In line with guidance from NHS England, all patients and visitors will be required to wear a mask or face covering when attending the practice.  Thank you for your co-operation.

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We are writing to inform you of potential changes to our GP service which will ensure you continue to receive high quality care now and in the future. 

The partners at Heathfield Surgery & Mid Downs Medical Practice are proposing to come together to form a single organisation, while keeping their existing surgeries open.

Under the proposal, the practices will continue to provide GP services in their original locations and patients will still be able to book appointments with their current doctor. The intention is for the premises to remain unchanged with services delivered from both sites but operating under a shared management team. 

There is no need for patients registered at either surgery to do anything, your care will continue as usual and your access to services will continue uninterrupted.

The partners at Heathfield Surgery & Mid Downs Medical Practice are confident that they will work well together and will benefit from a larger workforce as the two practice teams come together. The plans to merge means all patients will have access to a wider range of services and a choice of which surgery they would like to attend for face-to-face appointments.

We understand that you may have suggestions or questions about the proposed merger, and we would like to hear from you, please visit our websites to read the FAQs or find a printed copy in the surgery. If you have any feedback or concerns, please use contact details below:

• By email to sxicb-esx.newick@nhs.net
• By leaving a message on 01825 722272 option 3

Yours sincerely,

The Partners of Heathfield Surgery & Mid Downs Medical Practice

For further information, please see FAQ's by clicking the link below:

Merger FAQs

If you are eligible for vaccination against seasonal flu, we are starting clinics from September.

· For patients aged 65 and over clinics will commence from 19th September

· For patients under 65 clinics will commence from 17th October

Please contact the practice on 01825 722272, after 10am, to book your appointment.

Please note - your completed form may be reviewed by our eHub prior to forwarding to the appropriate member of admin or clinical staff to manage your request. 

An eHub is a team of admin and clinical staff, employed by the practices to manage online consultations/enquiries. Your enquiry will be triaged and referred to the appropriate service or clinician to ensure you receive the care and/or service that you need in a timely manner. 

Scarlet fever – advice for parents and carers

Scarlet fever, or ‘Strep A’, is caused by bacteria called group A streptococci (strep).

Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. Therefore, look out for symptoms in your child, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel.

On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually, but will have a sandpapery feel.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP practice if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia.

If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

In very rare occasions, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive Group A strep (iGAS). While still uncommon, there has been an increase in invasive Group A strep cases this year, particularly in children under 10, and sadly a small number of deaths which are being investigated.

It is important to mention that there are lots of viruses that cause sore throats, colds and coughs this time of year. In most cases, these infections will be a mild illness and can be treated at home. These should resolve without medical intervention. If you do need advice, your community pharmacy is a great first port of call for minor health issues. However, children can on occasion develop a bacterial infection on top of a virus and that can make them more unwell.

As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.

Contact NHS 111 or your GP practice if:

· your child is getting worse

· your child is feeding or eating much less than normal · your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration

· your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher

· your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty

· your child is very tired or irritable.

Call 999 if:

· your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs

· there are pauses when your child breathes

· your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue

· your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake.

Good hand and respiratory hygiene are important for stopping the spread of many bugs. By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading infections.

What you need to know – advice for parents and carers this winter

This is the first winter without pandemic restrictions in two years, and you and your children may be more susceptible to the usual winter bugs and viruses this year.

Winter bugs and viruses are usually mild, but can sometimes become more serious, particularly in younger children or if an infection spreads to a vulnerable family member.

There are several common infections that your child might pick up over the winter period. In most cases, these infections will be a mild illness and can be treated at home. However, in some cases they might get worse and require medical help.

Some common infections include:

Flu

Flu can be an unpleasant illness in children causing a fever, stuffy nose, dry cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints, and extreme tiredness. This can last several days or longer.

In most cases, flu will be a mild illness in children.

Some children can get a very high fever, sometimes without the usual flu symptoms, and may need to go to hospital for treatment. Serious complications of flu include a painful ear infection, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia. The best way for your child to avoid flu, to ensure your child is vaccinated against flu. Learn more about the flu symptoms to look out for and who to contact, as well as vaccination.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common winter virus which affects children under the age of two.

Most cases are not serious and cause mild coughs and colds.

It is also the most common cause of bronchiolitis infants. Bronchiolitis can make breathing harder and cause difficulty feeding.

RSV can be more severe in premature babies, babies under 2 months and infants with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection. Breathing in cigarette smoke also increases the risk of a child getting bronchiolitis, so it is important not to smoke around your child. Learn more about the bronchiolitis symptoms to look out for and who to contact if you have concerns.

Scarlet Fever

Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious and levels are higher than normal this year. Therefore, look out for symptoms in your child, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a characteristic fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel.

Contact your GP practice or NHS 111 if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia.

If your child has Scarlet Fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.

Getting help and advice

As a parent, you may know if your child seems seriously unwell and should trust your own judgement.

You should contact your GP practice or call 111 if:

· your child has had a cold and is getting worse

· your child is feeding or eating much less than normal · your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration

· your baby is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38C, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39C or higher

· your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty

· your child is very tired or irritable

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

· your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs

· there are pauses when your child breathes · your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue

· your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

By teaching your child how to wash their hands properly with soap for 20 seconds, using a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes, and keeping away from others when feeling unwell, they will be able to reduce the risk of picking up, or spreading, many bugs. An e-bug resources for Early Years can help you to explain to your child what good hygiene habits are, how they can practice them and why they are important.

CPCS FAQs

What is this new service about?

When you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist at a location most convenient to you. Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the country.

Why are you doing this?

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you. This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

What happens when I see the community pharmacist?

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you. You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them. Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you an over- the-counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records. If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital emergency department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

What if the patient is my child?

Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.

Why is this a good thing for patients?

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you. Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. Nearly four out of five people (78%) who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.