Latest News
East Sussex County Council - Cost of Living Support
The County Council has a helpful set of Cost-of-Living Support pages, which offer helpful information about benefits, housing, foodbanks etc. These pages may be helpful to those that are struggling mentally and physically.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
If you are a male and aged 65+ and haven't been screened before, you are eligible for a free NHS screening examination.
Flu Vaccination Programme 2024
Most eligible people won't be offered NHS flu jabs until 3rd October this year, NHS England have decided. This is for GP Practices and Pharmacies.
In previous years, flu vaccinations have been offered from September.
The change in timings follows clinical advice from the Government's independent clinical advisors, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, that starting later would be better for patients.
This is because the positive effect of the flu vaccine will increase people's protection from flu viruses which reduces over time following the vaccination.
Getting the vaccination at a slightly later time will make it more likely that the person's immune response to the virus is higher when flu virus levels are at their highest.
With this in mind Seaside Medical Centre will be starting their vaccination programme from Thursday 3rd October with an all day clinic on Saturday 5th October. This clinic will be for over and under 65's. Further clinics will be available subject to patient demand. Please ring the Practice if you have any questions or would like to book your flu vaccination this year. NHS England's Directive 2024
NEW to East Sussex: HENRY 5-12 Healthy Families Growing Up Programme
SDHC Podcast: Balancing Mental Health and Physical Activity
Walk in and Wait Clinics - Weekly Face to Face Appointments Monday and Friday Morning
Walk in and Wait Clinics have been running some months now and patient feedback has been excellent.
Patients can see a clinician face to face for all new acute illnesses that have come about within 72 hours and not been treated.
The clinic is for patients 2 yrs old and upwards. There are 18 face to face appointments available to book each Monday and Friday for conditions like;
· Ongoing cough (can be seen if had for over 72 hours)
· Swollen feet
· Tonsilitis
· Gout
· Shingles
· Sunburn
· COPD flare up
· Breathlessness
· UTI
· Rashes
To book one of the guaranteed 6 appointment slots within an hour, patients need to ring the Practice on 01323 725667 and be able to wait up to an hour (however the average wait is 30-40 minutes), patients can also ask for availability at the desk.
Please support this clinic and ask the team when booking if this is right for you.
Note: we are sorry we are unable to offer translation services within this particular clinic due to the set appointment times available.
Private Medicine and your NHS GP- Shared Care Agreements
Advice and guidance to patients who access private treatment from a specialist without being referred by their GP and how Seaside Medical Centre can only prescribe 'shared care' medications initiated by an NHS provider of care. See our information on Shared Care Agreements
Pharmacy Services - Pharmacy First
The new Pharmacy First Service will enable community pharmacists to provide care for patients without the need for patients to visit their GP.
Patients ringing into Seaside Medical Centre will be triaged by the team and depending on the condition referred to the pharmacist if it is found to be appropriate. The pharmacists will be able to provide advice and NHS funded treatment where clinically appropriate for these 7 conditions:
- Sinusitis for adults and children aged 12 and over
- Sore throat for adults and children aged 5 and over
- Acute otitis media for children aged 1 to 17years
- Infected insect bite for adults and children aged 1 year and over
- Impetigo for adults and children aged 1 year and over
- Shingles for adults aged 18 years and over, and
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16-64 years.
A patient’s General Practice will be notified of the outcome of the Pharmacy First consultation at the pharmacy.
Patient Summer Newsletter 2024
SEASIDE MEDICAL CENTRE COMES OUT ON TOP AT 92.2%
If you have every been worried about visiting your local GP Practice, knowing other patients have had a good experience can help to set your mind at ease. Thanks to data gathered in the GP Patient Survey you can check how your GP surgery ranks in your area. Twice a year more than a million adults who are registered with a GP in England are sent this survey. Ratings are based on experience of access, making appointments, quality of care, patient health and experience of NHS services when a patient's GP practice was closed. Patients are also asked how likely they are to recommend their practice to others. As headlined in the Eastbourne Herald, Seaside Medical Centre has come out top in this survey with an astounding 92.2% of patients that would recommend the surgery and the care they receive. This information is available on the NHS Choices website. You can read this report also by visiting https://www.gp-patient.co.uk/report?practicecode=G81017. Or you can view your local surgery rankings by entering the location, town or postcode and filtering the list based on NHS Users Ratings, visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/gp/locationsearch/4.
Southdown Community Connectors
Southdown Community Connectors are there to support patients to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The service is free to all aged 16 and over. For more information please see the Community Connectors leaflet .
Patients can also able to self refer to the service.
Make the most of your appointment
Patient Information - Self Diagnosis
Self Referral Service to Sleepstation
New clinically validated digital screening and support service for those experiencing sleep problems including a full online programme of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi). This service is now available to Seaside Medical Centre.
This service is easy to access through self referral as well as through your GP.
Self Referral Link: https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/nhs_options/
New for October 2023 - 'Prospective Medical Record On-line Access'
NHS England wants to give patients better ways to see their personal health information online. We know at Seaside Medical Centre that patients would find it helpful so they can see their results faster without phoning the Practice and the ability to read and review notes from their appointments at their leisure.
From Monday 30th October, we will be giving patients access to their prospective medical record. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App or another online primary care service as Patient Access, on application you will be able to see all future notes and health records from your doctor (GP).
This means that you will be able to see notes from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists. You need to remember, prospective means you will only be able to see information going forward.
Your doctor (GP) may talk to you to discuss your test results before you are able to see some of the information on the app. There may be some sensitive information on your record, so you should talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure, so no one is able to access your information except you. You will need to protect your login details. Don't share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.
What do I need to consider about having Prospective Record Access?
For many patients this will prove a valuable tool for helping to manage their healthcare. However, we do recognise that this isn't for everyone and this is why we have asked our patients to complete a form of consent to have this form of access given.
You may be happy to have this level of access from a personal point of view, but please consider whether you have given access to your account to other people, maybe just so they can order your medication or book appointments for you.
Please remember by giving us consent you will be able to view all of your consultations, medication, test results, incoming and outgoing letters etc. Please note this is not retrospective, so you will not be able to see any records that have been added previously, access will only be viewable from the date access has been granted.
Please see these links for the consent form and the our guidance on things to remember Application for Access to GP Online Services form.pdf
Experiencing Muscle or Joint Pain?
https://sussexmskpartnershipeast.co.uk/gethelp/
MSK have provided decision aid booklets, 'Understanding Persistent Pain' to help patients find tools to support and navigate their pain journey as well as 'Healthy Hips and Knees' focuses on the management of oesteoarthritis.
https://sussexmskpartnershipeast.co.uk/resources-help-while-you-wait/