Enhanced Access Service

 

What is the Enhanced Access Service?

The Enhanced Access Service provides patients in south Southwark with additional GP and nurse appointments. This means that there is primary care available from 8 – 8, seven days a week. On any given day, these appointments help a GP practice to manage their capacity and provide care for their patients even if their own appointments are fully booked. We offer enhanced access arrangements within south Southwark.

This is delivered both through:

Extended Primary Care Service (EPCS) at the Tessa Jowell Health Centre
Practices offering appointments outside of usual opening times

The EPCS offers appointments 8am-8pm, seven days a week. Appointments will be with either a GP, nurse or Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Learn about parking, accessibility and directions to the Tessa Jowell site

What do we offer?


GP Appointments

If you are unable to get an immediate appointment at your GP practice, an EPCS appointment should be offered to you.


Nurse Appointments

We are running dressing clinics for non complex dressings on Mondays (half a day), Thursdays and Fridays.

We also run regular nurse appointments on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To book an appointment please contact your GP practice.


Contraception Appointments

We are running smear clinics on Wednesday evenings at the Tessa Jowell Health Centre and Saturday mornings at both the Lister Health Centre and the Tessa Jowell Health Centre.  To book a smear please contact your GP practice.


Non-binary and Trans Clinic

A new primary care clinic has opened for the trans, non-binary and gender non- conforming community. We provide routine GP services and can offer some gender affirming care, such as bridging hormones. We also have a health and wellbeing coach working as part of the team.

It will run a monthly clinic in South Southwark. Patients can self-refer by emailing ih.bridgeatsouthwark@nhs.net.


Immunisation Clinics

We are running childhood immunisation clinics on Saturday mornings at both the Lister Health Centre and the Tessa Jowell Health Centre. To book an immunisation please contact your GP practice.


Department of Work and Pensions Advisor

Department of work and pensions advisor (DWP) at the EPCS, located in Tessa Jowell Health Centre

DWP at the EPCS can offer help, advice and information in a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere on the following services:

  • Awareness of DWP services and how to access them
  • Help to make a claim for vulnerable claimants
  • Access to work and retention services
  • Support available for Claimants with health conditions / disabilities
  • Support with writing CV via National Career Service
  • Employability Skills/ Career Screening
  • Work and health programme which is an organisation that support our claimant with their health and supporting them with jobs.
  • Tailored 1-2-1 advice regarding work capability assessment/PIP.
  • Signposting to stakeholders / providers / job-fairs which could lead to employment.
  • Supporting with work experience / volunteering by signposting
  • Working with colleges / providers to train/re-train
  • Looking at barriers that could be the main factor of not taking little steps in moving forward.
  • Complex needs advice and signposting to local / national organisations that offer holistic support.

Ask your GP or receptionist to book an appointment for you

Who can use the EPCS?

The service is available to south Southwark patients who:

  • require urgent same or next day urgent care in general practice and have been telephone assessed by a GP or trained senior nurse in their own practice
  • can be managed by a GP or primary care nurse in the community (and do not need to go to hospital)
  • routine appointments are also available and can be requested via your own GP surgery
 

Can I ask for an EPCS appointment?

If you are unable to get an immediate appointment at your GP practice, an EPCS appointment should be offered to you. If this is not offered please ask the receptionist.

 

How will the doctor at the EPCS know about my health history?

Doctors and nurses at the EPCS can access a patient’s full medical records (with the patient’s consent) to be able to offer the right care and treatment.

 

What happens if a patient's health condition needs more detailed attention?

When making an assessment, a doctor or nurse at the EPCS  may decide that a patient may be better seen in their own practice. This is more likely when the patient has complex needs.

Patients who may need further routine investigation or another referral may be asked to contact their own practice to make these arrangements.

EPCS has been funded by NHS South East London Integrated Care System. IHL was awarded the EPCS  contract for south Southwark in 2015.

Contact Details

Tessa Jowell Health Centre
East Dulwich
London
SE22 8EY

For appointment cancellations, amendments and general information please phone 020 8194 7570. Please note this number is not for bookings, bookings are done via your GP practice or via NHS 111 if your practice is closed.

Comments and complaints

Please refer to the making a complaint guide for all details. If you have any comments or complaints please contact us.

Enhanced Access Service Team

Our EPCS team is made up of:

  • an operations manager
  • administrative and operational staff who look after the day-to-day running of the service
  • clinicians who see patients at the EPCS – most of these are local GPs and nurses in South Southwark
  • clinical lead, Dr Rebecca Stephens

Dr Stephens provides leadership and support to clinicians working in the service and ensures that we provide a safe and effective service for our patients. This can include checking and monitoring clinical work and reviewing complaints or incidents. Our clinical lead also supports the development of the EPCS service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of patients and practices in South Southwark.