Using our Services

When your surgery is closed...
When your surgery is closed your GP will make sure that you can get advice and, if necessary, treatment when you become unwell. This is known traditionally as the 'on call' service.

Your GP has chosen to meet this commitment by working in association with more than 430 other local Principal GPs to share the care and treatment of patients. This co-operative approach to 'on call' services enables better care for patients and includes communication with your own GP when surgery re-opens. It also means that NHS resources for local people can be used more effectively.

The service is known as SELDOC and has two bases, Dulwich Hospital and the Primary Care Suite at Lewisham Hospital.

If you ever need to seek advice or treatment from SELDOC you can rest assured that the service you receive comes from someone your own doctor knows.

The housebound and the very ill can be visited at home by the mobile doctor.

When not to use SELDOC...
Potential life-threatening emergencies such as poisoning. These should be dealt with by ringing 999 for an ambulance.

Non-urgent conditions. If your problem is not urgent, please try to wait until the surgery opens and avoid using the emergency service.

Test results or second opinions for something that you have recently seen your own GP about.

Non-urgent advice or medical information. This can be obtained from NHS Direct, a 24 hour nurse-led advice service on 0845 4647.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The doctor can:

• Offer advice
• Suggest a remedy you can buy from the chemist or arrange a prescription you can collect
• Offer an appointment at one of the bases (These are not walk-in centres. Please ring and speak to a doctor first.)
• Arrange a home visit, when thought appropriate by the doctor

Refer you directly to Accident and Emergency or the Minor Injuries Unit at your local hospital or request an ambulance transfer

Following your contact with SELDOC, your consultation notes are sent to your GP the next working day with details of any treatment given, so they are aware of what has happened and can action any follow-up required.

A copy of your SELDOC contact follows on for filing in your permanent medical record.

In a great majority of cases...
In the majority of cases it is best for patients to see the doctor at SELDOC’s base where the equipment and support for a proper examination are available. Also, a doctor at the base can see and help three or more patients in the time it takes to do one home visit - so more patients benefit and the waiting time to see a doctor is much shorter for everyone.
There are no facilities within the NHS to transport patients to see the doctor for GP ‘on call’ services so, in most cases, patients are expected to make their own arrangements to get to an appointment.

SELDOC sympathises with the difficulties this may cause some people, but must emphasise that the doctor’s decision to offer a home visit is made on strict medical grounds only.

All calls received at SELDOC are recorded for medico-legal reasons and to ensure high standards.

Can I go to one of the centres without telephoning first?...
No! Access to the centre must be strictly by appointment in order that the doctors on duty are expecting you and have details of your medical condition.