at the end of morning surgery, due to the potentional risk of infection posed by unwell patients.
Respiratory Disease
Women’s Health
The Nurses provide advice on the menopause and HRT, and cervical cytology. We are also able to offer ring pessary changes.
Wound Care
The Nursing Team can provide simple wound care and removal of staples and sutures for our patients by appointment.
Examples of these are ….
Simple scalds or burns that may have been assessed by minor injuries but need further dressing.
Post op wound checks and suture and staple removals and assessments
Pilonidal sinus packing post-op
Simple wounds to legs, arms, hands, feet. ( scalp and face we cannot do)
Dressings to ingrowing toenails post- removal
Boils, whitlows. Large blisters.
Clean grazes, skin tears.
Graft sites.
Dressings to fragile skin that won’t stick or damage the surrounding area.
What we can’t do……
A walk in emergency service
Leg ulcer dressings – seen in clinic
Diabetic foot ulcers – seen in clinic
Serious cuts, lacerations, head wounds, dirty wounds … If you think you might need stitches or to go to A&E, you probably do and we would only send you there anyway.
Chronic exudating wounds already under the care of the wound clinic.
We are very happy to be able to offer this more convenient and accessible service for our patients.
