Welcome to our website. Please use the drop-down menus to navigate your way around.
If you have any comments or suggestions about this site, or how it can be improved, please contact us at gp.g82013@nhs.net.
Please read our Team Mission Statement
WEARING OF FACE MASKS IN PUBLIC
Change in rules regarding face coverings
It was announced that from July 24th 2020 everyone is required to wear a face covering when entering a shop or business.
This is in addition to wearing one on Public Transport which has been mandatory for some time now.
If you feel you are unable to wear a mask for auditory/sensory/breathing reasons, please visit the Keepsafe website and download an exemption card for you to show if asked why you are not wearing one.
Please note, it is NOT the responsibility or the role of the Surgery to issue anyone with an exemption letter or certificate. Please visit the website above for more information.
Advice for parents/guardians of unwell/injured children during this COVID-19 pandemic
Please see current NHS advice.
**The practice has made a decision to suspend the bookings of ALL GP & NURSE/PARAMEDIC TRIAGE appointments. ALL appointments will be triaged by telephone and video by a clinician first before a decision is made to bring you in. Please ensure we have your correct telephone numbers**
The NHS in England and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases.
The NHS has put in place measures to protect patients, our community and NHS staff while ensuring as many services as possible are available to the public.
If you have symptoms associated with coronavirus including a new continuous cough and/or a high temperature or a loss of smell or taste you are advised to stay at home for 7 days.
Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.
But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days.
The most up-to-date public guidance is always online at Current NHS Guidance
If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do.
Only call 111 direct if you are advised to do so by the online service or you cannot go online.
Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact.
A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines.
Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to stay up to date with NHS guidance.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
The Covid Recovery Website is a useful website and resource for patients/families managing the recovery having had Covid-19.
Mondays & Fridays: 8:00am - 12pm; Tuesdays - Thursdays: 1:30pm - 4pm
The appointments are pre-bookable (booked by the practice) in an effort to further create social distancing and minimise COVID-19 transmission. Each appointment is 10 minutes.
Patients once an appointment has been booked by the practice, are to report to the Sevenoaks Outpatient Department for their appointment. At present, OPD is closed to all other services with the exception of phlebotomy. The automatic doors have been locked so patients will be required to press the doorbell and a receptionist will permit access to the waiting area (a max of two patients will only ever be in the waiting area and they will be segregated to support social distancing). Patients have been asked to attend their appointments wearing a mask or face covering and that patients do not attend too early.
An NHS initiative will affect Amherst patients aged 18 and older with musculoskeletal (MSK) problems – for example, back and neck pain, sciatica, joint pain in hips, knees, feet, shoulders, elbows and fingers, and trigger finger (fingers stuck in a bent position).
See further information about Physiotherapy First
Service currently provided by Boots UK Ltd (High Street Sevenoaks), Paydens, Bat & Ball Pharmacy. See the Pharmacy First West Kent Common Ailments Scheme leaflet for further details.
Patients may be asked to explain briefly what the problem is when they ring Amherst to book a GP appointment. Under NHS care navigation – or signposting – we aim to provide the most appropriate service
What and Why are we promoting Care Navigation
From July 2019 we will be providing at Sevenoaks, pre-booked appointments on selected days between 7.00am and 8pm with GPs, our Paramedic and our HCAs. See our Improved Access Timetable for further details.
The Practice closes between 12.30 to 18.30 for Learning Afternoons.
The next Learning Afternoons are on: Thursday 10th of September 2020.
For emergency medical help during this time please call 111.
Have you provided AMP with your email address? More than 8,000 patients have, but we would love to include every eligible patient on our email database.
Email is such a convenient and quick way to communicate with patients, and it’s far cheaper than sending letters in the post.
Via email we can let you know about important new campaigns, e.g., winter 'flu jabs. We can also send you all our practice news via regular e-newsletters.
If you have not told us your email address, and know other patients who haven’t, and you and they would be happy to receive practice emails to help them keep up to date with everything from Amherst, please join our mailing list.
Note: Email addresses are used solely for matters directly related to the patient and treated as confidential.
ONEYOU Kent and Medway provides NHS Free tips apps and services to help YOU improve more. Stop smoking. Drink less, Eat well and enjoy a healthier lifestyle
BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONEYOU.
The Partners and Management are aware of increased enquiries regarding this years flu clinics. Historically, our clinics were operated as walk in clinics. However, to ensure we maintain a Covide safe service, all clinics will be pre-booked and we will not be offering walk in clinics this year. This years planning has been a particular challenge amongst the background of the pandemic and we would like to reassure our patients that we are working hard to finalise the dates of these clinics which have to be planned around the delivery dates of the vaccines which this year have been to some extent delayed due to the Pandemic.
Patients eligible for the free flu vaccine will in the 7 to 10 days, receive an invitation via email or via post. Instructions will be included in this invitation. Clinic Dates as of 14/9/2020
Please note that, if you are aged between 50 and 64 and not in a clinical at risk group, the earliest you will be offered a flu vaccination is November, providing there is sufficient vaccine. No appointments will be offered for people in this age group until then. This is to ensure that those who are most at risk are vaccinated first. If you are aged 50 to 64 and are in a clinical ‘at risk’ group which is eligible for the flu vaccination, for example you have a health condition which puts you at risk from the flu, you will be invited earlier.
Single Point of Access
If you have concerns about your mental health and you are NOT currently under the care and treatment of one of our Community Mental Health Teams or any other of our mental health services within the trust please make an appointment to see your GP, where you can discuss your concerns and they will advise and signpost you to the most appropriate service.
If however you need urgent or emergency mental health help and support and you are not currently receiving care and treatment from one of our Community Mental Health Teams, please call our 24/7 Single Point of Access on 0300 222 0123 or text 07860 022819.
Our Mental Health Single Point of Access (SPoA) provides a single route to obtain Urgent advice to all new patients to our Kent and Medway mental health services in urgent situations. When calling our SPoA you will be speaking to someone who can ensure you are put through to the right person or service.
...you can’t always get an appointment with your chosen doctor as quickly as either you or we would like… we’d like to explain why. Read further details about appointments...
Since April 1, 2016 patients have been able to access their online medical records – which may include documents, blood test results and consultations. Read further details about access to Medical Records,..
The Health Help Now leaflet provides urgent help and advice including: Late Night and Sunday Pharmacies, Minor Injuries, Dental Emergency, Confidential and Emotional Support 24/7, and Social Services.
See this this guide to common childhood illnesses and wellbeing.
Other News and Information
Did you know we have a Patient Participation Group?
The purpose of the Patient Participation Group is to help us access and use your ideas for new projects, and gaining your views as to how the practice can improve and develop.
Patient Group Page
'Choose' Well by choosing the right service. The short video below is all about Choosing the Right Service:
You can now view Allergies, Medications and Blood Test results within your medical record, or order your repeat prescription online using either the NHS App or Patient Access.
Available 24 hours a day, whether you're at home or work, it's especially useful when the practice is closed or telephone lines are busy.
If you currently leave your paper prescription at a local chemist for them to bring to Amherst using this new service is faster and more efficient. Your prescription will still go back to the chemist of your choice.
Register Online
..and what it means for patients. There is a lot going on in the NHS, especially in England. You may have heard or read about some of the changes and pressures the service is facing.
We want to make sure you have the full story and know how to have your say.
This guide pulls together key information, provides links to other useful sites, and explains what the British Medical Association, representing UK doctors and medical students, think about it all.
Read More about what is happening in the NHS
Do you have any comments or concerns that you would like to put to us?
Would you like to let us know that what we are doing meets with your approval?
Now you can, by clicking below, for our Compliments, Concerns, or Comments form.
Comments Form
Cancel an appointment, enquire about prescriptions, change your address, send in a travel form, make a general enquiry, or advise of your next of kin.
Use Patient Access to order repeat prescriptions and view your medical record.
111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It's fast, easy and free. Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals.
How likely are you to recommend this Surgery to friends and family if they needed similar care or treatment? Please spend 2 minutes to take the Friends and Family Test.
The NHS website. Take control of your health and wellbeing. Get medical advice, information about healthcare services and support for a healthy life.
Patient is one of the most trusted medical resources online, supplying evidence based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals.
