Riverside and Bulbanks Merger - FAQs

BACK TO MAIN INDEX

Will the practice’s telephone number change?

No, all three sites will retain their respective telephone numbers. In the future, we are exploring the possibility of having one central number for all three sites.

How will I be able to make an appointment?

You can continue booking your appointments by telephone or online:

• Via our website
• Patient Access App
• NHS Online
• Bexley App
• myGP App

When the practices merge, will I still be able to see the same GP I am used to?

Yes, you will see the same GP’s and other clinical staff. The Clinical team at Riverside Surgery (which comprises of Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants) will also be offering clinics at Battle Road.

Will I continue to receive home visits or speak to the doctors on the phone?

Yes, the Home Visit request message will be passed onto the GP/NP on duty, who will then call you and assess whether a Home Visit is eminent. We will offer Telephone Consultations. Additionally we will offer e-consultations.

Will the premises remain the same?

Yes, we will continue offering our services from the existing sites.

How far away are the practices? Are they easy to get to?

All 3 sites are within 1.3 miles radius of each other. All three sites are on regular bus routes

Buses to Erith

• Bus 229 from Bexleyheath stops outside Erith Health Centre (Bus Stop M).
• Bus 229 from Abbeywood/Thamesmead stops at Erith Town Centre Riverside (Bus Stop J) which is 5 minutes’ walk to Erith Health Centre.
• Bus B12 from Bexleyheath stops outside Erith Health Centre (Bus Stop M)

Buses to Mill Road

• Bus 229 from Bexleyheath alight at Bexley Road Northumberland Heath (Bus Stop H) which is 3 minutes walk to Mill Road Surgery.
• Bus 229 from Erith Town Centre Riverside (Bus Stop G) alight at Northumberland Park Bexley Road (Bus Stop V)
• Bus B12 from Erith Town Centre Riverside (Bus Stop H) which is 2 minutes’ walk to Mill Road Surgery

Buses to Battle Road

• Bus 229 from Erith Health Centre (Bus Stop M)
• Bus 469 from Erith Health Centre (Bus Stop M)
• Bus 229 from Mill Road

Train Stations

Erith Railway Station is

• 0.4 miles from Erith Health Centre
• 1.4 miles from Battle Road
• 1.4 miles from Mill Road Surgery

Slade Green Railway Station is

• 1.5 miles from Erith Health Centre
• 2.5 miles from Battle Road
• 2.0 miles from Mill Road Surgery

Barnehurst Railway Station is

• 0.8 miles from Mill Road Surgery
• 2.0 miles from Battle Road

Is there parking at all the sites?

• Erith Health Centre – Yes, there is a visitors’ carpark and there is also public carpark nearby
• Mill Road – No, there is a public carpark at the rear of the surgery
• Battle Road – There is off road parking along the street

Will I be able to use the Online Services?

Yes, you will be able to request your prescriptions online. However Bulbanks Medical Centre’s patients will need to register for this again.

How far in advance can we book appointments?

You can book routine appointments up to 2 weeks in advance (week in hand plus a week in advance).

Will I be able to order my repeat prescriptions online in the same way?

Yes, you will be able to request your prescriptions online. However Bulbanks Medical Centre’s patients will need to register for this again.

Will I need to change my Pharmacist?

No you do not need to do anything.

Do I need to do anything?

No you do not need to do anything. As a registered patient of either Riverside Surgery or Bulbanks Medical Centre, your registration will continue. This does not affect your right to register at another local practice at any time if you choose to do so.

If I am not within the practice’s catchment area and I have been receiving care do I need to change my surgery?

No, however we will not be able to carry out home visit to patients living outside the practice’s catchment area. The District Nurses may not be able to visit you.

If I move to an address that is outside the practice’s catchment area, will I need to change my surgery?

Yes, you will need to re-register with a surgery closer to your new address.

What if I move into temporary accomodation that is outside the practice’s catchment area?

You will need to register with a surgery closer to your temporary address. However, when you return to an address within the practice’s catchment area, you may re-register with the practice.

If I want to register at another practice, do I need to do this myself?

If you wish to change your GP practice, you should contact the surgery with which you would like to register directly and ask them to register you. You can find a surgery near you using the NHS Choices website or the My Health London website. Both sites give further information about practices, like opening hours and information about services.

If you do not have access to the internet, you can call the NHS Customer Helpline on 0300 311 2233.

During the registration process the practice will need to check that you live within their catchment area. They will ask you to complete a registration form, giving details such as your name and address, date of birth, your NHS number (if you know it) and the name and address of your previous GP.

Will I still be able to use Patient Access (Online Services)?

Yes – however you will to need to re-sign-up for the service.

Published: Jun 10, 2021