Welcome to Sydenham
House Surgery, Harlow

Curing with care

Welcome to the web site of Sydenham House Surgery. We are one of the oldest GP Practices in Harlow, and the last small, friendly, family GP Surgery in Harlow in an era of super surgeries. We pride ourselves on getting to know our patients, and providing continuity of care.

Our ethos is ‘Cure with Care’ and we provide all core NHS funded medical services as well as a range of enhanced NHS services and private medical services.

See NHS Services

Sydenham House Surgery GP led NHS funded health services

Summer Illnesses: Stay Safe and Healthy This Season

As we embrace the warmer weather, it's important to be aware of common summer illnesses that can affect our health. While the sunshine and outdoor activities are a welcome change, there are a few seasonal health concerns to keep in mind. Here are some tips to help you stay safe and enjoy the season to the fullest:

Dehydration: The heat can quickly lead to dehydration. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you're out in the sun or engaging in physical activity. If you feel dizzy, thirsty, or fatigued, take a break and hydrate.
Sunburn and Heatstroke: Always protect your skin by using sunscreen with a high SPF, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade when necessary. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during peak hours—stay cool and take action if you experience symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or rapid heartbeat.
Food Poisoning: Warmer temperatures can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses. Ensure that food is stored and prepared correctly, and avoid leaving perishable items out in the heat. Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating or handling food. Drink plenty of fluids and add oral hydration supplements in water if needed.
Allergies: Pollen levels tend to rise in the summer, triggering allergies. If you suffer from hay fever, take your prescribed medication and avoid outdoor activities when pollen counts are high.
Insect Bites and Stings: Insects like mosquitoes and bees are more active in summer. Protect yourself by wearing insect repellent and checking your skin for bites or stings. If you have an allergic reaction, seek medical advice from your local pharmacy first.

If you experience any symptoms of illness as above or need medical advice then you can contact your local pharmacy or see advice on NHS websites online , please don't hesitate to contact us if needed. Our surgery Navigator is here to help you to manage your health and ensure a safe, enjoyable summer.

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and take care of your health this summer!

Quick Links

Appointments

Urgent GP appointments can be booked on the day. Non-urgent appointments can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance.

Appointment System

Surgery Hours

Sydenham House is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm and every other Saturday for extended hours appointments.

View Surgery Hours

Register With Us

We are accepting new patients at Sydenham House Surgery. If you live within our practice boundary you are welcome to register with us.

How to Register

Repeat Prescriptions

Repeat prescription requests take a minimum of 4 working days to process, so please order your medication in good time.

Ordering Prescriptions

Important Information

Meet Our Team

Discover more about the clinical staff and support team working at Sydenham House Surgery, including their training, qualifications and special medical interests.

Meet the Team

NHS Medical Services

We offer our registered patients access to all core NHS-funded medical services and a wide range of enhanced NHS-funded medical services.

See NHS Services

Private Medical Services

Some of the services we provide are not funded by the NHS such as certain travel vaccinations and insurance and employer medicals, and incur a fee.

See Private Services

Sick Notes

You can self-certify for the first 7 days you are off work unwell. After that you will need to contact the surgery to obtain a doctor's sickness note.

Request Certificate

Flu Vaccination

Seasonal influenza vaccinations will be available to book at Sydenham House from mid-November for all our patients who are over 65 or in an at-risk group.

More about Flu Jabs

COVID-19 Advice

Find out the latest up-to-date NHS and Government advice regarding the symptoms and treatment of Covid-19 and the vaccination programme.

More about COVID-19

Special Arrangements For People With Hearing Problems

Our surgery has a bone conduction amplifier available for patients with hearing difficulties to help improve communication during appointments.

If you would like to use this service during your visit, please inform the receptionist when booking your appointment or on arrival at the surgery so we can make the necessary arrangements.

How You Can Help Us

Keep or cancel your appointments

Please try and keep to the appointment time allocated. This helps in the surgery running on time. If an appointment is no longer required or needs rescheduling please call and cancel your appointment. This allows the slot to be given to another patient who could not be otherwise seen that day.

Stay home if you have COVID-19

If you are experiencing covid related symptoms, to safeguard our staff and other patients, please stay at home. Ring our reception team explaining the situation and ask to speak to the GP during the allocated appointment slot.

Pharmacy First

community pharmacist Going to your local pharmacy offers an easy and convenient way to get clinical advice on minor health concerns, and now community pharmacies can offer treatment for seven common conditions without patients needing to see a GP, as part of a major transformation in the way the NHS delivers care.

Community pharmacy teams are highly-skilled, qualified health professionals who have the right clinical training to give people the health advice they need. Patients don't need an appointment and private consultation rooms are available. Pharmacy teams can also signpost to other relevant local services where necessary.

More about Pharmacy First

Improved Access and Extended Hours

a General Practitioner with a stethoscope We are proud of having the best access to clinicians and services locally despite being a small practice, but we strive to keep improving our access by listening to our patients and reviewing their feedback.

We have started a complete telephone triage system at the surgery that begins with the reception team to make sure we get or patients directed to the right service or clinician in times of limited NHS resources.

We also offer our patients extended hours every other Saturday at the surgery. It is also possible to see a doctor at another local GP Practice outside of normal surgery hours through an improved acccess scheme run jointly with other local GP Practices. Please call the surgery to book an extended hours appointment.

Call the Surgery

You and Your General Practice

2 doctors standing side by side Please visit this essential guide at the NHS England website that tells you what to expect from your general practice (GP) and how you can help them.

This will help you get the best from your GP Practice and the National Health Service (NHS).

More details can be found using the button below.

More about General Practice

Patient Feedback

coronavirus particles We are always interested in hearing feedback from our patients, good or bad. If you have had a recent interaction with the surgery please rate us on 'how likely you would be to recommend us to your friends and family'. There are only 3 questions and the survey is anonymous, and takes just a couple of minutes to complete.

You can also leave comments on your recent experiences. You can find physical copies of this survey in the surgery or complete it online using the button1 below.

Take the survey