Your contact details
Please ensure that you inform us of any changes to your address, mobile numbers and email addresses. In these days of increasing digital communication, it is vital for us to have your correct details on your records. We have an online form for you to submit any changes which you can find below.
This allows us to respond in a quick and efficient way.
Thank you.
FLU VACCINATION UPDATE
For patients - aged 50-64
Please note that, if you are aged between 50 and 64 and not in a clinical at risk group, the earliest you will be offered a flu vaccination is November, providing there is sufficient vaccine.
No appointments will be offered for people in this age group until then. This is to ensure that those who are most at risk are vaccinated first.
If you are aged 50 to 64 and are in a clinical ‘at risk’ group which is eligible for the flu vaccination, for example you have a health condition which puts you at risk from the flu, you will be invited earlier.
For patients - over 65
Due to the pandemic, flu vaccinations are being offered to the clinically 'at risk' groups first. We will be in contact with you when we start to set up the clinics for the routine 'over 65s' group.
In the meantime, if you wish to have this done sooner, we would advise you to attend your pharmacy who will administer the vaccination and automatically inform us that you have had it done.
PATIENT TRANSPORT SURVEY
Healthwatch in Sussex have launched a new patient survey on experiences of using Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services. These ideas will help inform the commissioning of a future service.
Sussex NHS Commissioners, representing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Sussex, approached Healthwatch to conduct this important piece of work. This service is currently provided by South Central Ambulance Service.
Once they have gathered patients’ views, Healthwatch will be sharing the findings and recommended improvements with the commissioners. Patient’s views will help shape the future of the service which is due to be re-commissioned in 2021.
The survey will be open from 1st to 20th September and people are encouraged to take part by offering a prize draw to win one of five £25 gift vouchers. People are also encouraged to share their individual stories with their local Healthwatch: · Brighton and Hove – office@healthwatchbrightonandhove.co.uk · East Sussex – enquiries@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk · West Sussex – helpdesk@healthwatchwestsussex.co.uk
From Monday 14 September, you must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6.
This will apply indoors and outdoors, including in private homes.
This change will simplify and clarify the rules on social gatherings, so they are easier to understand and easier for the police to enforce. There will be a limited number of exemptions. COVID-19 Secure venues, such as places of worship, restaurants and hospitality venues, can still host larger numbers in total but groups of up to 6 must not mix or form larger groups.
This rule will not apply to individual households or support bubbles of more than 6 who will still be able to gather together.
Education and work settings are unaffected, and organised team sports will still be able to proceed, as will weddings and funerals up to 30.
From Monday, this limit will be enforceable in law. See refreshed guidance on social contact, including the exceptions to the 6 person limit
Covid -19: Changes in restrictions announced on 9 September
On 9 September, the government announced upcoming changes to simplify restrictions and ensure the virus is controlled.
These new restrictions will be set out in the law and the police and other enforcement officers will be able to issue penalties for those that don’t comply.
Further information on these changes can be found in the relevant section here.
Please do not send appointment requests through the Engage Consult online portal - these will be returned to you asking you to telephone the Surgery. Please ring 01424 755355 to book appointments.
Thank you.
UPDATE 07/09/20 - STATEMENT FROM DR MILAN RADIA AND DR LINDA PARKER:
As the pandemic settles, we continue to review and assess how we can best continue to offer safe, high quality care. We write this in order to keep our patients updated, as best we can.
You will all be aware that while remote work continues, we are now allowed to do face to face work , with appropriate safety considerations. All patients continue to be remotely managed wherever possible, via telephone, internet / email and video consultations. However, appointments are available for face to face work as needed, and we note that nursing staff especially are seeing a significant rise in face to face contact. However, there are fewer appointments available as rooms still have to be cleaned between patients. As always, we will offer whatever access we can, that is safe for staff and patients.
We have noted greater use of online consultations, and found increasing success with this. Patients that have used it, have also found it helpful, though as always there have been some teething issues. Nevertheless, our systems will evolve, as people use it, and find any loopholes - so we hope that this method will continue to be used, whenever patients can use it appropriately.
Just a reminder on how to order repeat prescriptions:
-contact your pharmacy to order on your behalf
-post a request through the letterbox at Beaconsfield Road or Fairlight Road
WE DO NOT ACCEPT REPEAT PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS VIA TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR ENGAGE CONSULT
Kind regards
Dr Radia and Dr Parker
Did you know we offer a Sexual Health Clinic at the Practice? This includes contraceptive coil and implant fitting and removal. Please ring the surgery for more information.
HOW TO ORDER REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
Just a reminder on how to order repeat prescriptions:
contact your pharmacy to order on your behalf
post a request through the letterbox at Beaconsfield Road or Fairlight Road
WE DO NOT ACCEPT REPEAT PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS VIA TELEPHONE, EMAIL OR ENGAGE CONSULT
Thank you
Housekeeping - help us to help you
Samples
If you are asked to bring a sample in to the Surgery, please ensure it is brought to the Fairlight Road site ONLY. Our nurses are all currently working from the Fairlight Road site. The samples need to be brought in before 12pm Monday to Friday. Please do not post any through the door at any site at any time. The Fairlight Road site is open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 6.00pm.
Letters/results
If you need to bring us a copy of a clinic letter/results, please ensure it is placed in an envelope and clearly marked as to who it is for, who requested it and what (if anything) is required, eg: change of medication, etc. These types of correspondence can be posted through the door at either the Beaconsfield Road or Fairlight Road sites.
Please be reminded that the Little Ridge site remains closed to all routine services and, as such, please do not put anything through the letterbox as it will not be dealt with. There is no time-frame for this site to reopen. Therefore, if you are having difficulty getting to the other two sites it may be easier for you to register at a Surgery closer to your home. You can ring the CCG on 0300 131 4425 who can advise you of your options and help you to register with a practice closer to where you live.
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.
Staying Covid-19 secure - Risk assessment 11.08.20
Here is the latest risk assessment poster for the Beaconsfield Road Surgery Group Practice:
The Patient Participation Group has held a 'virtual' meeting and the minutes can be found under the tab at the top of the page: 'Have Your Say'
ROAD CLOSURE OF FAIRLIGHT ROAD
We have just been advised that Fairlight Road and Battery Hill will be closed from the 24th August 2020 for approximately four weeks due to drainage and road repairs. Access for residents and businesses will be allowed but you may be diverted. Please be aware of these restrictions if you are visiting the Fairlight Road site.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 03.08.20
From 1 August, shielding advice to those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable is being relaxed and the national shielding programme is being paused. The updated guidance will be published GOV.UK
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 30.07.20
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, OR you have received a positive COVID-19 test result, the medical advice is to immediately self-isolate at home for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started. (This has changed from isolation for 7 days).
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE 20.07.20
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: -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own#exemptions-to-wearing-a-face-covering-where-they-are-mandated
CERTIFICATION IN RELATION TO COVID19 ISOLATION OR ABSENCE FROM THE WORKPLACE - Reminder - if patients need to self-isolate because they or someone in their household have Covid19 symptoms they can obtain a certificate from NHS111 or from visiting the website: -
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/isolation-note/terms/
😷FROM MONDAY 15TH OF JUNE😷
If attending the Beaconsfield Road Surgery sites for an appointment please wear a face mask, scarf, bandanna or something similar that covers your mouth and nose. This is for your own safety as well as the safety of the staff and other patients.
If you are offered a face-to-face appointment, please do not come to the Surgery more than 5 minutes before your appointment time. We now allow a maximum of 6 patients in the waiting room at any one time.
Please adhere to social distancing when admitted to the Surgery building.
Thank you for helping us all to stay safe.👌
Are you experiencing domestic abuse?
You are not alone.
As a woman fleeing domestic abuse, you may want to access specialist refuge accommodation. The Helpline can help you find a refuge vacancy for you and your children; call us for more information.
We can also support you to find other specialist services in your community, which can provide support whether or not you have left your partner.
The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
The local telephone numbers are:
- Brighton and Hove / East Sussex – 0300 323 9985
- West Sussex – 0330 222 8181
For more information please visit the Refuge website
UPDATED 28.04.20
UPDATE 06.04.20
**IMPORTANT CHANGES AT LITTLE RIDGE SITE**
There is now no access to the Little Ridge Site without an appointment.Please do not even drop in repeat prescriptions or letters- please speak to your pharmacy or contact the surgery by phone or online.We will keep you updated and we appreciate your assistance in attending the appropriate site should you need to attend the surgery for assessment.
TEST RESULTS
Please allow 1 week after your test before ringing for results. Please ring 01424 755355 between 11am and 1pm and select option 1 (Monday - Friday only).
Our reception staff are not qualified to comment on results, therefore it is your responsibility to check them and make any necessary follow-up appointment with the doctor.
Please note that we do have a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. In this respect we will only give out results to the person they relate to unless that person has given prior permission for their release or if they are not capable of understanding them.
New - Online Consultations
You can now contact the surgery online to tell us all about your medical problem or ask an admin question.
Completing an Engage Consult questionnaire allows us to quickly and safely decide on the best way to help you, your child or an adult in your care.
If you send us a request within our SAME DAY RESPONSE HOURS you will hear back from us on the day, usually within 7 hours.
If you create an account for Engage Consult, you can also receive replies online, rather than by phone.
Click on the link below to access our Engage Consult Online Consultation service.
Please note any digital image submitted as part of an online consultation, will be stored within your clinical notes.
During the pandemic we temporarily allowed repeat prescriptions to be requested via this method; this would not normally be the case. We are now moving back to our usual methods for prescription requests, and so will no longer be accepting repeat prescription requests via Engage Consult. Please be advised that you will now need to register for the appropriate online service with either of the following:
Patient Access - https://www.patientaccess.com/
OR
NHS App - https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/
Both of these options provide the same service and allow your request to be sent directly to the doctor, rather than via the administration team.
Thank you for your understanding.
Just a reminder that if you send us an online consultation, please do not phone in as well, as this causes duplication of work for the doctors.
All online submissions sent after 10.30am will be dealt with the following day. Please only use one method of contact.
In-house Physiotherapist
We now have an in-house physiotherapist. He will be based at the Little Ridge site and work all day on a Monday. You can book in directly to see him, no need to see a doctor first! The following criteria apply:
• All soft tissue injuries, sprains,
strains or sports injuries
• Arthritis – any joint
• Possible problems with muscles,
ligaments, tendons or bone,
eg tennis elbow, carpal tunnel
syndrome, ankle sprains
• Spinal pain including lower back
pain, mid-back pain and neck
pain
• Spinal-related pain in arms or
legs, including nerve symptoms,
eg pins and needles or
numbness
• Changes to walking
• Post-orthopaedic surgery
Please note he does not see under 16s.
Please ring 01424 755355 to book to see our Physiotherapist 📞👨⚕️
*We are pleased to announce that we are now offering more access in the evenings and on Saturdays.
These appointments are only bookable up to 5 days in advance.
Please note that the Surgery and telephones will not be open routinely on Saturdays.
Access to the Surgery will only be granted to patients who have pre-booked these appointments. The Surgery will not be open for any other business.Improving Access
*Face-to-face extended access appointments are currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Due to an increase in the number of wasted appointments through patients failing to attend without informing the surgery it has become necessary to implement the following policy:
If you fail to attend for 3 appointments with a doctor or a nurse you may be removed from the practice list and be requested to find an alternative practice.
65 patients failed to attend their appointments in April 2020 and did not cancel, so these were wasted appointments. Please ensure you cancel your appointment if you no longer need it so that it can be offered to someone who does need it.