Does the surgery have your correct email address and mobile phone number?

Your consent is needed for communications to be sent via email or text (SMS) message, e.g. the PPG newsletter or vaccination clinics.  There are 3 alternative methods to give consent: 

• The easiest way is to use e-Consult, through the NHS App (instructions below), or
• You can also access e-Consult via the TMC website, but it is a longer process, (instructions below), or 
• You can ask at the surgery reception to check your details are correct and give your consent for communications to be sent that way. 

From the NHS App, after logging in, click on:

• +Services (at the bottom)
• Contact your GP surgery for a document or update
• Tick the box starting Use my name, date of birth etc to prefill some the information the surgery needs to identify you
• Continue through the next screens
• I confirm I’m not requesting advice or treatment for a medical problem, Continue
• Select your gender, Continue
• Other requests for documents or paperwork, Continue
• Fill in your email details (& possibly mobile phone number) and ask to opt in to communications, Continue
• Fill in the rest of the details to submit request

From the Website:

• Search for e-consult or find it under Contact Us
• Click on Use E-Consult
• Click on Sick notes, tests or routine requests
• Click on Administrative help
• Fill in all the details requested
• At the screen asking What administrative issue can we help you with, scroll down
• Select Other requests for documents or paperwork
• In the box under What other administrative task can we help you with? Fill in your email details (and possibly mobile phone number) and ask to opt in to communications.
• Click on Skip this on the next screen
• Follow the instructions on the following screens

The surgery will deal with these requests within 1 working day.

Events of interest 

The following events are available

Better Together in Sevenoaks has lots of events relating to health such as regular walking and singing groups and parenting, breast feeding or mental health support.

Holiday Activities and Food Programme The HAF Programme offers families of children aged 4-16, who are eligible for benefits related free school meals, opportunities to access a range of free activities in the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays. Each programme offers a range of activities along with a healthy main meal alongside. Next one: 13-16 April, 10am to 1pm, 7-11 years old Drop-off: Redlibbets Golf Club, Manor Lane, Sevenoaks, TN15 7HT

Forget-me-not Café, Dementia Friendly event Bat and Ball Station 29 Apr 26 - 10:30am to 12:00pm Skiffle Express will be making music and encouraging attendees to join in!

Free Health and Wellbeing Event Thursday 14 May 2026, 10am to 4pm Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks, TN13 1ZZ Health and wellbeing advice from a wide range of services e.g. Children & Young People, Mental Health Services, Health and Wellbeing Services, Aging Well. Opportunities for mini health checks and talks on health issues.

Health and Wellness Fair Vine Gardens Sat 30 May 26 - 9:30am to 4pm Health providers - Sports & Activities Clubs - Healthy Eating Advisors & Providers

Patient Survey Results

Thank you to everyone who completed our survey over the Summer, and apologies for the somewhat delayed feedback. The key points raised were as follows, along with our response

The key issues with the appointment process are the difficulties to call in between 8am to 9am and 12pm to 1pm, and that sometimes no appointment is available.

The current appointment process has no immediate plans to change, and please note that anyone can call to book on behalf of a patient. In addition, Doctors’ appointments are released on a 2-weekly cycle for patients to pre-book.

As an alternative to appointments:

• Patients can now use Pharmacy First for a whole range of ailments, including UTIs, flu symptoms and skin rashes, to name a few.
• Patients can use eConsult to request blood tests, fit notes and referrals which can sometimes avoid having to book in for an appointment.

A significant proportion felt that administrative processes could be improved. They would like more information on services available and timelines for them (e.g. the notice needed for producing a GP letter). They would also like to see better use of IT to join up/streamline work

All letters, whether NHS or private, are a 2-week turnaround, produced by 2 secretaries who are supporting 5 GPs.

Physio is available for self-referral (see below), and blood test appointments can be booked at reception, normally within a few days.

We also advertise relevant services via notices at reception, through this newsletter, and updates published on our Facebook page (please “follow” to receive the news alerts).

Some felt that efficiency at the reception could be improved, including information offered being more complete and consistent.

All reception staff have to keep on top of training and are all trained in the same way, with what information they can, and can’t, share with patients.

Unfortunately, we have had a high turnover of staff during the past year which may have impacted the consistency of information given. There is a lot of information given to reception on a daily basis which should be shared with the rest of the team and this can be looked into.

Most people are happy with their interaction with GPs, but would like more access to their allocated GP.

We endeavour to match patients with their allocated GP as much as possible. We have had a lot of changes with GPs over the past year and have had to utilise Locum GPs on a more regular basis, this has impacted on the likelihood of this happening. However, we are now fully staffed, with 5 permanent GPs, and this will continue to be our focus.

Physiotherapy

Did you know that you can self-refer for physiotherapy treatment by completing the MSK Physiotherapy self-referral form

You'll just need your NHS number and to answer some questions about yourself and your health condition

Who are the Patients Participation Group (“PPG”)? 

This newsletter is produced by the PPG. We are a group of Town Medical Centre patients committed to maintaining good relations between the practice and its patients, working collaboratively to improve services and facilities for patients.

This newsletter is produced by the PPG. We are a group of Town Medical Centre patients committed to maintaining good relations between the practice and its patients, working collaboratively to improve services and facilities for patients.

Any questions or suggestions?

Use the in-surgery suggestion box

Have a non-urgent TMC request? eConsult

A reminder that our online consultation tool, eConsult

Please use this to contact the surgery for any non urgent requests or administrative queries.