Covid testing and vaccination in Thamesmead

Covid testing and vaccination in Thamesmead

If you have any of these symptoms you should isolate and book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

It is important people without symptoms also get tested. One in three people could have Covid without knowing it and could be spreading the virus.

Getting a no symptoms test regularly is particularly important if you work in a public facing capacity in the public, private or voluntary sector, or if someone in your household has symptoms or has tested positive for the virus. 

The most important thing is to make sure you stay as safe and well as you can, but if you do get it, to avoid passing it on to anyone else.

FOR GREENWICH RESIDENTS: How to get a test in Greenwich

If you have symptoms you can get a free NHS test to check if you have Coronavirus – to use this service you must book a test via www.gov.uk before attending a local site.

There are five testing centres across the Royal Borough of Greenwich:

• 02 North Greenwich, SE10 – drive-through facility only
• University of Greenwich, Avery Hill Road, Eltham, SE9 – accessible on foot only
• Charlton Athletic Football Club, SE7 – mobile testing facility accessible by car
• Abery Street, Plumstead, SE18 – walk-through testing centre, accessible on foot only
• De Vere Devonport House Car Park, SE10 – walk-through testing centre, accessible on foot only

If you do not have symptoms Greenwich has lots of testing centres, accessible by foot or car, as well as rapid testing centre
where you can get your result within 30 minutes.

You need to book an appointment for a rapid test via www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk for one of four sites:

• Daniel Defoe Hall, University of Greenwich, Greenwich – Open Wednesday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm
• David Fussey Building, University of Greenwich, Avery Hill – Open 7 days per week, 10am to 5pm, and 8am to 5pm from 25 January
• Queen Anne Court, University of Greenwich, Greenwich – Open 7 days per week, 10am to 6pm
• Charlton Athletic Football Club, Charlton – Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm

Find out more at the Royal Borough of Greenwich website. 

Your community is here to support you if you do test positive and have to self-isolate, and there is lots of help available from the Greenwich Community Hub. Call 0800 470 4831 to find out more.

FOR BEXLEY RESIDENTS: How to get a test in Bexley

If you have symptoms you can get a free NHS test to check if you have Coronavirus – to use this service you must book a test via www.gov.uk before attending a local site.

There are three local testing sites in Bexley:

• Sidcup House, Sidcup , DA15 – Open 7 days per week, 10am to 3pm
• 221 Erith Road, Bexleyheath, DA7 – Open 7 days per week, 8am to 8pm
• Felixstowe Road car park, Abbey Wood, SE2 - Open 7 days per week, 8am to 8pm

If you do not have symptoms there are a number of mobile testing sites open to anyone who does not have symptoms, but are at increased risk of getting Covid-19. These mobile sites which are currently located in Bexleyheath Broadway (outside Iceland) and in Pier Road, Erith (near Erith library). You do not need to book and the tests are quick, with the results texted or emailed within 24 to 72 hours.

Bexley also has two no symptoms rapid testing site, open to anyone who has no virus symptoms and is 11 years-old or over.
The test is quick to take and results will be texted or emailed within around 1 hour. If tested positive, you will need to book a confirmatory laboratory Covid-19 test at www.gov.uk or by calling 119.

You need to book an appointment for a rapid test via www.bexley.gov.uk/rapidtest for one of two sites:

• Bexley Civic Centre, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 – Monday 11 January to Friday 26 February, 9am to 5pm
• Princess Alice, 2a Battery Road, SE28 - 7 days a week - 8am to 8pm

Find out more at www.bexley.gov.uk/local-test-centre

SOUTH EAST LONDON CLINCIAL COMMISSIONING GROUP VACCINATION GUIDANCE

NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group is responsible for planning, paying for and monitoring most of the health services in the boroughs of Bexley, Greenwich, Bromley, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. 

The NHS Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

The NHS has made an excellent start to rolling out Covid-19 vaccines to over a million people who need them most. Covid-19 vaccinations are currently being offered to key priority groups as identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. These are the over 80s, staff and residents in care homes and health care workers at high risk.

It will be offered more widely and at other locations as soon as possible. The coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective and gives you the best protection against coronavirus.

In South East London (SEL) the vaccine is available through three Hospital Hubs and since 14 December has been delivered from a number of primary care hubs. The number of sites providing vaccinations will increase as more vaccine becomes available.

People from these group are being contacted directly to invite them for their vaccine. Please wait to be invited and don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine.

For more information, please read the frequently asked questions about the vaccine here. 

Beware of scams

We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. To protect yourself and your family members from fraud and criminals, remember the following points.

• The vaccine is only available on the NHS for free to people in priority groups, and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn. Anyone offering a paid-for vaccine is committing a crime.
• The NHS will never ask you to press a button on your keypad or send a text to confirm you want the vaccine, and never ask for payment or for your bank details.
• At the moment the NHS is also not making house calls to deliver or discuss the vaccine. Anyone offering this now is committing a crime.

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, and particularly if you are worried that someone has or might come to your house, report it to the Police online or by calling 101.

You can also follow the NHS on social media and share their COVID-19 vaccination updates: 

• Twitter: @NHSSELondonCCG / @NHSBexleyCCG
• Facebook: /nhssoutheastlondonccg 
• LinkedIn: /nhssoutheastlondonccg 

How you can help

As your local NHS works hard to deliver the vaccination programme for South East London please remember that you have an important part to play:

• please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, they will contact you;
• when you are contacted, please attend your booked appointments;
• and please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives

It is really important that you make sure you stay safe and follow guidance on washing hands, covering your face and keeping your distance from other people. Your NHS services are really stretched at the moment, we need to you to protect yourself, your family, friends and others, and your NHS.

Please visit COVID-19 - South East London CCG (selondonccg.nhs.uk) for the latest updates on their services and the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

The latest national guidance on how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe is available here.

This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we cannot let down our guard. By working together today, tomorrow and every day going forward we will take another step on the path back to normal life.