Welcome to
Rotherfield Surgery and The Brook Health Centre
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Rotherfield Surgery Rotherfield East Sussex TN6 3QW
Appointments: 01892 853288 Enquiries/Emergencies: 01892 852415 Fax: 01892 853499 |
The Brook Health Centre Crowborough Hill Crowborough East Sussex TN6 2ED
Appointments: 01892 652255 Enquiries/Emergencies: 01892 652850 Fax: 01892 654111 |
PARKING AT ROTHERFIELD SURGERY:
We realise that parking can be difficult at times, but we would like to politely remind patients that access to Court Meadow (at the top of the car park) must be clear at all times.
In addition, please refrain from parking alongside the fence adjacent to the field, as this land is not owned by the partners of the practice and you do risk receiving a parking ticket from the owners of the land.
New Provider Information
Dear Rotherfield and Brook Patients,
General Practice, like most of the NHS, has been under a lot of pressure over the last few years. We at Brook and Rotherfield have decided to do something to address the situation and secure the future of the practice.
A new NHS organisation has been set up locally; it is called Sussex Primary Care. SPC was set up to provide support for general practices in the Sussex area and is part of a larger NHS organisation – Sussex Community Trust.
Being part of a large NHS organisation will ensure that both surgeries stay open for the long run.
SPC is an NHS provider providing NHS services funded by the NHS to NHS registered patients. SPC is not a profit-generating private company.
Our aim is to become part of Sussex Primary Care (SPC) in the spring/summer of 2021.
What that means is:
- The practice stays open in its existing premises.
- The previous 2-year lease at the Rotherfield site has been extended to 10 years securing the longer term future if services in Rotherfield.
- We carry on providing our services for you in the same way that we do now.
- All of the staff - doctors including partners, nurses, admin – carry on working but become employees of SPC.
- We get help, advice and support from a larger NHS organisation (SPC), to help us deal with the pressures we – and all local surgeries – are facing.
We feel very positive about this and hope this reassures you that the practice will continue to stay open, providing services as it does now and that you will not notice much difference.
However, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
sc-tr.sussexprimarycare@nhs.net
or call: 01273 265800
and a member of the SPC team will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.
Please feel free to share this widely amongst other patients in the area.
Best wishes,
Dr Davies, Dr Golton and Dr Hester.
Covid Vaccinations
12/04/21 - AZ Blood clotting information link to the goverment website
08 April 2021 - NHS is urging people to continue to attend vaccination appointments
The NHS in Sussex is calling for people to continue to attend booked vaccination appointments, and book your appointment as soon as it is your turn.
It comes after the Government updated the advice about who should receive the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccination yesterday.
As a detailed review takes place into reports of a very rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, it has been announced that it is preferable for people under the age of 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered an alternative vaccine where possible once they are eligible.
The condition remains extremely rare; around four people develop this condition for every million doses of the vaccine doses given.
There appears to be a higher risk in people who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine and that is why the position has been updated.
People who have already received one vaccination are encouraged to attend their appointment for their second dose, and make sure they receive the full long lasting protection.
The problem can also happen in people who have not been vaccinated and it's not yet clear why it affects some people.
The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus.
People are advised to call 111 immediately if they have received their vaccination and start to get any of these symptoms starting from around 4 days to 4 weeks after being vaccinated:
- a severe headache that is not relieved with painkillers or is getting worse
- a headache that feels worse when you lie down or bend over
- a headache that's unusual for you and occurs with blurred vision, feeling or being sick, problems speaking, weakness, drowsiness or seizures (fits)
- a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin
- shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal (tummy) pain
The NHS says the benefits of the vaccination, outweighs any risk and everyone should attend their appointment.
A Government spokesperson said:
“The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, effective and has already saved thousands of lives.
“As the MHRA – the UK’s independent regulator – and the JCVI have said, the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks for the vast majority of adults.
“Everybody who has already had a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should receive a second dose of the same brand, irrespective of age, except for the very small number of people who experienced blood clots with low platelet counts from their first vaccination.
“The government will follow today’s updated advice, which sets out that, as a precaution, it is preferable for people under the age of 30 with no underlying health conditions to be offered an alternative vaccine where possible once they are eligible.
“When people are called forward, they should get their jab. Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19.”
Read more about the latest update and what people should do.
Find out more about the Sussex vaccination programme - www.sussexhealthandcare/get-my-jab
Update 23/03/21
The practice is now starting to contact patients to book in their second COVID vaccine. Please bear with us while we start this process. If you have a mobile phone please contact the surgery to update your record so we can text you a link to book via AccuBook. Please do not call the practice about your second vaccine we will call you when we get the vaccine in stock. Thank you for your co-operation
Covid-19 vaccination update 12 March 2021
I am delighted to report that we have now managed to invite every patient who fall into Cohorts 1 – 6 and the uptake for the vaccine has been very encouraging. Data published by NHS England today shows that 613,879 vaccinations had been delivered across Sussex by Sunday 7 March.
We are aware that NHS England have been writing or emailing patients in cohorts 7 & 8 (all people age 60 or older and people over 55) inviting them to one of the mass vaccination centres. In addition, we as a practice are currently inviting patients in cohort 9 (people over 50) to attend our PCN vaccination site based in Crowborough.
In short, all patients aged over 50 should have received an invite from either us or NHS England. Our invites are to attend our PCN site in Crowborough and the NHSE invites are to attend one of the mass vaccination centres. Any patients who have received an invite through NHSE are welcome to book through our PCN site by calling the practice. However, if you have already booked an appointment through one of the other sites then you are unable to cancel and re-book through us.
Please be advised that we are currently waiting for advice from our PCN, CCG and NHSE regarding the 2nd vaccination programme, please do not call the practice for advice on this, we will contact all patients as we did with the 1st vaccine, either by phone or text message.
This programme has been a massive undertaking and I would like to pay thanks to my staff for their continuous hard work and support. In addition, we would like to thank our PCN vaccination site “Saxonbury House Surgery” in Crowborough for the incredible work they have put in ensuring our community are vaccinated.
Update 03/02/21
NEW! COVID VACCINATIONS INVITATIONS
We are now sending invites from the surgery - If you have been sent a text to invite you for your COVID vaccination at Crowborough - please click on the link to book.
Venue and important Information:
Venue address: Saxonbury House Surgery, Croft Road, Crowborough, TN6 1DL
- Do not book an appointment if you have had any other vaccination in the past 7 days
- Do not book an appointment if you have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 28 days
- Please DO NOT arrive early for your appointment, arrive at your given time or you may have to queue
- Park in Waitrose Car Park (FREE)
- Please DECLINE the appointment if you do not wish to be vaccinated or have already been vaccinated
- If for any reason you cannot attend the appointment, please contact us at Rotherfield Surgery and The Brook Health Centre – 01892 652255 so we can arrange an alternative appointment as and when one becomes available
- Wear short sleeves so the vaccinators can access your arm easily
- Be prepared to provide emergency contact details should you be asked
NHSE have given practices a list of priorities for the Vaccination and full details are available at:
The surgery is now working on Group 4. Earlier groups, the practice has tried to contact you to arrange an appointment and were unsuccessful, please call the surgery to update your contact details and to inform us if you still wish to be vaccinated.
Thank you for your help
All health and care workers in Sussex are able to book a vaccination at one of the six hospital-based vaccination sites across Sussex. This includes:
- All NHS staff from primary (including general practice and general dental practice), community and secondary care.
- Staff of independent and third sector health providers.
- Care and care home staff in public, private and not for profit sectors
Health and Care workers can follow the link below to book an appointment:
Mass Vaccination Sites/Hubs
Sites in the surrounding area have now come live and you may be contacted via letter or telephone.
You may receive a letter inviting you to make an appointment at one of these sites and if you are able to travel to the site you may wish to make an appointment as you may get the vaccine sooner than if you wait for a call from the surgery. You do not have to attend a mass vaccination site - this is your choice.
If you decide to book an appointment please be assured that all the information and details of your vaccination will be sent to your GP in due course so your records will be updated.
If you decide not to book an appointment at one of these sites we will still be contacting you when we have appointment that is available for you.
Attending the Surgery
Due to the increase in positive COVID cases the surgery doors will now be locked, but we are open. A member of the reception team will speak with you through the window and ask you COVID related questions and take your temperature before allowing you into the building. We have not taken this decision lightly, we want to protect staff and patients. With the door locked please knock on the window to gain someones attention. We appreicate your co-operation during this difficult time. Remember if the door is locked during opening hour we are OPEN. We will now be asking patients to wear face masks/coverings when attending the surgery. We thank you for your co-operation and understanding.
Coronavirus Patient Information
Following advice from NHS England, Public Health, the government and the local CCG, the surgery has made the decision to put some extra measures to minimise the risk to staff, patients and their families. We have been advised to postpone all non-essential work. The following must be adhered to:-
- Under no circumstances are patients or their representatives to attend the surgery in the first instance.
- All contact must initially be via the telephone, please bear with us as we answer your calls we are trying our best to have as many staff as possible to answer the calls.
- If any patients are showing symptoms of a high temperature (37.8 or higher) or have a continuous cough, you are to self-isolate for 7 days. There is no need to contact 111 unless your symptoms are not manageable at home. If you require a COVID-9 test please visit this website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/. All members of your household are to self-isolate for 14 days.
- If you need to speak/see a clinician you will be booked a telephone appointment in the first instance. If appropriate the clinician will organise a video call or/and a face to face appointment
- When waiting for your appointment please sit away from other patients where possible.
- If repeat prescriptions are needed, patients must use the online facility or call POD (Prescription Ordering Direct) free on 0808 1647678 opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am-4pm for further information please visit their wbsite on on the link provided POD https://www.eastsussexccg.nhs.uk/your-care/medicines-and-pharmacies/prescription-ordering-direct-pod/
- Prescriptions must be collected from your pharmacy, please ensure that you have updated the surgery or POD with your preferred pharmacy. Paper prescriptions will not be issued. Phase 4 will soon be in place which means that all prescriptions will go electronically except for control drugs. You will be given a token to take to a pharmacy if you do not have a nominated pharmacy. Please inform reception which pharmacy you would prefer your prescriptions to go to.
- Appointments with the nurses will be face to face and telephone appointments, the nursing team will contact you before your appointment to ensure you are symptom free and if they can deal with your appointment over the telephone.
- Anyone attending the surgery will be asked some questions and your temperature will be taken before being allowed into the practice, please read our signs on entering the surgery. Please do not lean over the desk and respect the personal space of staff.
- Hand sanitising must be completed before entering and leaving the surgery as a minimum
- All patients who visit the practice will now be required to wear a face covering
- All online appointments have been suspended
For futher information please see the link to the NHS website
