Bridgeside Surgery Newsletter: Spring 2024

Open day

We were delighted to see so many patients at our open day in October and would like to thank everyone that attended and hope they found it useful.  We also extend our thanks to all those that helped make the day a success; your Patient Participation Group (PPG), Nusrat Ghani MP, Councillor Gerard Fox, Hailsham Active, MSK, Oneyou, Holding Space and TCV.

Patient access to medical information

From 1st November 2023 all patients in England should be able to access their GP health record through the NHS App.  To get full prospective access to your records please go to our website and complete the online form, or ask at reception if you prefer to use paper. We have opted to allow access on an individual patient request, access has not automatically been switched on for all patients to ensure safety and confidentiality.

Patient triage system 

We have been trialling a triage system over recent months on different days to see if this helps with patient access. It involves completing a questionnaire electronically and sending it to the triage GP who then allocates it to the relevant person to consult with.  This has worked well in most cases and although we need to review a few areas it is something that we will be looking to commence later in the year after the winter pressures have eased and the way ahead is clearer.

Telephone update

We will be updating our telephone system.  This will allow patients to be called back if the queue reaches a pre-determined number of calls waiting.  You will then have the option for us to call you (in the order you were originally in) without having to wait on the phone.  We are hoping this will help to reduce frustration when calling the surgery and is in response to recent feedback from the GP patient survey.

NHS App – repeat prescriptions

We would encourage patients to download this app which will allow you to see parts of your health record e.g. test results and consultations. It also allows you to order repeat medication. It is sent directly for the doctor to sign and does not need staff to input your request. This can also be accessed from your home computer. 

Website

Please take a look at our website which has self help zones.

This directs you to accessible services locally without having to see your GP.  You can also email us for any routine matters via the website or register as a new patient. It is regularly updated with current news, opening times and what to do if we are closed. Please use the NHS app link to order repeat medication.

It also shows results of our Friends and Family questionnaire (showing 81% of patients scored us as very good), however the GP patient survey showed that only half our patients find it easy to get through to us on the phone, we have therefore taken the decision to install a new system where patient call back is offered which has had very positive feed back in other surgeries. To see the full results of the surveys please go to our website. There is also a patient accessibility menu where you can select large print, dyslexia friendly format and translate into other languages.

Hearing loop

We have hearing loop in the practice and also offer BSL language interpreters for booking and consultations.

Patient Participation Group

We had an interesting meeting in January with South Downs Health and Care joining us for the first part.  Patients requested that there was better signage for future Covid clinics and have offered assistance in ushering patients at future clinics if needed.  They explained some of the services they offer and have the Hampden Park Hearing Friendly status recently achieved. Please leave feedback on the South Downs Health and Care website if you have used their services.

Recently launched is their menopause clinics on Saturday mornings, please call the surgery on 441234 if you would like to be referred to this. They are planning on two clinics each month and it is specifically for Hailsham patients.

The poster below will give you more information on some free to access courses which you may find useful and recently attended by our Chair:

Feedback from our Chair, Ralph Olesen on the above sleep well course

From a recent attendance at a PPG forum meeting in Polegate, I picked up this flyer and feeling the need to improve my current sleep patterns, duly registered for this 5 session (each Thursday 12:30pm to 2pm , online via Zoom). 

Since Covid Lockdowns I have found difficulty getting off to sleep before the early hours, hence my interest in this course…too much thinking about the days activities and forward plans methinks!

The course is interactive and involves practising the techniques, recommended sleep assisting habits and relaxation exercises between each of the weekly sessions. 

Tabulated personal assessments to a number of key questions are used to keep track of progress towards better sleep habits. 

The headings for each of the 5 sessions are: 

1. Introducing sleep science and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
2. Building healthy sleep habits and associations. 
3. Challenging unhelpful sleep patterns and unhelpful thoughts. 
4. Dealing with worry. 
5. Maintaining healthy sleep. 

I am looking forward to benefitting from this course, with a more consistent sleep patterns, irrespective of the current gloomy state of current media news casts !!   Ralph Olesen, Chair Patients Participation Group at Bridgeside.

Blood Pressure

We now have our blood pressure machine working in the reception area.  By taking your own reading and writing your name and date of birth on the print out, we can enter this on your medical record and save time in your appointment.  If you are passing you are also very welcome to pop in and take your reading and post the slip in the prescriptions box.

The Meditech Trust

We have a large yellow bin in the foyer for any dressings or appliances no longer required. They must be unopened but can be out of date. These will be collected by a local charity, Meditech, who send them overseas to countries in need.  Unfortunately they are not able to take any medicines and these should be handed over to your pharmacy who can destroy them safely.  

Menopause clinics

These are being held Saturday mornings, fortnightly, at Hampden Park by an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.  If you would like to be referred to this, please speak to your GP who can arrange for an appointment to be made.  

Covid Spring Vaccination Clinics

Clinics will start on the week commencing 22nd April 2024.

Our main site is at Hampden Park Health Centre in Eastbourne. However we will also be running clinics at Satellite sites in Hailsham

Eligibility Criteria for the Spring Covid Vaccination

• Adults aged 75 years and over
• Residents in care homes for older adults
• Individuals aged over 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed

Online Booking

On the 9th April 2024 our clinic sessions for Eastbourne will be loaded onto the National Booking System (NBS) and people will be able to book an appointment in our Eastbourne Clinic. They will also be able to complete a group booking on the National Booking System (NBS). This means that partners can now book in for an appointment at the same time.

Satellite Clinic Booking – Civic Hall, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham BN27 1BE

To save people travelling long distances to have their vaccination, we will be running Satellite Clinics in Hailsham. Please note that throughout the campaign these dates may be subject to change; further dates will be added as the campaign progresses. People in Hailsham will receive a text inviting them to book their vaccination via a link.

Saturday 11th May 2024, Sunday 12th May 2024, Tuesday 14th May 2024, Saturday 18th May 2024, Tuesday 21st May 2024

Telephone booking (if you are unable to use National Booking System)

SDHC will be manning a telephone helpline between 9:30am to 1pm Monday to Friday, for those people with vaccine queries and for those who are unable to book their appointments via the National Booking Service. This helpline has a voicemail facility, so please feel free to leave a message and we will aim to respond to you the next working day. The number is: 01323 402530.

Housebound patients will be visited between 15th April and 30th June. You will be contacted by telephone a few days before their visit.

Published: Apr 9, 2024