General Patient Information

This enhanced minor surgery service is commissioned by NHS South West London Integrated Care Board (SWL ICB), for patients of Merton and Sutton Borough GP practices, to provide treatment of benign, symptomatic skin and subcutaneous lesions fulfilling NHS England criteria for treatment within the NHS.

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General Info

The procedure will be discussed with you at the appointment before any treatment is carried out, and you can ask any questions you may have.

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Food and Drink Restrictions

We carry out local anaesthetic procedures with the patient awake. There is no requirement to be nil by mouth or to fast before the procedure.

Bathing and Showering

We advise you do not get the postoperative dressings and wound wet for 2 days. It is best to take a shower or bath before the appointment. For procedures on the hands, we request you have some washing up gloves (Marigold, etc.) at home to use when doing essential activities that require water.

Procedures on Legs and Feet

We do not recommend you walk back home or take public transport if you’re coming to have removal of a lesion or biopsy on the leg (below the knee) or foot. This is to minimize the risk of postoperative bleeding. If possible, please ask someone to bring you for the procedure itself or organize a taxi back from the clinic. We do appreciate this is not always possible, but please do your best. Walking back is not an issue with freezing or curettage and cautery of lesions on the legs and feet.

Relatives and Escorts in Theatre

Space in theatre can be limited and our air extraction system works better with fewer people in the room. We allow one person to accompany the patient in the theatre if essential. Examples would be children, elderly patients who require help from a caregiver, patients with mental capacity issues, patients who suffer from anxiety or panic disorder where an escort would help, and those with language difficulties. Our staff try to be as accommodating as possible, but please respect the above safety reasons when deciding to bring somebody into theatre with you. Very young children are not allowed in theatre and we request you make arrangements to have them accompanied in the waiting room or arrange childcare.

Medical Students and Medical Observers

We are a medical training practice and regularly have qualified doctors wishing to further themselves in minor surgery, medical students, and work experience students observing in theatre. Your cooperation in helping these doctors (and future doctors) train by allowing them to observe your treatment would be greatly appreciated, but if you do not want an observer present, please let our staff know.

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Disabled Access, Transport & Interpreters

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Disabled Access

All 3 of our venues at Sutton, Leatherhead, and Mitcham have wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities.

Transport and Interpreters

We cannot arrange transport or interpreters. If these two facilities are required, please tell the referring doctor at the time of your initial referral appointment.