Phlebotomy appointment service
The phlebotomy Clinic at Rochester Healthy Living Centre on Delce Road this is for unregistered and registered patients has now moved temporarily to Thorndike Medical Centre. Booking is via the dedicated telephone line 01634 810814, this line is open between 8am and 5pm.
The clinic is open Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) from 08:00 to 11:30. Please do not arrive early but on time for your allocated slot.
Rochester Primary Care Network (PCN)
Rochester Primary Care Network is formed of 4 practices:
Thorndike Medical Centre
City Way Surgery
Castle Medical Practice
Borstal Village Surgery
This provides enhanced services for the area covered by the PCN and we are pleased to advise that the PCN provide support of our Care Navigators and extended hour’s clinic.
Our care navigators are:
Bally Katnoria and Akin Kunlipe
What care navigators do
- Sign-post to the most appropriate help
- Link with local community groups and services
- Offer advice
- Help to tackle loneliness
- Support and assist with money and housing concerns
- Empower to improve your own well-being
- Personalised planning and support
If you or your GP think that you would benefit from this service the Care Navigator can see you here in the surgery.
We will discuss your needs and support you, providing useful information and assistance to help you make positive changes that improve your life.
You can contact the Care Navigator via email, on the telephone or in the surgery. A home visit can be arranged if needed.
- Email – network@nhs.net
- Telephone your surgery and ask to speak to a care navigator
- Book at your surgery reception
- Mailing address: Rochester Network Ltd, Thorndike Medical Centre, Longley Road, Rochester, Kent. ME1 2TH. Registered in England, 12076958
Other local NHS services
Primary care services which are not available at our practice are provided by Medway CCG (01634 382777).
As well as our practice, there are many other local NHS organisations you can contact for health advice, information or treatment. Before you do, remember that you can treat many minor ailments such as colds, coughs and indigestion by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home. We suggest you keep the following:
- Paracetamol and aspirin (children under 16 and people with asthma should not take aspirin)
- Mild laxatives
- Anti-diarrhoeal medicines
- Rehydration mixture
- Indigestion remedy (for example, antacids)
- Travel sickness tablets
- Sunscreen – SPF15 or higher
- Sunburn treatment (for example, calamine)
- Tweezers and sharp scissors
- A thermometer
- A selection of plasters, non-absorbent cotton wool, elastic bandages and dressings.
Remember . . .
- Keep the medicine chest in a secure, locked place out of reach of small children
- Always read the instructions and use the suggested dose
- Watch expiry dates – don’t keep or use medicines past their sell-by date
- Take all unwanted and out-of-date medicines back to the pharmacy.
Your local pharmacist
Your local pharmacist will be able to give you free health advice at any time, you don’t need an appointment. Many pharmacies operate extended hours on a rota basis. Call NHS Direct for details.
NHS Talking Therapies
Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners. They can help with common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression. Please see link below:
Kooth – Free on line counselling and emotional well being support for young people in Medway aged 11-25.
Kooth is a free online counselling and emotional well-being support service for children and young people, which can be accessed via a mobile, laptop or tablet. Children/Young people can be signposted to Kooth or can sign up themselves to access free and safe online mental health and wellbeing support, so no referral is required. The online counselling is provided by a professional team of qualified counsellors and emotional wellbeing practitioners. Alongside the counselling, there are other online tools and features they can use, such as a daily journal, mini activities and Kooth’s magazine, with peer to peer and community elements. All of these are safe, secure, pre moderated and age appropriate. Watch a video : https://vimeo.com/318713056/3b5ea08a52
When is Kooth available:
online support tools and features (such as the daily journal and mini-activities) are available at any time, 365 days a year.
online counselling 12pm -10pm during the week and at the weekend from 6pm to 10pm
Kooth social media
Kooth has an instagram account @kooth_uk as well as a Spotify account with its own playlist https://open.spotify.com/user/94o3mbin6987cy00of2r1sdtw and podcasts. Kooth can also be followed on Twitter @kooth_plc
Support for children and young people with self-harm
Kent Mind and Body has expanded to support 18 and 25-year-olds across Kent and Medway who may be involved in self-harming behaviours or struggling with their wellbeing. Those aged between 18-25 can now book an initial appointment via their website
Specialist bereavement service
CHUMS Social Enterprise CIC are now delivering specialist support in Kent and Medway to children and young people from pre-school age (three-and-a-half years-old) to 25-years-old who are experiencing complex grief or who have had a traumatic bereavement.
Bereavement and grief present unique challenges for all who experience them but children and young people who experience the loss of a loved one unexpectedly often require specialist help and support through our work.
CHUMS will offer bereavement support in Kent and Medway through bereavement groups for children and young people; 1:1 bereavement support; telephone advice and guidance and bereavement literature. Details of this support will be widely publicised within education settings, primary care, youth groups and other relevant organisations, whilst referrals including self-referrals will be available via an online form. For full details of our new services, visit the CHUMS website. Alternatively you can contact the CHUMS Kent team by phone on 01622 427300, or by email on info@chums.uk.com
New support service for people bereaved by suicide
Amparo provides free practical and emotional support to individuals and families who have been bereaved by suicide. For tailored support please contact 03300 889255 or contact the team online.
Support for trans and non binary people
The BeYou Project provides support for young people aged eight to 25 who are LGBT+ across Kent and Medway.
The BeYou Project provides opportunities for peer and professional support regarding LGBT+ identities.
Out of Hours
If the surgery is closed and you need advice please phone 111. If you have a medical emergency and require immediate attention please phone 999.
NHS Choice
For information about your choices and NHS surgeries please contact the NHS Choices Team on www.nhs.uk. You are able to post your comments about the service you receive from the NHS.
UTC – Urgent Treatment Centre
Urgent Treatment Centre operates a walk-in service for unregistered and registered patients.
Open 24hours a day, 365 days a year.
Medway Maritime Hospital
Windmill Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 5NY
Tel:01634 830000
Wound Clinic
Open Mon-Fri 08.00am-18.00pm
Rochester, Lordswood, Balmoral an d Rainham Healthy Living Centres and Kingstone Centre Strood
Tel: 0300 123 3444
