Wellbeing Centre & Local support

Childhood and Teenage Mental Health

If you are worried about your child’s mental health you are welcome to visit your GP who will be able to advise about support to help both you and your child. There are a range of talking therapies which are highly effective in dealing with many child and teenage problems.  For more information on these therapies please view the NHS Talking Therapy Guide.

Alternatively it is also possible for Parents to self-refer children to the Bromley Community wellbeing service for children and young people. which is the same service that your GP would refer to. This service covers a wide variety of problems including Anxiety & Depression, Bullying, sexual identity, conflict with parents, Panic attacks, eating difficulties, Behavioural problems, Attention Deficit (ADHD), Phobias and social/communication issues as well as many other problem. For a full list please visit their website.

Other Useful links

• Barnardo’s Mental Health Support for children and adolescents
• Mind- Mental Health Charity
• Sane – Mental Health Support
• Rethink Mental Illness

Health Visitor Contacts

The health visiting team can provide support.  Our Practice is covered by both the Bromley and Sevenoaks health visiting teams and your allocation is dependant upon which council tax area your property is in.  Links to both health visiting teams can be found here:

Bromley health visitors:  

Sevenoaks health visitors: 

Childhood Immunisations

Please see our vaccinations page

Neo-natal Checks

Some newborn babies are released from hospital without a detailed examination. If this is the case, our GPs are happy to perform the relevant checks, either in the surgery, or in the comfort of your own home, depending on which is easier for you.

In most cases, the Practice will contact new mums to arrange for this to happen, on rare occasions where we are unaware of the birth, please feel free to give us a call and arrange an appointment or visit.

Please have a look through the menu below of various local services available. Many are Charities or local NHS facilities that patients can self-refer to. You don’t need a referral from your GP.

If you have any queries or need some help (particularly if you are a Carer) please contact our Patient Liaison Officer, Andrea Wiles. The best way to do this is by using the ‘I want Administrative help’ section of our eConsult tool so you receive a written reply  usually within 24 hours. Alternatively phone Reception on 01689 850012.

You may also find some useful links and numbers of local Bromley services in the “Useful links and Telephone numbers” section

The websites listed below are outside the control of the Medical Centre and we cannot accept any responsibility for their content.

• Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group
• Self Help Leaflets
• Princess Royal University Hospital  Tel: 01689 863000
• Orpington Hospital 01689 863000
• Genito-urinary Medicine Clinic, Beckenham Hospital Tel: 01689 866622 or 01689 866623
• Samaritans (24 hr emotional support for anyone in crisis) Tel: 08457 90 90 90
• Bromley Drug & Alcohol Services (BDAS) Tel: 020 8289 1999
• Changes (Bromley Young Peoples Drug and Alcohol Service) Tel: 020 8289 1999
• Bromley MIND Tel: 01689 811222
• Bromley Y
• The Village – Physiotherapy Clinic
• Talk Together Bromley
• Bromley Dementia Support Hub
• ERIC – The Children’s Bowel and Bladder charity
• Reading Well- supports you to understand and manage your health.
• Bromley’s local LGBT youth service

Please complete the Carers Identification Form  to advise us that you are a Carer

You may also find the Carers Information sheet helpful which contains information about  being a Carer

This page has been put together by GSGMC to advise you of local community services.  We hope this information will help you to choose the best services for you and your needs.

If you need more specific help please contact Andrea Wiles, our Patient Liaison Officer on 01689 850012 or use the ‘I want administrative help’ section of our online eConsult service.

Social Services – Self referral – 0208 461 7777 – Provide affordability assessment and can arrange home help also can provide assistance with placing a love one into a care home .

An excellent resource with lots of useful information and support is available on the Carers uk website.   

Private Home care available:      Many care companies can provide a tailor made service to suit all needs.

Attenders Allowance – Applying for financial help for your personal care if your disabled and state pension age or older

Wiltshire Farm Foods – Deliver prepared meals to your door – 0800 077 3100 Ordering is also available to purchase online

Blue Badge Application  A family member or friend can apply for this application on your behalf.

Hospital Transport – Can only be booked 5 days in advance.  Denmark Hill appointments 0203 299 8000  –  PRUH. Orpington, Beckenham Beacon and Queen Mary’s Hospital 0203 299 6886

Problems Managing Medication? Medication Optimisation Service (MOS). A pharmacy technician employed by Bromley Health Care (BHC) will visit you at home to assess your concerns and will make recommendations for the best way to support your needs. Please talk to GSGMC regarding referral

Occupational Therapy – Will assist with mobility aids around your home also they can provide recommendations with various equipment and how it should be used.  Please talk to GSGMC regarding referral

Age UK 0208 315 1850 – Many activities and events from Men in sheds to Art Classes.  They also offer a wide range of support i.e. befriending services and Information advise.

Bromley Well 0300 330 9030 – Handy person to Form Filling Service Please check their website for various services.

Dementia Hub 0203 328 0366 – Advice and Support and support for Carers.

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Green Street Green Medical Centre to help with cancer screening.

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is a term used to describe cancer in the colon, rectum or the small bowel.

The symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

• Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
• A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 4 to 6 weeks
• A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
• A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
• Losing weight
• Pain in your abdomen or back passage
• A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)

Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.

Bowel cancer screening

How do I get a screening kit?

If you are aged 60-69 years, you will be sent your screening invitation automatically through the post. All you need to do is make sure that your GP has your correct address.

‘People aged 70 years and over or under the age of 60, who wish to be screened, should request a kit. Simply telephone the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60.’

Macmillan Cancer Support

Have questions about cancer? Visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0808 808 000 free (Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm).

Breast Screening

The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.

The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50.  If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care, please contact the surgery to make an appointment with your GP.

Cervical screening test

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 15 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Cervical Screening

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Green Street Green Medical Centre to support men’s health and help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Prostate Cancer

PROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON CANCER IN MEN IN THE UK, WITH OVER 40,000 NEW CASES DIAGNOSED EVERY YEAR.

Prostate cancer usually develops slowly, so there may be no signs you have it for many years.

Symptoms often only become apparent when your prostate is large enough to affect the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis).

When this happens, you may notice things like an increased need to urinate, straining while urinating and a feeling your bladder has not fully emptied.

However, these signs do not mean you have prostate cancer. It is more likely they are caused by something else, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known as BPH or prostate enlargement). If you have persistent symptoms please make an appointment with your GP. You may find it more convenient and faster to ask for a telephone appointment initially.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis found only in men. About the size of a Satsuma, it is located between the penis and the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen. It produces a thick white fluid that is mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles, to create semen.

Testicular Cancer

Although still rare compared to other cancers, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged between 15-45 years with around 2,200-2,300 men being diagnosed each year. It is more common in Caucasian males.

If found at an early stage a cure rate of 98% is usually possible and even when testicular cancer has spread to other areas of the body cure can still be achieved. In fact according to recent research overall 96% of men diagnosed with any stage testicular cancer will be alive 10 years after treatment.

It is important to visit your GP as soon as you notice any lump or swelling on your testicle. Your GP will examine your testicles to help determine whether or not the lump is cancerous.

Symptoms

The earliest warning signs of testicular cancer usually include the following:

• A change in size or shape of a testicle.
• Swelling or thickening of a testicle.
• A firm, smooth, initially painless, slow-growing lump or hardness in a testicle.
• A feeling of testicular heaviness.

Useful links

• Orchid – Fighting Male Cancer
• Your Privates – Testicular Cancer Awareness
• NHS Choices – Testicular Cancer

Sexual Health

Please see our sexual health pages for lots of useful information about where to seek help if you have a concern or problem.

Bladder and bowel problems

If you are experiencing problems with your bladder or bowel you can self refer to the Bromley Bladder and Bowel service  or, of course, make an appointment with your GP. This service is mainly for patients with continence problems.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male-pattern baldness is the most common type of hair loss, affecting 6.5 million men in the UK.

It generally starts with a little thinning of the hair, followed by wider hair loss, allowing more of the scalp to become visible.

For a few men, this process starts as early as the late teens. By the age of 60, most men have some degree of hair loss.

Some men aren’t troubled by this at all. Others, however, suffer great emotional distress associated with a lack of self-esteem and, in some cases, depression.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Hair Loss Treatments

Domestic Violence

The following websites contain much information both nationally and in Bromley of services available. You can of course also make an appointment with your GP.

London Borough of Bromley – Domestic vIolence

National DA helpline

UK Men’s Shed’s association

This is a male specific support organisation that helps to reduce loneliness and isolation.

We provide advice on all forms of contraception including the oral contraceptive pill and patch, injection, coils and implants.  We can also refer for vasectomy and sterilisation.  If you would like to discuss starting contraception or have any queries regarding your current contraception please book a telephone appointment with a doctor or an online consultation.  If you would like a repeat prescription of a pill and require a pill check appointment please book this with a nurse.  Our nurses also give the contraceptive injection once a doctor has agreed for you to start it.  Our Receptionists will be able to help guide you as to what type of appointment is required.

We can fit the coil (routinely) and the implant at the surgery as well as removing them.  These appointments are booked after an initial telephone consultation has taken place and are subject to availability.  You can also self-refer to the local contraception service for the fitting of coils and implants at Sexual Health Bromley. This a community-based early intervention service focused on improving sexual health within Bromley.  It provides a whole range of sexual health services including Telephone consultations and a ‘Walk in and wait’  Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic. Full details on their website.

Emergency Contraception

This is available from local pharmacies or can be prescribed by the practice.  Emergency contraception is most effective if it is taken as soon as possible.  The emergency contraceptive pill can be taken up to five days after unprotected intercourse or an emergency coil can be fitted sometimes even later than that depending on where you are in your cycle.  If you require emergency contraception then please book an online consultation or speak with our receptionists to arrange a prescription.  It might be possible to issue a prescription without speaking to you if we have enough information however we would always recommend considering booking an appointment to discuss more long term contraception options too.  Emergency coils are fitted via the local contraception service – Sexual Health Bromley

We can offer sexual health screening at the Medical Centre.  The nurse can take swabs to check for infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea and we can give you blood forms to book a test for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis once a consultation has taken place.  We can also provide self-testing kits.  Please enquire via Reception or book an online consultation.

Please view the NHS contraception guide for further information about all the topics listed above including details of pharmacies offering emergency contraception.

NHS Contraception guide

Other Useful links

• Family Planning Association: Sexual Health Advice
• British Pregnancy Advisory Service
• Sexual Advice Association
• NHS Choices – Sexual Health Topics

Abortion Services in Bromley

From 1st April 2022, residents or patients registered to a GP in South East London can now
contact community abortion providers directly. You do not need to see your GP first unless you would like to and GPs are always happy to discuss your situation with you. Please click on the link below.

What abortions services are available to South East London patients? – South East London CCG (selondonccg.nhs.uk)

Domestic Violence

The following websites contain much information both nationally and in Bromley of services available. You can of course also make an appointment with your GP.

London Borough of Bromley – Domestic violence

National DA helpline

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Green Street Green Medical Centre to support and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Alcohol Advice

NHS Advice on drinking recommends that men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day and women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day, “Regularly” means drinking every day or most days of the week.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Alcohol Misuse
• NHS Choices – Where to find alcohol support
• Drinkaware
• Change Grow Live

Chlamydia Screening

Chlamydia screening is available from the surgery.

Simply ask at reception for a kit. It is a completely confidential service where you can send a urine sample in the envelope provided and receive the results easily.

Sexual Health

Please see our dedicated Sexual Health section

Smoking Cessation

If you’re trying to give up smoking, we can help. Studies show that your chances of success will be greatly improved if you get advice and support from health care professionals to help you stop smoking and if you don’t pay for your prescriptions then giving up is free.

• Boost your willpower to stop smoking
• Concentrate your efforts by getting advice from someone who knows your medical background
• Help you feel that you’re not doing it alone
• Help you to cope when you are tempted to smoke
• Monitor improvements to your health so that you can see the benefits

Please visit the national NHS choices website for full details of smoking cessation services

Useful links

• Gosmokefree
• NHS Choices – Smoking Cessation

Weight Loss

If you would like to know more about weight and diet advice, we offer a weight management clinic giving you advice on how to lose weight and stay healthy.

A range of options are available to support people with weight loss. To understand which of them may be the best fit for you please arrange an appointment with your GP who will be happy to discuss them with you.

One suitable option may be our Health Trainers who offer 1:1 sessions for people wanting to improve their health and change their behaviour. They can support individuals with healthy eating, weight management and getting physically active.

Many doctors now believe that when it comes to your health, your waist measurement is important.

While knowing your body mass index (BMI) is a good way to decide if you’re overweight, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

BMI is a measure of how healthy your weight is for your height. You can work out what your BMI is by using the NHS Choices BMI healthy weight calculator.

If you have a high BMI, you’re likely to be carrying extra fat. But your health could be at greater risk depending on where you store that fat.

Having a large amount of tummy fat (compared to fat around your bottom or thighs) makes you more likely to develop diabetes and heart problems.

A healthy waist circumference for men is less than 94cm (37 inches), and for women it’s less than 80cm (32 inches).

Losing weight and keeping it off isn’t easy, but it has many benefits. You may only need to make small changes to your lifestyle to maintain a healthy weight.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can lose weight in a healthy way please book an appointment with one of our nurses.

For more general information about weight loss, please see the websites below:

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Check your BMI
• NHS Choices – 8 tips for healthy eating

Antenatal care

Antenatal care is the care and help you receive from health professionals during the course of your pregnancy. It is important you take good care of your own health and that of your unborn baby during pregnancy.

As soon as you find out you are pregnant, you should either get in touch with us to find out more information on the services and support that are available to you. Alternatively you can self-refer to the Princess Royal University Hospital using the online form here or telephone 01689 863800 or for  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust using the online form here

Much more information about local Maternity Services at the Princess Royal University Hospital can be found here

Useful links

• The Pregnancy Care Planner
• NHS Choices – Antenatal Care

• NHS Choices – Planning a Pregnancy
• NHS Choices – The Facts about Contraception

Neo-natal Checks

Some newborn babies are released from hospital without a detailed examination. If this is the case, our GPs are happy to perform the relevant checks.

In most cases, the Practice will contact new mums to arrange for this to happen, on rare occasions where we are unaware of the birth, please feel free to give us a call and arrange an appointment or visit.

Postnatal Care

These are carried out routinely at the same time as your baby’s 8 week check. Your baby will also need their first vaccinations at this time and we try to arrange the appointments together for you.  If you would prefer to be seen alone for your Postnatal check please inform our Receptionists.  The postnatal time can be a very challenging one whether it is your first baby or if you already have children.  The health visiting team can provide support.  Our Practice is covered by both the Bromley and Sevenoaks health visiting teams and your allocation is dependant upon which council tax area your property is in.  Links to both health visiting teams can be found here:

Bromley health visitors:  

Sevenoaks health visitors: 

The health visiting teams can direct you to local breast feeding support.

As being a new parent can be very difficult emotionally, additional support is available.  You can self-refer to the local counselling service: Talk together Bromley.

You can also talk to your health visitor or GP.

There is a very good service called Mindful Mums available to our patients which many patients have used and found very helpful.  You can self-refer to this service:  Mindful Mums

Bromley Children project provide support for parents and they recommend accessing their Facebook site for up to date information.

Their website address is Bromley Children project

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Birth to 5 years old guide
• NHS – Breastfeeding Guide
• Netmums – Information and support

Preconception Advice

If you are planning to have a baby or you need to know more information about how to look after yourself and your unborn baby, please book an appointment with your GP.

We can provide you with all the information you need to know to have a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Before you try to get pregnant
• NHS Choices – Pregnancy Care Planner
• NHS Choices – See how your baby will develop
• NHS Choices Tool – Work out your due date

We offer a range of clinics and services here at Green Street Green Medical Centre to support women’s health and help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Breast Screening

The National Breast Screening Programme was introduced in 1988 as an early detection service for breast cancer. It states that all women who are aged between 50 – 70 years of age will be routinely invited for free breast screening every three years. The programme is very successful and currently saves around 1,400 lives per year.

Breast screening aims to find breast cancer at an early stage, often before there are any symptoms. To do this, an x-ray is taken of each breast (mammogram). Early detection may often mean simpler and more successful treatment. When women are invited for their mammogram depends on which GP they are registered with, not when their birthday is.

The screening office runs a rolling programme which invites women by area. The requirement is that all women will receive their first invitation before their 53rd birthday, but ideally when they are 50. Breast screening is for women without symptoms. If you are under 50 and concerned about any aspect of breast care or  If you have any new breast symptoms including lumps in the breast or arm pit, skin changes, change in the appearance of the breast, nipple bleeding or discharge then please do not wait for a mammogram appointment but instead contact the Medical Centre for an appointment with your doctor. You can do this online or by telephone. Also if you are concerned about your family history of breast cancer and suspect you might be entitled to early mammograms then please also contact the Medical Centre.

Useful links: West London Breast Screening

Cervical Screening Test

Cervical screening, or smear test, is a method of detecting abnormal (pre-cancerous) cells in the cervix in order to prevent cervical cancer. The cervix is the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical screening is recommended every three years for women aged 25 to 49 and every five years for women aged 50 to 64 or more frequently if smear results indicates abnormal changes.

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer; it is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix. Most women’s test results show that everything is normal, but for 1 in 20 women the test will show some abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix.

Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells may go back to normal on their own. However, in some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming cancerous.

Our nurses are qualified to carry out cervical screening and tests in the form of cervical smears. In order to have a cervical smear the patient must have received a letter requesting that they have a cervical smear and the appointment must please be made for when the patient is not menstruating.

These appointments typically take around 15 minutes. For any further information or to book an appointment, please call the surgery.

Cervical screening is for women with no symptoms to detect early changes in the cervix.  If you have any symptoms which are worrying you, particularly bleeding during or after intercourse, bleeding between periods or a change in your periods or normal discharge then please contact the Medical Centre for an appointment with your Doctor.

Useful links

• NHS Choices – Cervical Screening
• Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust

Menopausal symptoms

Menopausal symptoms can be very distressing and we can offer advice on testing (if appropriate) and treatment for them.  If you are concerned about menopausal symptoms then the websites Menopause Matters and the NHS website NHS Choices can be very helpful.   Please book a doctor appointment or online consultation to discuss further.  Once on HRT women need to have an initial HRT check after three months and then routinely once every 6 months and these are with the nursing team.  If you are already on HRT and have any concerns please book a doctor appointment or an online consultation.

Ring pessaries

These are fitted for the treatment of vaginal prolapse.  If you feel that you might have a prolapse then please initially either book a doctor appointment or an online consultation.  If the doctor assesses that a ring pessary might be suitable to control your symptoms then an appropriate appointment will be arranged for you.

Urinary and bowel incontinence

This can be experienced by women and a local self-referral service is available – Bromley Bladder and Bowel service

NHS health checks

See here for further details.

Well woman checks

These are available to book with a member of our nursing team if you are not eligible for a NHS health check.  NHS health checks have additional checks compared to a well woman check.

Counselling

This is available on the NHS and you can self-refer at  Talk together Bromley

Domestic Violence

The following websites contain much information both nationally and in Bromley of services available. You can of course also make an appointment with your GP.

London Borough of Bromley – Domestic violence

National DA helpline

Sexual health and contraception including emergency contraception

See our Sexual Health section