At the Greyswood Practice we believe in empowering patients to take control of their own health. That’s why we’ve created this self-referral page, where you can find a list of local health services which you can access directly.
What is self-referral?
Self-referral allows you to access specialised care directly, without the need for a referral from your GP. Whether you’re seeking physiotherapy, mental health support, or maternity services, you can take the initiative and schedule an appointment yourself.
For more information on the range of services you can access, please refer to the sections below:
ADHD and Autism
Wandsworth Autism Advisory Service (WAAS)
A service for children with autism and social and communication difficulties. WAAS is a single multi-professional team that will support families to understand autism and to address challenges experienced and support in school settings to help achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people with autism.
You can self-refer by contacting:
020 8871 6882
Dramatherapy
Dramatherapy helps children with social and communication difficulties and autism to improve social skills, empathy and reduce problem behaviour and anxiety. Delivered for 5-18 year olds in various schools in Wandsworth.
Find out more and self-refer here: Roundabout Dramatherapy
Contact information: [email protected]
Contact – A Charity for Families with Disabled Children
Contact offers a range of support, including family workers, educational workshops, drop in sessions, signposting to other services and trips and events. Support available includes:
Cygnet: 7-week course for parents of children aged 6-19 years old with ASD.
CATS: 7-week course for parents of children aged 0-5 years with an ASD diagnosis.
1-2-3 Magic: 3-week course for parents of children with ADHD.
Families with children aged 0-25 years with additional needs or a disability can self-refer.
Contact information:
0208 947 5260
Adult Care Needs
For assessments around care needs or help in the home for older adults or adults with additional needs, you can go directly to your local council’s health and social care page and refer yourself:
Wandsworth Council Social Care: Adult social care – Wandsworth Borough Council.
Merton Council Social Care Social care | Merton Council
Lambeth Council Social Care Adult social care and health | Lambeth Council
Find your local council here: Find your local council – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Dementia UK
Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nursing charity that is there for the whole family. Their specialist nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing advice and support, to anyone affected by dementia, whenever it is needed. Get more information about their services here: https://www.dementiauk.org/
Age UK
Age UK is the leading charity for old people. They help millions of people every year, providing support, companionship and advice. Find out more about their support here: Age UK | The UK’s leading charity helping every older person who needs us.
The Silver Line
The Silver Line Helpline run by Age UK is a free, confidential telephone service for older people. We provide friendship, conversation and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact them here:
Cinnamon Trust
Cinnamon Trust is the national charity dedicated to supporting older individuals, the terminally ill, and their pets. As the only specialist charity of its kind, they work to alleviate the anxieties and challenges faced by elderly and terminally ill people and their pets.
Contact them here:
Childhood Illness
Find clear and accurate advice on a range of common conditions for children and pregnant women (e.g. fever, diarrhoea, or breathing issues) developed by NHS healthcare professionals across South West London. It allows you to check symptoms and advises you on when to seek further medical help: https://www.swlondon-healthiertogether.nhs.uk/
Contraception
You may be able to get the contraceptive pill from a pharmacy if you need to:
- start the contraceptive pill for the first time
- take the contraceptive pill again after a break from using it
If you already have a prescription for the contraceptive pill, you can use the prescription as usual. Or you can get the pill from a pharmacy without a prescription if you prefer.
What to expect:
You’ll speak with a pharmacist in private. They’ll ask about your health and may check your height, weight and blood pressure.
The pharmacist will let you know how to take the pill, and discuss possible side effects. They can refer you to a GP or sexual health clinic if needed.
Use this tool to find a pharmacy near you where you can get the contraceptive pill without a prescription: Find a pharmacy that offers the contraceptive pill without a prescription – NHS
Drug and alcohol support
Wandsworth Community Drug & Alcohol Service (WCDAS) provides free, recovery-focused, evidence-based treatment for residents of Wandsworth who are living with drug and alcohol problems.
Anyone can refer themselves directly to the service. It offers a range of free and confidential treatment and support services for drug and/or alcohol misuse, including:
- Counselling and psycho-social support
- Group work
- Access to residential detoxification and rehabilitation
Find out more information here: https://www.wcdas.com
Drink Checker
The Drink Checker website and tool contain a range of information and resources, including:
- Alcohol facts
- Guidance for cutting back
- Frequently asked questions
- Blog posts
It also contains a tool that asks questions about an individual and their alcohol consumption and determines how much their health might be at risk as a result. The tool provides information, resources and sign posting for support based on an individual’s identified risk.
https://wandsworth.drinkchecker.org.uk/baselines/new
Wandsworth 30 Day Drink Less Programme
For people who would like to cut down on their drinking but are not sure where to start, the free programme includes a short lesson a day to help them do so.
The Drink Less Email Programme sends an email each day for 30 days with tips and tricks to help individuals make changes to your drinking: Wandsworth 30 Day Drink Less Programme.
Earache
If you have earache and are aged 1-17, you can get effective medicine through the NHS Pharmacy First service. The service offers medicated ear drops and sprays, as well as prescription-only treatments, including antibiotics for ear infections where clinically appropriate, without you needing to see your GP first.
Find out more information and participating pharmacies here: How pharmacies can help – NHS.
Emergency Prescriptions
You can use the 111 emergency prescription service to request a limited emergency supply of a medicine you’ve completely run out of.
This must be a medicine you are prescribed regularly, through a repeat prescription.
You will be charged your usual prescription fee. If you do not usually pay, it will be free.
You can access this service here – Emergency prescriptions – NHS 111
Eye Problems
Minor Eye Conditions Service & Community Urgent Eye Care Service
This is a FREE NHS service for people of all ages (children under 16 years must be accompanied at their appointment by an adult).
If you are experiencing:
- Red eye or eyelids
- Dry, gritty or uncomfortable eyes
- Eye irritation and inflammation
- A lot of recent discharge from the eye or watery eye
- Recently occurring flashes or floaters
- Painful eye
- Ingrowing lashes
- Recent and sudden loss of vision
- Foreign body in the eye
…you can arrange an appointment with an optometrist through the Minor Eye Conditions service.
You do not need a GP referral, you can self-refer by telephoning the practice directly. Find a practice here: Find a Practice – Search for your nearest participating optical practice.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a very contagious skin infection, but it’s usually not serious. While anyone can get it, it’s more common in young children. With proper treatment, impetigo typically improves in a few days.
A pharmacist can help with impetigo
If you think you or your child (over 1) may have impetigo, you can speak to a pharmacist.
They can provide the same treatment you would get from a GP, if you need it, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Infected Insect Bites
Insect bites or stings are not usually serious and get better in a few days. But sometimes they can become infected or cause a serious allergic reaction. Find out what to do if you’ve been bitten or stung by an insect here: Insect bites and stings – NHS.
A pharmacist can help with insect bites and stings
A pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help ease the symptoms of a bite or sting, such as:
- antihistamines
- steroid creams
- painkillers
They can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Maternity Services
If you’ve found out you’re pregnant, congratulations! A home pregnancy test is accurate, and so you don’t need a GP appointment to confirm. You can refer yourself directly to your preferred hospital:
St George’s Hospital Self-Referral
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Self-Referral
St George’s Maternity Helpline
The Maternity Department at St George’s Hospital offers a Maternity Helpline for women more than 14 weeks pregnant with concerns about themselves or their baby (during pregnancy, labour or in the 6 weeks after birth). It is staffed by midwives who can offer advice, reassurance, and clinical support 7 days a week: Maternity – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Early Pregnancy Service
If you are less than 14 weeks pregnant and have any concerns e.g. abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, please contact St George’s Maternity Department Early Pregnancy Answerphone Service (Monady-Saturday): Early Pregnancy Unit – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
If you have recently discovered that you are pregnant, please submit an online consultation so we can arrange to see you at the practice.
Mental Health and Wellbeing – Adults
If you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please call Wandsworth’s 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line team on 0800 028 8000. They are there to help you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Talk Wandsworth
Talk Wandsworth provides free confidential help for problems such as stress, anxiety and low mood for anyone over 18 registered with a GP in Wandsworth.
You can refer yourself via an online form at Talk Wandsworth. They offer a range of options to have your therapy, including video, phone, or face-to-face sessions. If you are under 18, or over 18 and would like to speak to a GP about your mental health, please submit an online consultation from the practice homepage.
Find more mental health services in Wandsworth here:
Mental Health and Wellbeing – Children and Young People
Local support services
If you are worried about your physical, sexual or mental health and you are aged 11-22, you can contact the Well Centre. They can provide a holistic assessment and tailored plan to help support you and your health.
You can self-refer here: https://www.thewellcentre.org/contact-us/registration-page/
Jigsaw4u has a wide range of specialist mental health and wellbeing services that support children, young people and families across South West London.
They work with people for lots of different reasons, including:
- Having someone close to you die
- Being looked after in care
- Running away from home
- Living with domestic abuse (adults who fight and argue at home)
- Having some problems in school or with your friends
- Bullying
- Having a disability
- Needing someone to talk to about your worries
You can call them if you need their support on 02086871384.
Or visit their website for more information on the services they offer: https://jigsaw4u.org.uk/what-we-do/support-for-children-young-people/
Third sector support services
Alumina is a free, online 7-week course for young people between the age of 14 and 19 struggling with self-harm. The course is run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don’t need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions – you’ll just join in via the chatbox.
CALM – Campaign Against Living Miserably
If you suffering from a mental health crisis and need some support you can call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 from 5pm to midnight every day.
Access confidential help and advice regarding your mental health. Just send a message, you don’t have to give your name. Discreet and quick, it only takes one message to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from trained health staff in your area.
Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous support for young people. You can simply drop-in or book anonymous online counselling sessions with qualified therapists.
Papyrus supports people under 35 who have thoughts of suicide and others who are concerned about them. You can contact them by phone, text or email.
• Call 0800 068 41 41
• Text 07860 039 967
• Email [email protected]
Shout is a free 24/7 text messaging support service for young people experiencing a mental health crisis. Text ‘shout’ to 85258.
A support service for young people facing a variety of challenges – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to ‘The Mix’ via their online community, on social or their counselling service.
Young Minds is a free 24/7 text messaging support service, wherever you are in the UK. If you need someone to talk to about how you’re feeling, text ‘YM’ to 85258.
Confidential information and advice about drugs
Go to www.talktofrank.com to get facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol.
Eating disorders
If you are struggling with an eating disorder or know someone who is, you can contact Beat either online or by phone.
Beat provides support to people struggling with an eating disorder by listening to them, helping them to understand the illness, and supporting them to take positive steps towards recovery.
They also support family and friends, equipping them with essential skills and advice, so they can help their loved ones recover whilst also looking after their own mental health.
Parents and carers support around MH young people
If you are a parent or carer and you need support around mental health and young people, visit MindEd, which is a free learning resource about the mental health of children, young people and older adults.
Papyrus has created this guide for parents and carers who are supporting a young person who is struggling with their mental health.
NHS App
Requesting an appointment or ordering a repeat prescription should be quick, easy and simple. That’s why the NHS App has been designed with input from patients like you to make sure it’s easier than ever before to access your health information and manage your healthcare.
The NHS App gives you control over your healthcare. Want to jump the phone queue and request an appointment in minutes? The NHS App does that. Want to order a repeat prescription without having to contact your GP? The NHS App does that too.
Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can order repeat prescriptions, access your own medical records, manage your appointments and check your symptoms – from your phone, tablet, computer or laptop at a time suitable for you.
Take control of your health – download the NHS App today – NHS App and your NHS account – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Please remember to keep notifications from the App turned on so you don’t miss important messages from the surgery.
If you’re struggling to use your NHS App and require further support, please contact Andraya Catlyn, the Digital Care Co-ordinator for Wandsworth. You can email her at [email protected] or call on 0203 923 9593.
NHS Pharmacy First
Pharmacists can give you advice on a range of conditions and suggest medicines that can help.
They may also be able to offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP (this is called Pharmacy First).
Conditions they can treat as part of Pharmacy First are:
- Ear ache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- Impetigo (aged 1 year and over) – a contagious skin infection
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over) – an infection that causes a painful rash
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over) – infection of the sinuses (behind the forehead, cheeks and nose)
- Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)
If you are not within these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, but you may need to see a GP for treatment.
If you are over the age of 40, you can also visit your pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked, including Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) and get advice for low blood pressure.
Physiotherapy and Musculoskeletal Problems
If you are suffering from musculoskeletal pain (e.g. back pain, neck pain, elbow pain), you can access the getUBetter app, which offers and instant and 24/7 personalised programme.
The getUBetter app provides free physiotherapy tips, advice and exercises, tailored to your injury, for a variety of joint and muscle problems.
The service is available for anyone over 18 registered with a GP in Wandsworth. You can refer yourself at getUBetter – Request Access
Sexual Health Services
Sexual Health South West London provides free sexual health advice, STI treatment and contraceptive services to residents in South West London. Information, support and advice is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the service’s website, which can be found at: https://shswl.nhs.uk .
For information about sexual health services for young people, contact:
National Sexual Health Helpline on 0300 123 7123 – a confidential helpline (open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 11am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday).
Brook – the young people’s sexual health charity for under-25s
FPA – provides information about contraception, STIs, pregnancy choices, abortion and planning a pregnancy
Shingles
Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is a painful, blistery rash which develops in one specific area of the body.
The first signs of shingles can be:
- a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin
- a headache or feeling generally unwell
If you think you have shingles, you can speak to a pharmacist. They can give you the same treatments you would get from a GP, if you need it, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a sinus infection which usually goes away on its own without treatment. There are treatments that may help to ease symptoms. Antibiotic medicines are only needed sometimes.
A pharmacist can help with sinusitis (if you are 12 years and older)
A pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help, such as:
- decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be taken by children under 6)
- salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose
They can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP.
If you think you have sinusitis, you can speak to a pharmacist. They can provide the same treatments you would get from a GP, if you need it, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Sore Throat
Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.
To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can:
- gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
- drink plenty of water
- eat cool or soft foods
- avoid smoking or smoky places
- suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
- rest
A pharmacist can help with sore throats (if you are 5 years and older)
You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:
- paracetamol or ibuprofen
- medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
- anaesthetic spray (although there’s little proof they help when used on their own)
You can buy these treatments from a supermarket or pharmacy without a prescription.
A pharmacist can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Some medicines are not safe for everyone (for example, if you’re pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.
Stop Smoking
Get help to stop smoking at our two local pharmacies Fairoak Pharmacy and Pearl Chemist & Travel Clinic. Please call them and ask to book a smoking cessation appointment.
Wandsworth Council also offers a Stop Smoking Service for anyone who lives or works in Wandsworth.
You can contact the Stop Smoking Service here: Contact the Stop Smoking Service – Section 1 – Wandsworth.gov.uk.
There are a number of other services that can help you to stop smoking:
Stop Smoking London helpline
Call 0300 123 1044 to speak with specialist advisors who can guide you through the range of stop smoking support available.
The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
NHS Smokefree
Offers expert advice on how to quit for good as well as regular motivational phone calls from a specialist stop smoking advisor. Call 0300 123 1044 for support.
The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm.
Stop Smoking London and One You
This service provides further support to help stop smoking. Check out the Stop Smoking London website for more information.
There is more information about Stop Smoking Services in Wandsworth here: Wandsworth Stop Smoking Service – Wandsworth Borough Council
Unplanned Pregnancy Advice
If you would like advice and support regarding an unplanned pregnancy, including termination of pregnancy, there are a number of local services available to you:
National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service (NUPAS): https://www.nupas.co.uk
British Pregnancy Advice Service: https://www.bpas.org/
MSI Reproductive Choices UK: https://www.msichoices.org.uk/
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
If If you think you have a one-off UTI (not something that is recurring) and you are a woman aged 16-64, a pharmacist can help. Pharmacies in Wandsworth can see you and provide the same treatment as a GP, if needed, under the Pharmacy First scheme.
To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI):
- take paracetamol up to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature
- you can give children liquid paracetamol
- rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day
- avoid having sex
Weight Management Groups and Support
If you would like advice or support about weight management, you can book and appointment with our practice nurse.
There are also a number of weight management groups and schemes that you can refer yourself to:
Health and Wellbeing Coaching : Enable Leisure and Culture
Active Lifestyles : Enable Leisure and Culture
Guys Get Active : Enable Leisure and Culture
Walk Wandsworth : Enable Leisure and Culture
NHS England » The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme
Lose weight – Better Health – NHS
Healthy lifestyle and behaviours – Wandsworth Borough Council
Weight management groups and support – Wandsworth Borough Council