Steyning MEDICAL PRACTICE - 01903 843400

Email Alert System

Be the first to know - Steyning PPG together with the Steyning Medical Practice has an Email system that will send you the latest priority notices.

• COVID Vaccination information
• Health Centre Bulletins
• Changes to Appointment Bookings

Visit the Steyning PPG website or scan the QR Code on the right into your phone.

COVID-19 Vaccine weekly update - 21.01.2021

The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then.

Letter from the partners - COVID-19 Vaccination 19.01.2021

Dear All 

Just a quick update on the Covid Vaccination programme to let you know what is happening this week.  

The Chanctonbury PCN (comprising Steyning, Henfield, Billingshurst and The Glebe Practices) are on target to finish delivering the COVID vaccine to over 80 population by end of January. The Glebe surgery in Storrington is the designated hub for vaccination clinics and will remain the main site for ALL non-housebound patients to get their vaccine from at this time. We are working at being able to run the service from Steyning in the near future, but currently only one site per PCN is allowed to deliver the vaccine. We hope this will change in the next couple of weeks and will let you know if and when it does.  

Sussex Community Trust is currently leading on getting the vaccine to all the housebound patients in the area and are doing well with this. 

So far, 80% of our over 80's population have been done at The Glebe surgery in Storrington. They are doing an amazing job running the clinics and we can’t thank them enough. We continue to monitor those who haven’t yet had theirs and will contact them as soon as possible about an appointment.  In the rest of West Sussex approximately 55% of the over 80's have been done, so we are well on track and doing very well locally.  

All care homes in our PCN area have now been vaccinated. 

Nationally, the programme has opened up to next cohort including over 70 year olds and the Shielded patients, but priority is still to complete the over 80 and NHS/care staff. We have a list of who is eligible and will begin calling people in turn when there is space. The hospital sites responsible for vaccinating staff have unfortunately closed their booking website link but hope to reopen soon. 

Rapid progress is being made but it is still a hugely complicated and time-consuming task. We thank you for your patience and co-operation. As before, PLEASE don't call the practice to ask re vaccination. There is a process in place and our reception team cannot bypass it for your, nor book your vaccination until you are specifically contacted. Calling us only slows the process down and interferes with our routine work also.  

Please be aware of this scam:

We are aware that some patients are receiving fraudulent calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination. In some cases, people are asked to press a number on their keypad or to send a text message to confirm they wish to receive the vaccine. Doing so is likely to result in a charge being applied to their phone bill. In other cases, callers are offering the vaccine for a fee or asking for bank details. We are working with community partners and the media to warn people to be alert to these scams.

The advice is that vaccine is only available from the NHS and the NHS will contact you when it is your turn. At present, appointments are only being offered to members of the public over 80 years old. If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.

Seasonal flu vaccinations

We now have stock of flu vaccine for those at-risk under 65 years, please call us on 01903 843400 to book. Thank you for your patience.

If you are 65 or over, pregnant, are on the NHS COVID-19 shielding list or have certain medical conditions, you are entitled to a free flu vaccination.

In light of the risk of flu and COVID-19 circulating together this winter, flu immunisation will be essential to protect vulnerable people and to support the resilience of the NHS. If you do not usually take up the offer of flu vaccination we would strongly encourage you to consider attending this year, to help protect yourself, the public and the NHS. 

Important information about coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please do not present at the medical practice if you have any of the following: a new cough, a high temperature (above 37.8 c), if you have been in contact with anyone with coronavirus or think that you might have Coronavirus.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

See the latest information on symptoms of coronovirus infection from the NHS

NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can give advice and tell you if you need to seek medical help.

To request a COVID-19 test, please Ring 119 or visit the Government Self-Referral website. 

We are unable to give self-isolation sick notes. If you are isolating and your employer requires one, you can download from the NHS111 isolation-note page.

This is an evolving situation and the advice has changed based on emerging information. We will update our website as further guidance becomes available. Further information can be found on the Public Health England website.

Your COVID Recovery

If you find yourself recovering from COVID-19 you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body and mind. These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help.

Your COVID Recovery helps you to understand what has happened and what you might expect as part of your recovery.

Appointments

We are currently open between 8.00am and 6.30pm only.

Due to current concerns regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19), with effect from today we will be operating a full telephone triage system.

If you need to see a doctor, a nurse or arrange a blood test, please telephone the surgery and the receptionist will put your name on a list for one of the clinical team to call you back. We can also currently only offer telephone advice for online booking.

PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE HEALTH CENTRE unless you have been contacted first by one of the clinical team.

If you have a routine appointment that has already been booked, and you develop a fever or a new continuing cough, or feel that you have symptoms of Coronavirus infection, please do not come to the Health Centre, but telephone the Practice for advice.

Attending your APPOINTMENT

If you are advised to attend for an appointment, please arrive at your allocated time and use the intercom at the front door to speak to a receptionist.  Once your clinician has put on the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), they will come to collect you from the front of the building. You will be given a mask to wear.

Please bear in mind that you will need to wait for your appointment outside the Practice and you will not be able to use the waiting room, so please wear suitable clothing for the weather. We kindly ask that you attend the appointment alone. If you are bringing a child to an appointment, we ask that only one parent accompanies them. We apologise for any difficulties that this may cause, we are taking these measures to protect our staff and patients. Thank you for your patience and understanding at this challenging time.

NOTICE OF PRACTICE CLOSURES

We are occasionally closed for training events.  See dates and further details of upcoming closures for staff training.

NEW NHS APP

If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

If you already use SystmOnline, you can continue to use it. You can alternatively use the NHS App. View more information about the NHS App.

Our cqc report