News update:
MEASLES: The number of young people catching measles has risen.
Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Having the MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent it.
Measles symptoms include: high fever, sore, red, watery eyes: coughing; aching and feeling generally unwell; a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after initial symptoms.
If you have symptoms of measles, stay at home and phone your GP or NHS 111 for advice. Stay away from GP surgeries and A&E departments
Stay off nursery, school, or work for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears.
It’s never too late to be vaccinated.
You need two doses of the MMR vaccine to be fully protected against measles, mumps and rubella.
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/
We would like to welcome GP Dr Chinyere Akosim to the practice. We will be updating the list of patients each GP holds to ensure an equitable split according to the number of sessions each doctor works. You will be notified of your registered GP via your prescription, your online account or by contacting the reception team to ask who you are registered with. Although you are registered with one GP, you can request to see any of the GPs in the practice, subject to availability.
We are pleased to announce that we now have a Senior Clinical Pharmacist working for Newtons. Gosia Grant is an experienced Pharmacist who will be able to assist you with your medication queries and will also be able to give you advice regarding the medications you take for long term conditions. You may receive a call from Gosia to review your medications, or you can contact her, via the Reception team, to book an appointment to see her if you have medication queries.
We now have a selection of nurses appointments that are bookable online. These appointments are by invitation only. If you book in and have not been asked to make an appointment you will, unfortunately be turned away.
The NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service is available by our practice, please speak to the reception team for further information.
What is this new service about?
When you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist at a range of local choice of pharmacies.
Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the county.
Why are you doing this?
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.
This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.
What happens when I see the community pharmacist?
We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.
You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.
Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records.
If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.
What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?
Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.
What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?
We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.
What if the patient is my child?
Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.
Why is this a good thing for patients?
Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.
Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped
Please consider attending the Urgent Treatment Centres if appropriate. Follow the links below for more information:
Crawley Hospital - https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/urgent-treatment-centre/109069
Lewes Victoria Hospital - https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/urgent-treatment-centre-utc-at-lewes-victoria-hospital/109005
Uckfield - https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/minor-injuries-unit-miu-at-uckfield-community-hospital/109006
Alternatively, you can contact a GP via the Livi app.
From the 30th September, the NHS will change how it shares your GP medical record. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data extract by NHS Digital from GP Practices across England will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone, by collecting patient data and holding it in a central national database.
This is an upgrade to an existing similar process called GPES – General Practice Extract Service, this new data collection will be more efficient, effective, and much more frequent.
For example, patient data held in this new national database can help the NHS to:
• monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
• plan how to deliver better health and care services
• prevent the spread of infectious diseases
• identify new treatments and medicines through health research
If you would not like your GP data shared with NHS Digital using GPDPR, you need to register an opt-out with your GP Practice. In this article we explain:
- How the opt-outs work
- What you might want to consider before making a decision
NHS APP - If you would like to have confirmation of your covid vaccines, please sign up for Patient Access or the NHS App. This will then give you the facility to share your Covid vaccine status as necessary. Please do not ring the surgery about this, unless you need help to set up the Patient Access. Thank you.
First time use of Patient Access online services for appointments & repeat prescriptions:
Self-care: Please follow this link for fact sheets on common ailments, how to manage them at home and when to seek further help. They have been produced with patient and professional input and reviewed by GP experts in the given topics. The fact sheets can be found at: http://www.selfcareforum.org/fact-sheets
We are lucky to now have a Social Prescriber, Penny, working for our Primary Care Network.
Penny Jenkins - Social Prescriber
What is Social Prescribing:
"Many things affect your health and well being. GPs tell us that a lot of people visit them feeling isolated or lonely. Or they might be stressed out by work, housing problems or managing long term conditions" Social Prescribing can help you have more control over your own health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you... this may include links to local groups/resources, personalised care planning and support with motivation, roles, routines and meaningful activity to help you feel better.
See a GP by video with LIVI. Even at the weekend.
Patients of NEWTONS PRACTICE can now see an NHS GP by video using LIVI. Get medical advice, prescriptions and referrals on the same day – even at weekends. The service is provided free on the NHS.
You can download the LIVI app to your mobile phone or tablet, at the App Store or Google Play. Or visit ww.livi.co.uk for more information.
LIVI GPs are all GMC-registered NHS GPS, who (with your consent) will be able to access your medical records and give you a considered, in-depth diagnosis based on your medical history.
Get the LIVI app here: https://bit.ly/31s8GDh
CQC Inspection - rated Good overall
Please see the report for further details of the inspection.
Primary Care Network - Haywards Heath Central
Key points:
- From 1 July 2019, all patients in England will be covered by a primary care network (PCN) – the most significant reform to general practice in England in a generation.
- PCNs will help to integrate primary care with secondary and community services, and bridge a gap between general practice and emerging Integrated Care Systems.
- Since January 2019, practices have been organising themselves into local networks to provide care at greater scale by sharing staff and some of their funding.
We are working collaboratively with Dolphins Practice and have formed a Primary Care Network called Haywards Heath Central PCN.
Having PCNs enables health and social care professionals to offer more pro-active, personalised, co-ordinated and joined-up health and social care for patients.
Key benefits include:-
- Primary and community health services will be joined-up; providing a more efficient service to patients with the aim of improving their health and well-being. Having joined-up services will lead to better sharing of information, so people only have to tell their story once to those involved in their care.
- Services can be offered across a network of practices that could not reasonably be offered via an individual practice. Examples of such services include embedding new care models for frailty, long term conditions such as diabetes and access to new healthcare professionals such as clinical pharmacists and social prescribers
- Patients will be able to access a wider variety of health and social care services through PCNs and have options to access these services through more than one GP or health service
- GP practices will be more sustainable as they can share resources through the wider PCN.
Back in Control. Self refer for back care.
The BSUH Trust Back in Control programme (BIC) provides education, support and instruction to patients with long term back/neck pain. It is a six session course at the Princess Royal Hospital, on Thursday mornings, 10 am to noon, which provides patients with tips and skills to better manage their back or neck pain. Up until now it has been necessary for patients to be referred to the course by their GP, physiotherapist or other health professional. The Princess Royal are now looking to patients being able to self refer, thus speeding up the process, and avoiding taking up GP practice time.
Please visit www.sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk/Pain Management/Back in Control (BiC) leaflet or speak to your local physiotherapy service at the Princess Royal 01444 448664 for more information on course times and locations.
If you require urgent medical attention when the practice is closed please dial 111
The doctor on call may ask you to attend a designated treatment centre which is often at the Princess Royal Hospital or they may visit you at home if they deem this to be more appropriate. Medical advice may also be given to you by a doctor or triage nurse over the phone. You can also contact your local pharmacy for advice.
Care Coordinator
Please let Susan Read our Care Coordinator know if you look after someone so we can ensure our Carers Register is kept up to date. Susan has a wealth of knowledge relating to local services that are available to you and the person you are caring for. Please contact her by phoning the practice on 01444 412280 to arrange an appointment.
Patient Participation Group
We want to hear your views about the practice, what works, what doesn’t and how we might improve services to you. We are looking to involve as many patients in the group as possible, on a voluntary basis, so that we can shape and develop the services that we deliver to you, to make sure we offer you the services that you would expect and require.
Your contribution would be valued and appreciated in helping us to help you, so we can give you the best quality health care. If you feel we do things well, we would like to know, so we can continue the good work! The group is always looking for new members to join, it is very informal and friendly. Please refer to the Patient Participation Group page for more information or contact Karen Ray at the practice.
On Line Access for Patients
Access to your repeat medications is available on line. Please be aware that all users of this service have to have obtained a unique pin number to use this on line service by completing an application form and showing photo ID (Driving licence or Passport) at the reception desk. The reception team will then give you your unique personal pin number so you can order on line prescriptions, make appointments and cancel them. In time you will also be able to access your test results and your medical records should you wish to. You can also install an app on your smart phone if you find this more convenient. If you are registered and wish to use this service then please visit the appointments page and click on the appointments on line tab.
Physiotherapy - Self Referral
Patients can self refer to the Physiotherapy Department at the Princess Royal and do not need to be seen by a doctor first. This is a pilot scheme that is not available to all practices in Mid Sussex and the feedback from patients has been that it is easy to self refer. It will also speed up the process as patients do not need to obtain an appointment with a doctor at the practice before referring themselves. To use this service please go to the 'Our Services tab' for further details or speak to a member of reception staff when you come into the practice, as they will be able to give you details of this service. https://sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk/self-referral/
Evening and Weekend access to GP appointments
GP appointments are now available during the weekend and evening and at the weekend for people registered with a GP in Horsham and Mid Sussex.
This means that routine and urgent appointments are available at a local hub during weekday evenings and on a Saturday and Sunday, to make sure local people get the health help and support they need.
NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG, working in partnership with local patients and clinicians, designed the service. The appointment hubs are run by Alliance for Better Care Ltd, the local GP Federation.
How to book an evening or weekend appointment at the hub.
Appointments can be booked through your own GP practice in the normal way, during normal opening hours.
Clinicians working at the hubs will be able to access your medical records with your agreement. You will be asked before and information is shared and can decline if you wish.
Your help to design this new service
In preparation for this additional, improved access to GP care, we sought the views and experiences of local patients and the public through a survey. The results can be found here:
www.horshamandmidsussexccg.nhs.uk/news/your-views-on-evening-and-weekend-access-to-gp-sevices/