All Services

Minor Eye Conditions Service

Anyone over the age of 10 years old, living and registered with a GP in Waltham Forest can self-refer to be seen in the Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) for specialist Care.

The service provides free treatment to patients with a range of eye conditions, being seen by local optometrists with the knowledge and skill to see patients at a number of approved optician’s practices – saving them a visit to the GP or hospital. 

There is no need to make a GP appointment, visit Accident and Emergency or eye casualty departments if you are suffering with any of the conditions listed below.

– Red eye
– Blurred vision
– Dry eyes
– Watery eyes
– Lesions and abrasions
– Visual field defects
– Blepharitis (condition where the edges of the eyelids become red and swollen)
– Reduction in vision in one or both eyes
– Blepharitis and Meibomian Cyst (Inflammation or a lump in the upper or lower eyelid)
– Red Eye (also known as bloodshot eyes)

Approved Opticians you can contact to request an appointment with the Minor Eye Conditions Service:

E4 Eyes

Specsavers Walthamstow

Henry Morgan

Specsavers Chingford

Care Optics

K Bahri Opticians

Rose Opticians

Psychological Therapies Service

IAPT Talking Therapies

You can refer yourself directly to a psychological therapies service (IAPT) without seeing your GP.

These services offer therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), for common problems including:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Phobias

Additional Resources

  • Rethink: Rethink provide expert, accredited advice and information to everyone affected by mental health problems.
  • Samaritans: Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. Call Samaritans free, 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
  • Kooth: Free anonymous online chat for young people to discuss your mental health issues.
  • Mind: Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

Cervical Screening: Smear Tests

Women aged between 24 and 64 should have a cervical screening every 3 to 5 years to help prevent cervical cancer. The screening is quick and painless and can be done here in the practice.

If you are aged over 24 and have never had a smear test, or if it has been more than 3 to 5 years since your last screening, you should arrange an appointment with our Practice Nurse. You should not have the test while you are having a period or in the 4 days before or after your period as this can affect the sample.

What is cervical screening?

Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer in a woman’s cervix (the neck of the womb).

A sample of cells is taken from the cervix for analysis. A doctor or nurse inserts an instrument (a speculum) to open the woman’s vagina and uses a spatula to sweep around the cervix. Most women consider the procedure to be only mildly uncomfortable.

Early detection and treatment can prevent 75 per cent of cancers developing but like other screening tests, it is not perfect. It may not always detect early cell changes that could lead to cancer.

All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five yearsThe NHS call and recall system invites women who are registered with a GP. It also keeps track of any follow-up investigation, and, if all is well, recalls the woman for screening in three or five years time. It is therefore important that all women ensure their GP has their correct name and address details and inform them if these change.

Women who have not had a recent test may be offered one when they attend their GP or family planning clinic on another matter. Women should receive their first invitation for routine screening at 25.
This is because changes in the young cervix are normal. If they were thought to be abnormal this could lead to unnecessary treatment which could have consequences for women’s childbearing. Any abnormal changes can be easily picked up and treated from the age of 25. Rarely, younger women experience symptoms such as unexpected bleeding or bleeding after intercourse. In this case they should see their GP for advice.
Women aged 65 and over who have had three consecutive negative results are taken out of the call recall system. The natural history and progression of cervical cancer means it is highly unlikely that such women will go on to develop the disease. Women aged 65 and over who have never had a test are entitled to one.
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 25 and 64 for cervical screening. But if a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. We do not say no risk, only very low risk. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend that she continues screening.

Diabetes Specialist Clinics

  • Dr Kauser Warris (GPSI) – GP with Special Interest
  • Debbie Cook – Nurse Consultant

As well as being specialists at our practice both Dr Warris and Debbie also work at the local (CSS) Community Specialist Clinic for diabetes.

Diabetes UK National Clinical Champion

We are delighted to announce that Debbie Cook, our Nurse Consultant has been appointed as a Diabetes UK National Clinical Champion within our locality.

The Clinical Champions programme was designed to identify clinicians with the passion, skills and position to make a real difference to diabetes care and to give them a package of support to turn their ideas into reality.

Debbie will be supported to access best practice examples from across the UK and be a resource to our local healthcare team as well as the wider health economy to enhance the quality of care for our growing population of people with diabetes.

Travel Health

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.

If you are travelling to Europe there is some useful advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday available on the European Commission website.

It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible – at least 6 weeks before you travel – as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

  • Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Examples of non-NHS services include the following:

  • Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
  • Insurance claim forms
  • Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
  • Private sick notes
  • Vaccination certificates
The practice is unable to provide any firearms reports or complete any firearms forms, for those who are not working in the police force, because we have a conscientious objection to the holding of firearms.

We are aware of our responsibilities and obligations under GMC guidance on conscientious objection.

We can confirm facilitated access to the patient’s record, once an alternative doctor has been found to complete these forms.

Should you have any queries on this matter, please contact us.

Charges for Non NHS Work

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

  • Letter (To Whom It May Concern) NON NHS work e.g housing – £45
  • BUPA,PPP etc Claim Forms – £45
  • Diving Medical Examination & Report – £120
  • Driving (Ability to Drive) – HGV/Taxi/PCV/LGV Report & Examination – £120
  • Driving (Ability to Drive) – Report, no examination – £70
  • Driving (Fitness to Drive) – Extract from records – £45
  • Driving (Fitness to Drive) – Report, no examination – £50 – £70
  • Driving Licence Forms – £30
  • Holiday Medication Letter – £30
  • Holiday Cancellation – Certificate only – £30
  • Holiday Cancellation – Examination & Report – £60
  • Holiday Immunisations & Haj (ACWY) – £45
  • Insurance Examination & Report – £195
  • Insurance Examination without a Report – £65
  • Medical Report with Examination – £120
  • Medical Report without Examination – £90
  • Medical Report (Brief) without Examination – £65
  • Private Sick Certificate (Employment & School) – £20
  • Private Prescription for Travel e.g. Mefolquine Antibiotics – N/C
  • Road Traffic Accident – Simple Form to be completed – £30
  • Road Traffic Accident Treatment Fee? – £40
  • Travel Fitness Certificate & extract from records – £75
  • Travel Fitness Certificate, Examination & Report – £195
  • Letter (To Whom It May Concern) requiring notes to be consulted – £45

Ear Syringing

Unfortunately this is no longer offered on the NHS or by Community Services.

  • Some Boots or Specsavers are offering this service for a charge.