Covid Vaccinations
Updated 13/12/21
Message to our patients – update on the COVID-19 booster programme
Across Sussex the NHS and its partners are working extremely hard to roll out the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme to our communities.
All adults are eligible from Monday 13 December, and you will be able to book via the National Booking System from Wednesday 15 December.
You can book your booster for 3 months from the date of second vaccine, and you can access the National Booking System to book the appointment from 2 months.
We are working at pace to increase the availability of appointments so that there are plenty of options for people on the National Booking System. Some local vaccination services will also contact patients directly.
New appointments are being added every day across our vaccination services. We have been offering more than 80,000 appointments a week and in the last two weeks we have increased the number of available appointments by more than 10,000 a week. Further availability will come online from Wednesday 15 December.
We will be working with all of our sites to take further steps to increase what they can offer again, including opening later and on more days.
All of these appointments will be added to the National Booking System and so we encourage everyone who is aged 18 and over, is yet to have their booster and who is approaching 3 months from your second vaccine to use the National Booking System to arrange your appointment when you are able to do so.
In terms of any planned appointments with us, there are no changes at the current time and everyone should attend your planned appointments as normal. If we need to make any changes, we will contact you directly.
See more about the vaccination programme in Sussex, including the vaccination services: COVID-19 vaccinations – Sussex Health & Care Partnership (sussexhealthandcare.uk)
Update 7th June 2021
For patients who received their 1st AstraZeneca vaccine at the surgery between 19th March and 25th March we bought forward their second dose appointments to week commencing 17th May, as per Government guidelines. If you were not able to attend an earlier appointment and were due your 2nd dose appointment at the surgery between 7th-10th June then you can still attend your original appointment as long as you attend at the same time/day as your original appointment was scheduled for.
Covid Vaccination update 14/05/21
Covid Vaccine Questions
There is now a phone number that patients can call if they have enquiries regarding the Covid Vaccination Program which is 0800 433 4545 which is open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
You can also visit the following link which provides answers to frequently asked questions.
https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccination-programme/faqs-about-the-covid-19-vaccine/
You can also email your queries to the following address vaccineenquiries@nhs.net
New – over 40’s
From this week over 40’s are eligible to receive their Covid Vaccination and can book an appointment by visiting:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/
You will be able to book appointments for both doses and be given a choice of times/dates or Call 119
Covid Vaccinations 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
Health and Care Workforce Covid Vaccinations 12/1/2021
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 appreciate 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.
eConsult will be going live on 8/4/2020, to find out more Patient facing video with subtitles
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.
- Prescriptions must be collected from your pharmacy, please ensure that you have updated the surgery 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
- The staff would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding
For further information please see the link to the NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
