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 from the 1st of October 2020 the Firs Dispensary will re-open.
Please order all your medication from the Firs, and if you are a dispensing patient and have ordered medication AFTER 1st October 2020, please collect your medication from the Firs Dispensary.
Thank you for bearing with us during this difficult time.
New opening times are:
Monday - Friday: 08:15-13:45
Due to an unexpected delay, the car park will be out of action from 8th September to the end of the month whilst roof repairs are carried out. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Flu vaccinations are available and different clinics have been set up. Please book on 01435 864999, option 3. If the line is busy, you will not be connected but have to try again later.
There are flu clinics during the week and for now there are two Saturday Flu Clinics:
Saturday 10/10: 8.30-1.30pm
Saturday 7/11/20: 8.30-1.30
In line with NHS England Covid guidance the Heathfield and Firs Surgeries have moved over to "total telephone triage" during the pandemic. As we open the doors to more patients on a face to face basis we would like to ask you to continue to help allow us to do this in as safe a way as possible, by wearing masks and using the hand sanitiser provided.
We are very limited in the number of the patients we can safely accommodate inside the surgery to comply with social distancing. Please can you prepare for the weather as although we will do our best to prioritise the vulnerable if needed to wait inside depending on numbers you may need to wait outside for a period!
We are aware that phone traffic is very heightened at the moment as the front desk is not able to deal with the usual queries and appointment bookings-this is due to Covid regulations to reduce footfall in the surgery. If you are calling for results and queries it is helpful if you can do this late morning or afternoons if possible to free up the phone lines for those wishing to book appointments in the morning.
Our staff working tirelessly to keep our service running as efficiently as possible, and we are so grateful for their efforts as we adapt to the rapidly changing guidance.
We would like to thank you all our patients for helping keep the surgery as safe a place as possible.
Ordering your medication has returned to normal monthly ordering. You will need to order your repeat medication either online, via the repeat medication slip or by writing to the surgery with needed medication and including Name, Address and DOB. You can drop this into our letterbox at the High Street.
For dispensing pts: Please allow 5 working days from the day you have ordered your medication before collecting it from the Surgery. You will no longer receive a text message to say that your medication is ready.
For Pharmacy patients: please check with your Pharmacy.
Opening times:
AM: 08:45-12:30
PM: 14:00-18:30
Please allow 5 working days before trying collect your medication.
We are no longer able to text or call patients to advise their medication is ready, so please wait 5 days from submitting your request before coming in to collect.
Patient Participation Group
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.
Please follow this link to learn more about testing: Information on testing for Coronavirus
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
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:
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.
EAR SYRINGING CLINICS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY HALTED DUE TO COVID-19.
Under normal circumstances The Heathfield and Firs Surgeries would over offer ear syringing clinics every two weeks. There are private clinics that are available to do ear syringing. The cost varies, but are usually around £75.
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.
Prescriptions Advice
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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