***COVID VACCINATIONS age 70 and above***
All patients aged 70 and above that have not had their FIRST COVID vaccine, you can come to the Kings Centre, TN34 2BA, on:
Saturday 27th February 0900-1800
Opposite the Conquest Hospital on the Ridge - there is parking and wheelchair access. This applies to people registered with St Leonard’s and Hastings GP surgeries.
Those 69 and under, please await your formal invitation.
Government Roadmap
Covid-19 Vaccination - Housebound patients
If you are housebound but able to attend the Hastings Centre for the Covid -19 vaccine then it will be a lot faster than waiting for someone to visit you. The vaccinations of housebound patients are likely to take a significant length of time and you may be asked questions as to the reason why you are housebound.
Childhood vaccinations at school 💉📲
If you think your child may have missed their school vaccination, please ring the East Sussex Immunisation Team on 01273 696011 ext. 2080 to book an appointment at one of their catch-up clinics.
This will apply to children aged 13-15.
Covid-19 Vaccination update from NHS England: 04/02/21
The collaborating GP practices of Hastings and St. Leonards have vaccinated 7476 patients at the Hastings Centre and in the community, including patients from all Nursing and Disability homes. This total is made up primarily of over 75 year olds and healthcare workers. Our focus is now the over 70s, in line with government priorities.
Our mobile teams are now contacting housebound residents to arrange a visit. This information is provided by their GP practices.
We have invited many patients for their vaccines using text messages and phone calls, and will continue to do so. If you have received a text message from 'NHSNoReply' offering you an appointment, you can book it immediately at the Hastings Centre using your smartphone.
Many patients have received NHS letters inviting them to call 119 to book appointments at other centres. We want to reassure patients that text invitations and these letters are both legitimate ways to book vaccinations. We will never ask you for bank details.
If you are over 70 and are able to get to the Hastings Centre, but have not yet been given an appointment, you can now book it yourself. If you received a text message, you can follow the link and book instantly, if you have declined your text invite and have changed your mind, or if you have not received a message, you should book by phone now. (If you are under 70, please do not call yet; we are only able to offer appointments to the top priority cohorts at the moment and you will not be given an appointment.)
If you are registered at Beaconsfield Road Surgery Hastings, please call the booking line (07447 439135) between 10am and 4pm to make your appointment.
New: Find my NHS number
A new service is now live to help find your NHS number. This service is for anyone living in England who has forgotten or does not know their NHS number. You can also use this service on behalf of someone else where the name, date of birth and registered home postcode is known. You can opt for the number to be sent to you by text, email or letter.
Please note, you do not need your NHS number in order to obtain a Covid vaccination.
Help and support from the Surgery
If you need to contact a GP, do not come to the surgery in person.
-visit the website www.beaconsfieldroadsurgery.co.uk/, or use an online service to contact us
We will then give you advice about what to do.
A phone or video call with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional may be booked for you.
You'll only be asked to visit the surgery if absolutely necessary.
Please be aware that the Surgery is very busy at the moment and you may have to wait longer than usual to speak to someone if it's not urgent.
We will then give you advice about what to do.
Our staff are here to help you. We operate a 'zero tolerance' policy regarding abuse. You may be removed from our Practice list if you are aggressive or rude to the staff.
We are currently experiencing an increase in demand for our services and we are working hard to ensure that we prioritise and triage calls appropriately and safely. Please visit the NHS.UK website for self-help information and self-referral guidance.
Triage system
The Surgery operates a triage system for every patient who has a face-to-face appointment. This consists of a series of questions via either text message or telephone call, and a temperature check on arrival at the surgery, along with further questioning. The results of these questions are filed into the patient record. If a patient gives false information, this will compromise the safety of our team and other patients who are in the building. This may then result in the temporary closure of the affected site, impacting on our ability to provide continuity of care for our 11,000 patients.
Therefore, it is critical that patients only attend the Surgery if they, anybody they live with or have been in contact with, do not have any Covid-19 symptoms.
If you are in any doubt, please check the GOV.UK or NHS.UK website where you will find all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Any breaches of our Covid-19 secure policy will be taken very seriously.
Help us to help you.
IMPORTANT - 27/01/21
The NHS is issuing a fresh warning to residents to be on their guard against fraudulent messages as new scams are being sent to patients.
This week there have been fresh reports that some people are receiving fake fraudulent calls, emails and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination.
In the most recent case people are receiving a notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link.
This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent by GP practice vaccination teams and the NHS is worried people will be conned by them or will not respond to their genuine invitations.
The NHS has this advice for patients:
- An official NHS text message will include details of your GP practice. It will also include details of the local vaccination service and its location;
- Scam text messages and emails are not including local information such as your GP practice details or where you are invited to attend;
- The COVID-19 vaccination is only available by the NHS and it is free – you will never be asked to pay for it or your bank details.
If you are worried about a text message you have received, please be assured you will remain on your GP practice list for vaccination if you don't respond.
The NHS is currently offering the COVID-19 vaccine to people most at risk from coronavirus.
At this time, the vaccine is being offered in some hospitals to:
- some people aged 80 and over who already have a hospital appointment in the next few weeks
- people who work in care homes
- health care workers at high risk
The vaccine will be offered more widely, and at other locations, as soon as possible.
The order in which people will be offered the vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Read the latest JCVI advice on priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccination on GOV.UK
Getting to your appointment
If you need transport to get to your Covid-19 vaccination appointment, contact the NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 1963646, 8am-8pm, 7 days a week.
Vaccination status certificate for international travel
At present there is no official certification process to prove that you have had the Covid-19 vaccine, and GPs will not be required to provide these when they do become available. Please keep the card you were given at the time of the vaccination if you need evidence that you have had the vaccine. If you require a GP letter then this is classed as private work and will be charged accordingly.
How to treat coronavirus symptoms at home
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19), but you can often ease the symptoms at home until you recover.
Information:If you're concerned about your symptoms and need medical advice, use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.
Treating a high temperature
If you have a high temperature, it can help to:
- get lots of rest
- drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration – drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable
Treating a cough
If you have a cough, it's best to avoid lying on your back. Lie on your side or sit upright instead.
To help ease a cough, try having a teaspoon of honey. But do not give honey to babies under 12 months.
If this does not help, you could contact a pharmacist for advice about cough treatments.
Do not go to a pharmacy
If you or someone you live with has coronavirus symptoms, you must all stay at home.
Try calling or contacting the pharmacy online instead.
For more information go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-treat-symptoms-at-home/
06/01/20 - Care Coordinators
We at Beaconsfield Road Group Practice, recognise that there are individuals who are socially isolated, lonely and need help within the community. Often these individuals have multiple health conditions, including learning difficulties or memory loss, and may often have limited networks of care or support.
In order to support such patients, the Practice has expanded its services to support the development of a new role called the Care Coordinator. The focus of this role is to help patients by coordinating support, signposting on or referring to other services which may help them to cope better with their every day lives. The support may be provided by the NHS directly or the voluntary sector. Eunice and Abbie have jointly taken on this role and would welcome contact from any patient or carer of a patient of the practice to see if they can offer help and support. Please contact us if you have a vulnerable relative/friend who is registered with us whom you feel may benefit from additional support, and we will look at their needs and assess them accordingly.
Covid-19 Lockdown 05/01/20
National lockdown: Stay at Home
Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country. Find out what you can and cannot do.
We appreciate that patients may have queries regarding the latest lockdown. However, please bear with us whilst we learn more. The GOV.UK website has the latest information and is regularly updated. Calls and online queries regarding shielding will delay us in dealing with other medical and health issues. As was made clear in the announcement, if you had to shield in the previous lockdown then you are asked to shield again, and you will receive a letter from NHS England with further guidance and information all in due time.
We ask that you check the available information on GOV.UK and NHS.UK.
Help us to help you.
Thank you.
The pressures on GP Surgeries are exceptionally high at the moment. In order for us to help you, please ensure that you use all the information available online before you send in a query, as we find that a great many answers can already be found on our website, or the NHS.UK or GOV.UK pages.
Please do not ask us for a Covid-19 test. We are not involved in organising these. You can find out how to get one by going to the correct website or ringing 119.
We are open for business, albeit in a different way than you are used to. To allow us to deal with incoming medical issues, please do not use the surgery as the default option if you have a question about Coronavirus; use the NHS.UK and GOV.UK websites for all Covid-19-related queries. This is the same information which we have access to. There are no fast-track options by ringing the Surgery to get a test - we have no influence over this.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us to help you 
Patient Participation Group (PPG)
The PPG have been busy holding virtual meetings and you can find out more by following the 'Have Your Say' tab at the top of this page. The latest minutes can be found here: https://www.beaconsfieldroadsurgery.co.uk/ppg.aspx?t=4
Getting the right treatment at the right time in Sussex has just got easier
Unless it is a medical 999 emergency, the NHS in Sussex is urging everyone to call 111 to help people get the care they need.
From the start of this month, people who call 111 will be able to speak to a range of health professionals and if needed can be given a time slot for services including A&E and the Urgent Treatment Centres.
It is designed to support people to receive care from the most appropriate service for their needs. It also helps to prevent over crowding in NHS services and ensure hospitals can maintain social distancing in waiting rooms.
No one will be turned away from an A&E or Emergency Department and you will be assessed in a timely way by a clinical member of the urgent care team and will receive emergency care and treatment if you need it.
If your healthcare needs are not urgent, you may be invited to contact NHS 111 at the hospital to be directed to the most appropriate healthcare setting for your needs.
You should continue to use 999 if you have a serious or life-threatening condition or accident.
However, when you think you need A&E, call NHS 111 first. It may well save you a trip to the hospital, and if you do need to attend it is likely to reduce the time for you to be seen.
Find out more https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/news/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km9Ov6dANOs
NHS 111 First
WAITING ROOMS
As the weather becomes colder, please be aware that if you are attending our sites for appointments, it may be prudent to wear an extra layer as our waiting room windows are open.
Thank you.
FACE MASKS - There is no requirement for people to have evidence of exemption, it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this, and there is no requirement for General Practitioners to provide such letters. Please visit the Government website: -
NHS COVID-19 TRACK & TRACE APP
Protect your loved ones with the official NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app for England and Wales.
It's the fastest way of knowing when you're at risk from coronavirus (COVID-19). The quicker you know, the quicker you can alert your loved ones, and your community.
The more of us that use it, the better we can control coronavirus.
Protect your loved ones. Please download the app.