Keeping Sussex Safe

If you are eligible for the vaccine you can contact 03003 038060 or call 119 for your vaccination. Please do not contact the surgery. For further information on the vaccination please click on the link here. Thank You

> Read more about the latest guidance

Due to the corona virus pandemic, we have had to change the way our appointments work. In order for you to be directed to the most suitable appointment for you, our receptionists will ask you a series of questions. This is to ascertain the correct appointment for you. You will then be placed on a telephone list for either a GP to call back, or a face to face with either our nurse practitioner, nurse, health care assistant or phlebotomist depending or your medical need. The receptionists cannot currently book face to face appointments with a GP unless the have been asked to do so by the GP.

During your call with a GP they will assess the situation to see whether you will need to be seen in surgery as a face to face appointment or if it can be dealt with over the phone. If they feel a face to face appointment is necessary, they will take precautions, ask appropriate questions and wear full PPE for the appointment. 

Our telephone lines are open 8am until 6:30pm. As you can imagine our telephone lines are currently extremely busy. We advise patients that there is self help advice on our website, the NHS website and with regards to any COVID updates, the Governments website. Pharmacists can also be very knowledgeable and helpful. We also have e-consult for general advice. 

If you are asked to come into surgery you will be required to wear a mask or face covering. You will also be asked NOT to come to surgery if you are experiencing any symptoms of the corona virus such as a temperature, new cough or loss of taste. 

Doctor Appointments

Appointments with a doctor can be made up to two weeks in advance. Due to the current COVID restrictions these can only be made via the telephone. You can speak to any of our doctors at the surgery for a routine telephone consultation appointment. The doctor will ascertain from the telephone consultation whether a patient needs to be seen face to face and will book this appointment themselves. When a  face to face appointment is made with our doctors and nurses you will be asked to wear a mask to the surgery.  Appointments for nurses, health care assistant and blood tests appointments can be made several weeks in advance. 

Nurse, Health Care Assistant and Blood Test Appointments

We have practice nurses at the surgery every day. Our Health Care Assistant has clinics four days a week and our Phlebotomist (who takes blood) has clinics four mornings a week. You can book appointments for our Nurses, Health Care Assistant and Phlebotomist in advance. Please note that this is only a guide and subject to change due to staff leave or illness.

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.

Extended Hours Appointments 

This is a pre-bookable NHS service for GP and Nurse Appointments.  Bookings can be arranged via the surgery for all patients registered with Saltdean & Rottingdean Medical Practice.  These appointments are all telephone triage. Appointment times will be between 18:30 – 20:30 Monday to Friday and 08:00 – 14:00 on Saturdays.

Cancellation or amendments to extended hours appointments must be made via HERE only:

HERE Cancellation line: 07540 745730

HERE email: ehsBrighton@nhs.net

HERE website: www.extendedhoursservice.co.uk

SMS Service

We can now text you your appointment details. Please let the receptionist know your mobile phone number. You can also receive an appointment reminder, where possible, the day before your appointment. If you do not wish to receive this service, please let the receptionist know.

NON-COVID SICK NOTES

Patients need to self certificate for the first seven days of sickness. Please go to the government website here for further advice. You will need to have a consultation with a GP if you require a sick note beyond the self certification period. If you require further sick notes you will need to send us a request for this. You will need to complete an e-Consult which you will find on the left of this page – just click on GET STARTED. We need 48 hours to complete any requests. You will need to provide us with your name, date of birth, contact number, reason for the sick note request as well as the start and end date. We cannot issue a sick note before the last one runs out.

COVID SICK NOTES

People unable to work for more than seven days because of COVID-19 can obtain an isolation note through a new online service.

Isolation notes will provide employees with evidence for their employers that they have been advised to self-isolate due to COVID-19, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.

As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.

For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they don’t need any evidence for their employer. After that, employers may ask for evidence of sickness absence. Where this is related to having symptoms of COVID-19 or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.

People who need to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance because of COVID-19 will not be required to produce a fit note or an isolation note. The notes can be accessed online at https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note. After answering a few questions, an isolation note will be emailed to the user. If they don’t have an email address, they can have the note sent to a trusted family member or friend, or directly to their employer. The service can also be used to generate an isolation note on behalf of someone else.

It is absolutely vital we do everything we can to ease the burden on local healthcare professionals, allowing them to spend as much time as possible with those patients that need them most.

“Digital isolation notes will provide reassurance to those self-isolating and their employers while also reducing the pressure on our NHS, so they can continue doing all they can to protect the people of this country and save lives.”

The isolation note service can be accessed via the 111 online COVID-19 service or NHS.UK/coronavirus as well as via the NHS app

If you have any signs or symptoms of a UTI you will need to contact the surgery by telephone and bring a sample to the surgery by 11am. You will need to answer questions over the phone with regards to your symptoms which could be any of the following:

• fever
• cloudy urine
• painful/difficult urination
• getting up in the night to pee
• frequency
• urgency
• pain in side or above groin
• blood in urine 

The sample will need to arrive by 11. Depending on your age and symptoms the sample will either be dipped by a Nurse/HCA and/or sent to the laboratory for testing. You will be contacted with the results with either advice or to collect an antibiotic from the pharmacy. For further information please click on this Patient information leaflet if you are under 65. If you are over 65 please click on this Patient Information Leaflet  

If you are bringing a sample to surgery before 11 please print the form below and bring it with the sample. The sample will need to be in a sterile container. 

Urine Form Feb 2021

A number of posts are circulating on social media as well as within the media about the national data opt-out containing incorrect information. Please click on the link below which  looks at these claims and gives you the facts you need to make your choice.

https://digital.nhs.uk/services/national-data-opt-out/mythbusting-social-media-posts

If you still wish to opt out, please print out and complete the form below and send it to us either by emailing it to us to bhccg.g81076@nhs.net or by posting it in our post box outside of the surgery or by post. 

Type-1-opt-out-preferences

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible.

In this respect, if you do need a home visit you will need to contact the surgery BEFORE 11am on the day that you wish for the visit to take place.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls. The doctor will phone first before visiting. 

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Self-help – on line information, resources and tips about how to support your wellbeing.

Every Mind Matters

Click: Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Adult E-Wellbeing

Click: https://e-wellbeingadults.co.uk/

Support for young people

Rise above

Click: Rise Above

YMCA’s E-wellbeing Home

Click: Home – e-wellbeing

Sussex Mental Health line – provides direct support for mental wellbeing and signposting to other services.

Call 24/7: 0300 5000 101

Mental Health Rapid Response Service (MHRRS) provides support for adults (18+) experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you do not feel you are able to keep yourself safe, and do not need immediate medical assistance, you should contact the Mental Health Rapid Response Service which is able to offer immediate support.

Call 24/7: 0300 304 0078 – if the line is busy, an advice message will be given, anyone can refer.

Community Roots

Community Roots is a group of sixteen community groups working together to provide prevention, wellbeing and recovery support for people with a range of mental health issues. Support for carers and families is also available.

A Freephone Central Access Point phone number is operated by a team of Community Navigators who can guide people through the support available and provide professional advice.

To Self-refer Online Click: Community Roots

Call Monday to Friday 9-5pm: 0808 196 1768.

Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service

The wellbeing service supports people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. The service provides talking therapies to adults (18+) with mild to moderate depression, anxiety disorders and some trauma.

The Children and Young People’s (CYP) service provides a range of treatment for young people from 4-25 who require support for anxiety, low mood, stress and phobias. The service offers an open access Advice and Information Service to the public as well as to Wellbeing clients.

To Self-refer Online Click: Brighton and Hove Wellbeing Service

Call: 0300 002 0060

Email: bics.brighton-and-hove-wellbeing@nhs.net

Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT)

Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust is the specialist mental health service. Access to support is via GP and primary care team and other professional referral routes.

Click: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Suicide Awareness

Samaritans

Need someone to talk to?

Call: 116 123 (free number) or 01273 772277

Click: Preventing Suicide in Sussex

Grassroots Stay Alive App

A suicide prevention resource if you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.

Download the App: Stay Alive App – Grassroots Suicide Prevention (prevent-suicide.org.uk)

Bereaved by suicide?

Call: 07376 616628

Click: Sussexbereavedbysuicide@cruse.org.uk

Comprehensive online guides

Click: www.supportaftersuicide.org.uk/help-is-at-hand

Together Co

Together Co Support to navigate local services and make connections with people and places to support your health and wellbeing.

Click: Social Prescribing Brighton & Hove | Together Co

Call: 01273 229 382

Drug and Alcohol Services

Call: 01273 731900

Click or Email – Brighton and Hove Recovery Service | Change Grow Live

Brighton & Hove City Council

Brighton and Hove City Council provides support for social care, education, housing, finance and related public services.

Click: brighton-hove.gov.uk

Breakeven Sussex

Free gambling counselling

Click: breakeven.org.uk

Mental Health and Money

For practical advice, tips and a toolkit

Click: mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org

Mental health and debt guide

Click: The MoneySavingExpert.com guide to mental health and debt

Online money advice resources

Benefits Calculators

Turn2us – Click: Turn2us Benefits Calculator

Entitled2 – Click: Benefits Calculator – entitledto

Budgeting Tools

Policy in Practice – Click: betteroffcalculator.co.uk

Money Advice Service – Click: moneyhelper.org.uk

Every Mind Matters

Click: Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Local Debt and Money Advice

Money Advice Plus

Specialist debt and benefit advice, casework and support

Call: 01273 664 000

Click: moneyadviceplus.org.uk

Moneyworks

Here to help Brighton & Hove residents save money, make money and manage their money better. The services are for anyone who is struggling to make ends meet. Drop-ins and helpline support.

Call: 0800 988 7037

Click: advicebrighton-hove.org.uk

Citizens Advice Brighton and Hove

Provide free confidential and impartial advice

Call: 08082 78 78 15

Click: cabrightonhove.org

St Lukes Advice Service

Provides free advice, information and help with form filling in relation to debt, benefits and pension credit.

Call: 01273 549203

Click: stlukesadviceservice.org.uk

Possability People

Possability People Disability advice centre can help with disability advice, welfare benefits and a range of other issues. Can help with enquiries about;

Disability benefits (ESA, UC, PIP, AA, Carers Allowance, WTC).

• Disability benefits appeals
• Some pension credit enquiries
• Some Council Tax enquiries
• Fuel debt or changing fuel providers
• Utilities debt
• Information on equipment or assistive technology
• Accessible holidays
• Food bank referrals

Call: 01273 894050 Advisors are available by telephone, from 10am – 4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (closed Wednesdays).

If you are deaf or hard of hearing text us on 07718 42 42 14

Click: Advice for disabled people – Possability People

The Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse

Financial support for victims of domestic abuse.

Call: 01323 635 987

Click: moneyadviceplus.org.uk

Armed Forces Network

If you or a close member of your family have served or are serving in the UK Armed Forces there is help and support available

Call: 01273 403696

Click: Sussex Armed Forces Network

National Debt and Money Advice

Money Advice Service

Offers free and impartial money advice, set up by the government.

Call: 0800 138 7777

Type Talk: 18001 0800 915 4622

Whatsapp: 07701 342744

Click: moneyhelper.org.uk

StepChange

Online and telephone free, confidential debt advice

Call: 0800 138 1111

Click: StepChange.org

National Debtline

Free independent debt advice on the telephone or webchat and offer online tools

Call: 0808 808 4000

Click: tools.nationaldebtline.org

Debt Advice Foundation

Debt advice, tools and resources

Call: 0800 043 40 50

Click: debtadvicefoundation.org

Financial Hardship – support and advice

Community hub

If you need emergency help with food, energy bills and other essentials

Call: 01273 293 117 and select option 1. You will be directed to the Local Discretionary Social Fund.

Call: 01273 293 117 for queries relating to Covid-19, and select option 2. You will be directed to the Community Hub.

Call: 01273 293 117 If you are over 18, require food or shopping related support and can afford to pay for this, select option 3. You will be directed to Food Support at Impact Initiatives If you need help to stay safe and well.

Or if you need care and support, please call Access Point on 01273 295 555.

Click: brighton-hove.gov.uk to request help for yourself or someone else

Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

A not for profit organisation including community organisations, statutory agencies, local business and individual residents. Offering various community food projects, including community gardens, food sharing, food banks and free or low cost meals.

Brighton and Hove Food Partnership – We’re a non-profit organisation helping people learn to cook, eat a healthy diet, grow their own food and waste less food.

Click: bhfood.org.uk

Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project

Provides practical support, education and advice to those in poverty, poor living conditions or low incomes.

Call: 01273 671 213

Click: BUCFP

Impact YPC

City Centre space for drop-in support, affordable meals, activities, counselling, peer support

Call: 01273 887886

Click: impact-initiatives.org.uk

Discretionary Help and Advice

If you already claim benefits and need extra help to pay your Council Tax, home removal costs or rent in advance, our discretionary payments could help.

Call: 01273 292000

Click: brighton-hove.gov.uk

Help with your council tax account

Call: 01273 437792

Click: brighton-hove.gov.uk

Your welfare rights

Call: 01273 291116 Monday-Friday 10am-1pm

Click: brighton-hove.gov.uk

The Carers Centre have supported Carers in Brighton and Hove since 1988. They provide family carers with emotional support, advice and a well-deserved break from their caring role.

https://www.thecarerscentre.org/

Also for carers in East Sussex. The Carers Centre for East Sussex provides a one-stop shop for support, advice and guidance available to local carers.  They offer a wide range of services to meet different carers’ needs, and can help to navigate the maze of health and social care systems: 

https://www.cftc.org.uk/

Complaints

We make every effort to give the best service possible to everyone who attends our practice.

However, we are aware that things can go wrong resulting in a patient feeling that they have a genuine cause for complaint. If this is so, we would wish for the matter to be settled as quickly, and as amicably, as possible.

To pursue a complaint please contact the practice manager who will deal with your concerns appropriately. Further written information is available regarding the complaints procedure from reception.