You can book to see an experienced physiotherapists to diagnose a musculoskeletal or joint problem you have – as an alternative to seeing a GP. They can not only diagnose your condition, but offer advice on how to best manage it, and refer you on for imaging or specialist support, if this is needed.

Guys and St Thomas physiotherapy services recommend using the GetUBetter app to get personalised support with exercise to help your musculoskeletal problem.

Download the getUBetter app

If you know that you need ongoing support from a physiotherapist, or have been advised by your GP, the First Contact Physiotherapist or a consultant that you need to see a physiotherapist to support you with your condition, then you can self refer to local physiotherapy services.

Self-refer for physiotherapy here

We provide Health and Wellbeing Coaching Service for our patients, with support from Know Your Own Health. If you are struggling to manage your health condition, or going through a difficult time that is impacting on your health, then this service could help support you to make changes.

You will be offered 6 individual 1:1 sessions with a trained Health Coach. Sessions are 45 minutes long and usually arranged weekly, at a time to suit you. They can be face to face, virtual or on the phone, whichever you prefer.

Self-refer at KYOH Lambeth

This service does not replace any existing referrals you may have with clinicians/nurses.

If you are unable to go online, please feel free to contact your practice to make a referral.

At its most basic, a social prescription offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or bottle (non medical).

Instead, a social prescribing link worker creates your own social prescription to provide you with support, help and information that will enable you to access services or activities that will improve your health, wellbeing and overall enjoyment in life.

Social prescribing link workers can offer support and signposting for a variety of non-clinical interventions such as:

• people struggling to adapt or cope with chronic conditions that can’t be addressed by clinical consultation
• mental health and emotional wellbeing
• relationship difficulties
• domestic abuse
• loneliness and isolation
• low self esteem
• poor housing
• financial issues, including benefits
• carers
• bereavement
• health goals e.g. weight management, healthy eating, stop smoking, physical activity

Judith Centeno
Social Prescribing Link Worker

Practice: Streatham Common Group Practice; The Exchange Surgery

About Judith Centeno

Other languages spoken: English, Spanish and Catalan

I was born in Nicaragua, coming from a tropical country I have experienced different natural disasters and I remember the war when I was child.

I have studied a degree in business back home, but my first job was in an NGO that stands for children in social exclusion, was there when I realised that I didn’t want to work in my career. I was working as accountant.

Therefore I decided to change the course of my career, when I moved to Spain I studied a post degree in humanitarian aid, also done some voluntary work with women who were disadvantaged and vulnerable.

In the UK, I have worked for many years in the care industry but I felt that something was missing until I heard of social prescribing. This is a great opportunity to through my job improve the living conditions of many people, having the right information, the right resources and good connections and relationships in the community.

In my role as social prescriber link worker I have different situations, you can meet people with different backgrounds, age, ethnicity, religion. I find that very enriching and challenging, can feel like a personal assistant for every single case as you need to focus in every detail.

Hoping to be of help for the patients and learn from them too.

Visit the MYCommunity Directory

Patients are asked to come to surgery whenever possible, but if you are unable to travel to the practice because of your medical condition, please request a home visit before 11:00 if possible.

If you are travelling abroad, please make sure you complete our Travel Risk Assessment Form in plenty of time to arrange any vaccinations that may be necessary. To help the travel nurses assess your travel needs it is important that they are in receipt of the assessment form before your appointment.

Our practice nurse can help you with such things as:

• Dressings
• Removal of stitches
• Vaccinations
• Cervical smear
• Ear syringing
• Blood tests arranged by the doctor

She will also give advice on a healthy lifestyle and general health care.

If you are a diabetic, our diabetic trained nurse will see you in a general surgery appointment, inform the receptionist that this is the purpose of your visit.

Appointments can be made at reception or by telephone.

As part of the registration process we offer new patient health checks, which are carried out by our nurse by appointment only.

We would advise all our patients that is is good medical practice to check your blood pressure at least every five years from age thirty onwards.

Under the scheme you are able to consult the pharmacist without an appointment for a wide array of conditions such as those listed below, they can prescribe and dispense any medication that is required for treatment.

This scheme is available in all of the pharmacies listed except for Boots.

If you are usually exempt from prescription charges then you will get any medication you require free of charge, you will not be able to get any of your regular medication that you take through this scheme.

Advice about all forms of family planning is available from any of the doctors or the practice nurse during normal surgeries. Repeat prescriptions for the contraception pill can be obtained during a routine appointment with the practice nurse or doctor. We do not fit IUCDs but this can be arranged at the local family planning clinic.

If you have been advised by the surgery to submit a contraceptive pill review, please complete our Contraceptive Pill Review form.

We have a counsellor here two days a week.

Referrals for counselling are made by the doctors where appropriate.