Carers Support Service

Ann Boss, Carers Support Worker visits the Practice on a weekly basis.  She can be left a message at the surgery or can be contacted at her office on 0300 028 8888.

If you look after someone that could not manage without help, partner, relative, child, neighbour or friend who has a long term illness or is disabled or frail then the Carers Support Service is here to help you.

Please let your doctor, nurse or reception know and they will put you in touch with the service so you don’t miss out on services, support, advice and benefits available that could help you.

Website: www.carerssupport.org.uk 

Also you can visit their facebook @CarersWSussex for more peer to peer support.

Private Work Fees

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates
• Simple certificates of fact

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 

Our practice nurses are available by appointment to offer medical advice regarding travel and vaccinations where appropriate. Please telephone reception to book an appointment. 

Our nurses can provide travel health advice and arrange for appropriate immunisations. Please arrange an appointment for a travel consultation at least 6-8 weeks before departure if possible. Vaccines need time to take effect and some may require a course over several weeks.

Select the region you are travelling to find out more.

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Carribean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

Patients are able to self-refer for certain services:

Physiotherapy

You can now refer yourself to physiotherapy without seeing the GP. Physiotherapists treat a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions such as joint pains, spinal pain, arthritis management, rehab following surgery, and sports injuries. Following a thorough assessment and discussion with yourself, the physiotherapy team use a combination of approaches such as advice and education, exercise, and manual therapy. Please note you have to be over seventeen to use the physiotherapy self-referral service.

You may be offered the most appropriate appointment for your condition and circumstances which may be a one-to-one appointment, a class or group, or you may be assessed and managed over the telephone. To refer yourself via the website please click on the following link: www.sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk/physiotherapy.

You will need your NHS number to complete the forms below. Please ask at reception for your NHS number or for help finding it, visit our page about finding your NHS number.

• MSK Self- referral form
• MSK Self-referral form – Large print

Time To Talk

Time to talk are friendly, approachable services offering talking therapies to people who are struggling with stress, worry and anxiety, depression, panic attacks and agoraphobia, phobias, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, health anxiety, postnatal depression, low esteem or self confidence, relationship difficulties and bereavement or reaction to loss. View the online self-referral form for Time to Talk.

For those over eighteen suffering with COPD, diabetes or cardiac condition, Time To Talk is a self-referral service for patients who need support coming to terms with their condition and/or managing their illness. Please phone the helpline on 01273 666480, or go to the website www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/ttt and click on the red ‘click here to self-refer’ button.

If your doctor has referred you to a specialist for further care you will be asked to book your appointment using the ‘NHS e-Referral’ system.

You will receive a letter from us within 2 weeks giving details of how to book your appointment and any passwords you may need.

To track your e-Referral you will need the following details to log into the e-Referral website:

• Your date of birth
• Reference number – this will be on the first page of your letter
• Password – this will be on the second page of your letter

Track an e-Referral

In some instances your GP may refer you for a specialist opinion via the Referral Support Service.

What happens now?

Potential steps may include:

• Your GP may have a conversation, either in person or electronically, with a Specialist. In some cases the Specialist can provide your GP with advice on treatment options or tests, and in other cases an appointment would be more suitable for you.
• If you need an appointment the hospital will write to you.

Not all request for Specialist opinion require you to visit hospital. The local NHS is committed to enabling easy communication between GPs and Specialists to ensure your care is provided closest to your home whenever possible.

For more information about referrals:

• https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngalnd/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/gp-referrals.aspx
• Sussex Health & Care and NHS Sussex (ics.nhs.uk)
• https://www.nhs.uk/pages/home.aspx

If you have a query about your referral, please call:

01293 300270 every Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.