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Please also see our COVID-19 information page
Update on COVID-19 vaccinations at Heathfield Surgery 26 February 2021
Thank you to the Meads Surgery who hosted our clinic last Wednesday 24 February 2021 and thank you to all the volunteers who ensure all traffic is managed, keeping everyone safe.
We are waiting for the next vaccine delivery which hopefully will come in around the 8th of March. As soon as we have confirmation we will inform our patients and start inviting for the next clinic.
We are contacting patients aged 16-64 years old with underlying health conditions as per NHSE advice to prioritise this cohort and are making appointments as deliveries of the vaccine are confirmed.
If you are in the 65-70 years old category you will receive a letter from NHSE with information how to book for a vaccination in a vaccination center or a community pharmacy setting. The website to book on is: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination or call 119.
If you would rather have your appointment at the Heathfield Surgery which could also take place at the vaccination centre at the Meads in Uckfield, this is possible but it may take longer to get an appointment.
We would politely ask our patients not to contact the surgery to ask for an appointment – we will contact you as soon as an appointment is available. We will contact you via SMS or via a telephone call.
You can find out more about the vaccination programme, including a Frequently Asked Questions at the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website.
Heathfield Surgery would like to warn you about Covid 19 vaccination scams. NHSE 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.
Crowborough Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) has been temporarily close from 8pm on Sunday, January 24. It will be closed for 4-6 weeks.
Please wear a facemask when visiting the Surgery, even if only to collect your prescription. The Surgery cannot supply face masks.
When visiting the Heathfield and Firs Surgeries, as per national guidance, we now request that patients over 5 years old wear protection over their mouth and nose. This can be a mask, face covering or scarf. We appreciate your support and understanding.
As a pilot, the Heathfield and Firs Surgery are carefully releasing a small number of TELEPHONE online appointments. These get released the night before.
Please note that these are TELEPHONE consultations, NOT face to face, as the Surgery needs to follow NHSE advice to telephone-triage appointments. Please also note that we may need to close down the online appointments again, depending on NHSE guidance.
Please see our latest newsletter (Word document).
We are looking for patients who would be interested to build a new patient participation group. If you are interested, please let us know via phone to reception, drop in a note to let us know and we will be in touch.
As of 25 May 2018 a new Data Protection Policy has come into force on 25 May 2018. It is an EU wide regulation that will remain part of the British Law after Brexit. It replaces the Data Protection Act of 1998 and 2003.
How we use your information:
Medical confidentiality is the cornerstone of trust between doctor and patient and we keep your records secure and confidential.
For your direct care either from the practice or within the NHS hospital service we imply your consent to pass on relevant clinical information to other professional staff involved in your direct care.
Only when there is a legal basis for the transfer of data we may pass limited and relevant information to other NHS organisations to improve the efficient management of the NHS or to aid medical research.
If you wish to see more information about this subject please visit our website: www.heathfieldsurgery.nhs.uk
If you wish to object to the use of your data for these ‘secondary’ uses please ask reception for a form to dissent.
Also see our detailed Privacy Policy, which also covers GDPR.
Please note that the surgery has been advised by the CQC that we are ONLY permitted to take requests for medication in WRITING and not over the telephone. Please be aware that you can request your prescription online if you are signed up for surgery online booking. For further details please contact your reception team.
Please also note that all blood tests are now carried out every weekday morning at the Firs Surgery in Cross in Hand. If you are unable to get to the Firs Surgery, you are welcome to take your blood test form to the Phlebotomy Department at Eastbourne District General Hospital instead.
If you have not already signed up for online booking, and have access to a computer, please be aware that the surgery is releasing more GP appointments to book online. Please bring photo ID with you to your surgery and the reception team can issue you with an online user name and password.
This will generally allow you to be able to book appointments online over the weekend for the next week, often for the next morning, and during the day too. However, please note that appointments are subject to availablity, issued on a first come first served basis, and for selected GP appointments only.
Online access for children under 10 years of age can be managed by a parent or legal guardian. Again please bring in photo ID (for the adult) to the surgery and we can generate log-in details.
Unfortunately we cannot offer on-line access to children over 10 years old and under 16 years of age.
Don't forget to inform the surgery if you have changed your mobile number, as we when we book appointments for you we automatically send out text confirmations. Similarly, if you haven't already provided us with your mobile number please let us know so we can update our records.
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