🩺 Practice News – February Update
💜 World Cancer Day – 4 February
World Cancer Day is about awareness, early detection, and support.
🔍 Please contact the practice if you have:
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Unexplained weight loss
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Persistent pain
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New lumps or changes
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Ongoing symptoms that don’t feel right
Early advice can make a real difference.
❤️ Heart Health Month
February is Heart Health Month — a good time to think about:
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Keeping active
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Eating a balanced diet
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Managing blood pressure and cholesterol
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Stopping smoking
If you’ve been invited for an NHS Health Check, please book your appointment.
🌍 Time to Talk Day – 6 February
Mental health matters.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, low, or anxious, support is available:
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You can contact the practice via eConsult
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NHS Talking Therapies are available without a GP referral
Talking is the first step 💬
🤧 Seasonal Illness Reminder
Coughs, colds, flu, and stomach bugs are still common at this time of year.
💡 Remember:
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Pharmacists can help with many minor illnesses
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NHS 111 can guide you to the right service
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Use eConsult for non-urgent medical queries
💻 Using eConsult
eConsult remains the quickest way to contact the practice for:
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Medical advice
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Fit notes
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Medication queries
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Administrative requests
Requests are reviewed by the clinical team and directed appropriately.
🏥 NHS Update
The NHS continues to experience high seasonal demand. Please:
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Be kind to staff
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Use services appropriately
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Attend booked appointments or cancel if you can’t attend
This helps us care for everyone who needs us.
❄️ Winter Health Tips
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Keep warm at home
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Stay hydrated
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Check in on vulnerable friends, family, or neighbours
Thank you for your continued support and understanding 💙
Your GP Practice Team
During winter, many people see their GP for coughs and colds that don’t need an appointment. This message is to help you know when you (or children at home) do need a doctor – and when you don’t.
Adults who have a cough will need to see a doctor if:
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they have a lung problem like asthma or COPD and it’s getting worse
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their immune system is weak (for example, they take medicines that lower immunity)
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they have had a cough for more than three weeks and it is not getting better
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they feel short of breath (not just blocked up)
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they have sharp chest pain when they take a deep breath (not just sore from coughing)
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they cough up blood
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they feel very unwell.
If none of these apply, remember:
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a cough helps clear germs from the chest
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antibiotics don’t help coughs
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a cough can last up to three weeks.
Children who have a cough will need to see a doctor if:
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they are under three months old and have a fever above 38°C
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they are three to six months old and have a fever above 39°C
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they are taking in less than half of normal feeds
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their immune system is weak (for example, they take medicines that lower immunity)
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they have a lung problem like asthma and it’s getting worse
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difficulty breathing – faster breathing or their tummy sucking under their ribs
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noisy breathing when they breathe in (wheezing or grunting)
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you think they have whooping cough
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they seem very unwell
If none of these apply, remember:
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a cough helps clear germs from the chest
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green mucus (snot) or a noisy chest does not mean that your child has an infection needing antibiotics
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antibiotics don’t help coughs
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a cough can last up to three weeks.
Find out more at www.midandsouthessex.ics.nhs.uk and search ‘Cough, cold or viruses’.
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Out-of-hours appointments
Out-of-hours appointments are available from 6:30pm to 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
An out-of-hours appointment might not be at your regular GP surgery. When you book an appointment, you will be told where the appointment will be. These appointments will not be available as walk-in appointments. You will need to book them in advance.
To book an out-of-hours appointment, you should contact your regular GP practice in the usual way. They will advise you on the appointments which are available, and which healthcare professional is the right person to help you. If an out of hours appointment needs to be cancelled, please contact your surgery unless it is a Saturday then please call 07513 094 494 for cancellation only.
If you need medical help now but it’s not an emergency, you can also go to 111 online or call 111.
If you need clinical assistance, please use eConsult. The eConsult will be clinically triaged by a General Practitioner and you will then be contacted with an outcome. See our Online Service tab to access this service.
If your appointment is to see a nurse for: Asthma and COPD annual reviews, first time contraceptive advice, Wound Management, Smear, Child Imms, Adult Imms, Removal of Sutures or Blood Pressure, please contact the surgery by phone to make your appointment. 01702 482900
NHS App
Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet – including ordering prescriptions and viewing booked appointments.
Online consultations allow you to input information so your doctors can triage your concerns and offer the right care. Once completed we will get back to you within 2 working days, if not sooner.
NHS App
Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet – including ordering prescriptions and viewing booked appointments.
Online consultations allow you to input information so your doctors can triage your concerns and offer the right care. Once completed we will get back to you within 2 working days, if not sooner.
Helpful links to guides from the NHS
NHS
HEALTH A to Z
Guide to conditions,symptoms & treatments
NHS
LIVE WELL
Advice, tips and toolsfor health & wellbeing
NHS
MEDICINES GUIDE
How medicine works& possible side effects
NHS
care & support
Options & where toget the best support
Know who to turn to for your healthcare
We want to help you get the right medical assistance when you’re ill, injured or have a long term condition. Going directly to the person with the appropriate skills is important. This can help you to a speedier recovery and makes sure all NHS services are run efficiently.
NHS 111 is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
If it is an emergency call 999.
PHARMACIST
When you need healthcare advice or help with medicines
OPTICIAN
Sudden loss of vision. Blurred vision. Painful or red eyes?
DENTIST
When your mouth or teeth need urgent attention
NHS OUT-OF-HOURS
When your GP and local pharmacy are closed
MINOR INJURY
You will usually need a GP referral, except in an emergency.
ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY
When an illness or injury is serious or life-threatening
DID YOU KNOW?
If you’re feeling under the weather but aren’t sure what it could be, an online symptom checker can help you identify whether you need to seek immediate medical attention.
