Archives for October 2018

The NHS spends an estimated £569 million every year on prescribing medicines that can be bought over the counter without a prescription.

NHS England and Coastal West Sussex CCG have asked surgeries to encourage their patients to consider purchasing medication over the counter where possible. Medicines from the pharmacy are generally cheaper than a prescription charge. Please note that even if you get free prescriptions you are not automatically exempt from this guidance.

You do not need to make an appointment to speak to the pharmacist, just pop in anytime and they will be happy to help you. Community pharmacists have the knowledge and skills to help and advise you on treating common conditions and how to use medicines.

A list of pharmacies in the area is available here www.nhs.uk/chemist

Further information on self-care for different conditions can be found here:

http://stlawrencesurgery-worthing.nhs.uk/self-help-advice/​

If at any time you are concerned about your condition you should contact the local pharmacist or the surgery for more advice.

Please contact the surgery for further advice on 01903 222900.

This policy also has the support of the St Lawrence Surgery Patient Participation Group.

From 01 October, GP and nurse appointments are now available during the evening and at the weekend for people across Coastal West Sussex.

This means that urgent appointments are available up to 8pm during the week, and during clinics on a Saturday and Sunday.

This aims to improve access to GP appointments and help local people to get the help and support they need.

The service is run by Innovations in Primary Care (IPC), a not-for-profit company owned by local GP practices.

The appointments will be available at local GP access hubs, run from GP surgeries, and they will be both routine and urgent appointments with a doctor, nurse or healthcare professional.

The teams will see new illnesses when you urgently need to see a health professional, and offer planned appointments such as family planning and smear tests that can be hard to arrange whilst at work or when you are caring for family or a loved one.

IPC has been running the MIAMI clinics in Adur and Worthing for the last three years, which has offered a very similar service, offering help for ‘Minor Injury Assessment & Minor Illnesses’.

These clinics have been successful and helped local people to access the help they need outside of normal opening times.

We hope that this roll out of the hubs across the whole of Coastal West Sussex will mean that all patients registered with a GP practice in our area can benefit.

You book into the GP access hubs via your normal GP practice, and you may be offered an appointment at one of the hubs at the weekend if you call NHS 111 for urgent health advice and support.

The hubs may be at your GP practice or they may be at a neighbouring GP practice locally in the community around you.

The teams will have access to your medical records with your consent, and any care they provide will be added to your notes so your GP practice can continue any ongoing care.

Patients can book into these appointments by calling your registered GP practice in the normal way, and they will be able to access the booking system and make sure you receive the help and support you need.