Information on testing for Coronavirus
The Firs Dispensary will remain closed until further notice and all Firs patients will now be able to collect medication from the High Street Surgery Dispensary.
For Dispensing patients at the the Heathfield and Firs Surgeries:
Please note that due to high demand we cannot meet the 3 working days turnover from prescription to medication. Please allow 5 working days before trying collect your medication. We appreciate your support and understanding.
Please support Station Road and High Street Chemist Proctors. They now need 10 working days from the moment you put in your request to when you can collect your medication.
Proctors advises patients to call when they want their repeat prescriptions, that have been issued for 3 months to be dispensed. They will need 5 working days to get the medication ready.
Please note that you can still get support during the Covid-19 pandemic.
There is a national campaign, #YouAreNotAlone and local authorities and all agencies working in the East Sussex area want to ensure that you know that you can get support in a safe way. The local number for victims to contact for support is:
East Sussex – 0300 323 9985
Sussex Police have also provided a short information video
Heathfield Surgery, Heathfield, East Sussex are looking for an experienced dispenser/ pharmacy technician for 18 hour per week with scope for more hours.
Your main responsibilities will be ensuring the smooth running of the dispensary, dispensing medication effectively and safely, managing stock levels, dealing with deliveries and dealing with patient queries at the counter. You will assist with cash/card transactions. As every day is different you could find yourself being involved with everything from action as first point of contact for patients, managing high volumes of dispensing, to dealing with operational queries from GPs or local chemists.
Please phone the Surgery for more information and ask for the practice manager/drop in your CV at the Surgery or apply via Indeed.com
Important information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The NHS in High Weald Lewes and Havens and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to public as per normal.
The latest information on symptoms on Coronavirus, infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on: NHS.uk - Coronavirus (Covid-19)
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
Do NOT go to a GP Surgery, Pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
Like the common cold, Coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel Coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
Testing of suspected Coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP Surgeries, Pharmacies and Hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that comes into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
As of Monday 16 March we will no longer be booking appointments in the Surgery at the reception desk. All online appointments have been suspended.
All appointments will be telephone triaged and no face to face appointments will be booked with the GP prior to a telephone consultation.
If you require a nurse or HCA appointment the receptionist will ask relevant questions to determine whether attendance at the Surgery is safe for both you and our staff. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Repeat prescription requests need to be put through the letterbox unless you are already enabled for online repeat prescriptions. Dispensing patients can order and collect medication directly from the dispensary as usual.
The Heathfield and Firs Surgeries are offering ear syringing clinics. These clinics are twice a month, but please be aware that they book up quickly and you may need to wait for the next one. Please ask at reception. There are private clinics that will do ear syringing. The cost varies, but are usually around £75.
Please note that the surgery will be closed for staff training on the following afternoons in 2020:
For any medical emergencies during this time please call 999, and for any other general medical queries please call the out of hours service on 111. Apologies for any inconvenience caused
This year, our Patient Partipation Group have engaged in doing a survey on lost appointments. This has been very helpful and some great recommendations were made by our excellent group. Please read the findings of their survey.
Heathfield and Firs Surgeries are running a pilot for online booking of appointments for nurses and healthcare assistants, besides doctor's appointments. Please be reminded NOT to book on line for: Medicals, Baby checks, Post Natals, Coil Fits, Implanon/Nexplanon, Minor Ops, Cryotherapy, Travel vaccinations (we do NOT offer a travel clinic, but do offer the NHS injection Hep A&B, Typhoid & Tetanus), Blood Tests (All are done at the Firs Surgery), Wound Care.
These procedures need more time and/or special clinics and should be booked at reception or by phoning the Surgery.
Please note that only certain procedures can be done by a nurse or an Health Care Assistant. A nurse can see you for: Smear (20 minutes), Pill Check (10 Minutes), Hep A&B injection, Typhoid injection, Tetanus injection (10 minutes), Prostap or Zoladex injection (10 Minutes), Ear syringing: You will need to phone in and book into a clinic.
A Healthcare Assistant can see you for: INR check (10 minutes), Blood Pressure measurement (10 minutes), NHS Health Check (30 Minutes). You need to be between 40 and 74 years of age and not already have heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease or high blood pressure.)
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.
Did you know we have a Patient Participation Group?
As a patient of Heathfield and the Firs Surgery you may have a view on the things that matter in your local health service. Our Surgery’s Patient Participation Group is a selection of patients and practice staff who meet at regular intervals to decide ways to make a positive contribution to the services and facilities offered by the Practice.
Patient Group Page
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.
A friendly group offering support, advice and understanding for those affected by dementia. Meetings are the 1st Wednesday of each month at Heffle Court Willow Tea Shop, Station Road, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 8DR.
Please contact Fiona for further details
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