Patient Participation Group at Billingshurst Surgery

The surgery are currently taking bookings for Flu vaccinations and the Covid-19 Autumn Campaign for all eligible patients. Invites are currently being sent out and eligible patients will be invited either by SMS or a phone call.

Covid vaccination eligibility:
Aged 65 and over
Residing in a care home
6 months - 64 years clinically at risk

Flu vaccinations eligibility:
Aged 65 and over
Residing in a care home
6 months - 64 years clinically at risk
Pregnant
All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024

The surgery clinics will be running on Saturday 5th & 12th October 09:00 - 13:30 and Wednesday 16th & 23rd October 14:00 - 18:30.

The surgery will be in contact with any patients who are registered as housebound to arrange a home visit for the vaccination.

The surgery had asked us to put the following on following some system issues on Monday.

“Unfortunately our IT system, including our phones, went down unexpectedly this afternoon – this was a wider problem in the NHS network affecting some Practices across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

It seems that the system is now back up and running and we apologise for any inconvenience.”

Any assistance in reducing the number of missed appointments would be greatly appreciated.

It is disappointing to see that the missed appointments have been steadily increasing since January.

Please can people respond to the texts sent by the surgery admin team to say they cannot attend (if that’s the case) so that their appointments can be offered to others.

Thanks for your assistance

https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/nhs-sussex-news-31-may-2024/

NHS Sussex News: 31 May 2024 People urged to continue to use services wisely this weekend NHS services in Sussex are currently very busy, and demand for services is likely to remain high throughout the weekend.… Continue reading NHS Sussex News: 31 May 2024

The menopause event on Monday 3rd June is now fully booked which is fantastic news and indicates the interest and need for support for women around this topic.

After the event, Coco's, Billingshurst Community Partnership Patient Participation Group at Billingshurst Surgery and the surgery will be discussing ways in which we can offer more events on a regular basis. Watch this space. And if anyone would like to be involved in help run these events please get in touch through the PPG email

[email protected]

NHS Sussex: Let's Talk: Life After Stroke workshops

NHS Sussex are holding a series of workshops to explore the strengths, gaps, and priorities within the Life After Stroke service. We are committed to ensuring that your voice is part of the joined-up response for life after stroke, with the aim of providing an accessible and responsive service that is value for money and meets your changing priorities along your stroke journey.



The current workshops are taking place virtually on the 17th and 19th April, with further planned. There is no need to book, you can log onto the Microsoft Teams meeting via these links:

Sign up for one of the virtual workshops:

Wednesday 17th April 17:00 - 18:30

https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_MWNhNjlkMGMtMTI0Yi00YmZkLTkxNjQtOWRhNTMzOGQ4Y2Yx%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%252237c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%252286596900-db09-4a63-835f-8b9746213f7b%2522%257d%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=1f2ab32b-ebf9-4346-9a08-1ae4a7342ed1&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true

Friday 19th April 10:00 - 11:30

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NWIyZjhiMmMtNThkMi00ODdkLWJmZTEtZTljOWE0N2U3OThl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2237c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2286596900-db09-4a63-835f-8b9746213f7b%22%7d

If you would like one of the team to meet your local group or attend an upcoming meeting.

Invite the team to present at a local group or meeting: [email protected]

If this impacts you please fill in this ‘Life After Stroke Service’ survey.

Changes to Life After Stroke Service Survey | Sussex Health and Care Your Say This survey is to ensure that your voice is part of the joined-up response for life after stroke, with the aim of providing an accessible and responsive service that is value for money and meets your changing priorities along your stroke journey.  What is the Life after Stroke Service? &nb...

Just a quick reminder on behalf of the surgery and use of the call back process.

If you are using the ‘call back system’ please be aware that if you have requested a call back and then call the surgery again before getting the call back it will cancel your original call back.

If you still want a call back you will have to request a call back the second time you ring!

The surgery have asked us to let people know they are going through a process of updating patient records with next of kin information.

Where there is no next of kin information you may get a phone call asking for that information.

This is from the surgery and should show up as BhurstSurg

Saying that, you need to satisfy yourself it is the surgery asking for the information.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHORSHAM/bulletins/389a758

Health & Wellbeing March Newsletter Health & Wellbeing March Newsletter Horsham District Council sent this bulletin at 01-03-2024 10:40 AM GMT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Health and Wellbeing Spring is nearly here! With the temperature warming and daffodils starting to bloom, it's finally time to put the....

We have been asked by the surgery to say they have a reduced number of clinicians in today due to sickness so there are limited appointments available.

Please bear with them.

For information, this is the PPG submission for the District Plan Reg 19 consultation.

You can submit an online response

https://strategicplanning.horsham.gov.uk/Regulation_19_Local_Plan/login?nextURL=%2FRegulation%5F19%5FLocal%5FPlan%2FanswerQuestionnaire%3Fqid%3D9331459&forcelogin=y #9331459

The required responses for Questions 1 & 2 are attached below as pictures.

Feel free to use any of the text in your own responses if you think appropriate.

Question 3

3. The Billingshurst Surgery Patient Particiation Group (PPG) represents all registerd patients of Billingshurst Surgery. (13,906 end Jan 2024). Our aim is to be critical friends to the surgery and improve the patient experience of the surgery. The PPG includes senior clinical and management staff from the surgery. The reponses given below have been discussed and endorsed by the PPG patient members as we as staff members of the surgery.

The Draft LP is not legally compliant because:

1) The NHS Constitution is enshrined in UK Law. It pledges to provide convenient and easy access to healthcare services for all. The east Developer Bellway states in the Site Summary Assessemnt Appendix 7a that it does not propose to provide any additional healthcare facilities.
This does not meet with government heathcare requirements for healthcare provision. The surgery is at capacity and takes many patients from outside of Billingshurst, (eg BroadbridgeHeath) because developers and HDC have failed to implement and enforce planning approval agreements to provide heathcare facilities in those areas. This lack of enforcement of planning law degrades heathcare services for everyone.

2) The Locality Act 2011 requires Councils to make the planning system clearer. The Representation Submission Form Regs19 is far from clear. It is
not easy to complete for the average person, if only because of the vast amount of reading required in order for anyone to be able to submit a representation.

3) It is absurd to expect a lay person / or persons to be able to make suggestions on how he draft LP can be made legally compliant. We are not qualitifed planning officers! This is their job to do!

The draft LP is not "sound" because:

1) HA4 SA118 page 33 says: "The developer (Crest Bellway) indicates that existing healthcare facilities within the village have capacity to meet the sites generated demand". Where is the evidence to support this statement? We have asked to see it and we have had no response from either the developer or HDC. Furthermore, we are aware that the ICB has asked HDC to remove
this statement from the draft LP because it is false and erroneous.

2) The demoraphic evidence that the developer is using to justify the draft LP is too old to be relevant in 2024. It is the same data that was presented for the Reg 18 document in 2020.The data for Regs 18 is from the 2011 census which recorded Billinghsurst as having a population of
8,232. SInce that time, the population increased to 10,641 (census 2021) and to circa 12,241 now. The increase between 2021 and 2023 is based on additional housing being built in Billingshurst during that time period; largely 550 houses at Amblehurst Green, (also Bellway development), where no additional or enhanced healthcare infrastructure has been provided.

3) HDC Strategic Policy 27 para 8.32 state that: "The Council will continue to work with NHS Sussex and PCN's to ensure healthcare needs in the district can be met and will work to ensure residents can access the services they need". Neither NHS Sussex, the ICB, the PCN the Surgery nor the PPG have ever had any conversation or discussion about the implications of additional
demands further development in Billingshurst would have on healthcare services. There have been no discussions about how additional demands would be met. This is sloppy and lazy work, and demonstrates that HDC has not done due dilegence. The draft LP does not demonstrate that there has been any consideration or future planning to safeguard the needs of exisiting
patients, or those that will come because of further development.

4) HDC Strategic Policy 27 states: "proposals will be supported that provide and address the requirements and needs on an ageing population in terms of accomodation and heathcare". The draft LP does not demonstrate that the developer does either.

5) The draft LP relies too heavily on old information and old data in order to get the draft LP through quickly. The provision of healthcare needs in growing commmunity must be based on projections taking into consideration proposed new housing development. This has not been
done. In 2018 there were 11,028 registered patients at the surgery. By the end of Jan 2024 there were 13,906 patients. The surgery believes that the full impact of the Amblehurst Green development has yet to be felt in terms of patient numbers. (ie many people haven't registered as patients yet). This figure represents a 26% increase in 5 years with no additional or enhanced
healthcare provision during that time. 6) Point 4 Regs 19 Representation form asks respondents to suggest revised wording for text and policy for the draft LP. This is utterly ridiculous! The time to have done this was before the
draft LP was presented to and agreed by HDC Council, not afterwards when it is on it's way to the Planning Inspectorate!

The Draft LP does not demonstrate that it complies with Duty to cooperate because:

1) The NHS Constitution states that: "patients have the right to be involved, directly, or through representation, in the planning of healthcare services commissioned by NHS bodies". This has not been done.

2) HDC by their own admission said they did not have the time or money to go through a whole consultation process, or update data used in the draft LP. On this basis alone it should not be accepted. The draft LP is not "sound" or fit for purpose

3) There is no evidence to support the claim made by the developer that the current heathcarebprovision is able to cope with the demands of additional housing / patients. Neither HDC nor the developer have discussed with this either PPG, Surgery, PCN, ICB or NHS Sussex.

4) The Locality Act 2011 came about because flaws in the planning system did not give members of the public enough influence over the decisions that make a difference to their lives. By not consulting with residents and rushing through the draft LP, HDC has failed to demonstrate it has complied with its duty to cooperate . Quote from Localism Act 2011:"Local Authorities should work with local groups (such as PPG) in ways that protect the interests of
residents". This has not happened

1) There needs to be updated and relevant data provided by both HDC and the developer to
substantiate their claim that existing healthcare faciltities care capable of meeting the demands
on Billingshurst when there are likley to be an extra 2000+ residents expecting to be able to
register with the Billinghsurst surgery.
2) Billingshurst surgery provides heathcare serviices for many satellite villages as well as a
significant proportion of residents in Broadbridge Heath (5 miles away). This is because HDC has
failed to ensure that adequate heathcare provision was provided as part of the overall
development plan (in Broadbridge Heath). This must not be allowed to happen again!
3) Bellway were supposed to build a dental practice on the Amblehurst Green site. (circa 550
houses). This site has since been built on with more houses. Developers should be forced into
contractual agreements with the Council to ensure they provide the (healthcare) faciltities that
they are pledged to do as part of the planning approval agreements.
4) HDC and the developer need to cooperate more widely, better, and more enthusiastically
with residents and service providers.

Question 4

CONCLUSION

The draft LP has been rushed through with no evidence to support the developers statement about healthcare provision. The fact that this hasn't been checked or challenged demonstrates that HDC has not fulfilled its legal or statutory obligations to Billingshurst residents. They have not done due dilegence, and they have not consulted with this community. Any cursory
discussions that have happened have done so at community groups request and are too little too late. Meetings have been more about them wanting to explain their decision to accept the draft LP, rather than about them consulting with residents to find out what they want and need. These matters need addressing and correcting. A 6 weeks Public Consultation is nowhere near long enough to allow people to do the necessary reading that is required to understand the process or what is being offered.

QUESTION 6

As Chair of the PPG, and by extension, the voice 13,906 patients that use the Billinghsurst surgery, it is vital that our concerns about the claims made in the draft LP by the developer are challenged. Neither the developer or HDC planners live in our community, and whilst I accept that our District Councillors do, I believe that they have been too heavily influenced by the
planning department in making their decision to allow this draft LP to go through to the next stage. People in Billinghsurst generally are not opposed to more housing. What we are opposed to is development being allowed to happen without enough care or thought put into the needs of residents. We want to live in a thriving and vibrant community not one where everyone is
competing for services whether they are heath, education, sports faciltities and community
buildings.

Horsham Disrrict Council’s Community Safety team are running a free 6 week course on understanding teenage behaviour.

Spaces are still available - details below on how to apply.

Steyning – will commence 21st February and will be held at Steyning Grammar School

Don’t forget this is on today!

https://horsham.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk/topics/healthy-eating/wow-face-to-face-group-sessions

Healthy eating > Weight off Workshops (WOW) / Horsham District Wellbeing / Provided by West Sussex County Council and Horsham District Council For further information, to find out more details of upcoming courses and to register to join you can either call 01403 215111, email us or complete our enquiry form (new window).

https://www.sussex.ics.nhs.uk/junior-doctor-strike-action-christmas-and-new-year/

Junior doctor strike action: Christmas and New Year Junior doctors in England are expected to take industrial action over the festive period. The NHS will prioritise patient safety during the periods of strike action, with health and care… Continue reading Junior doctor strike action: Christmas and New Year

The December Health and Wellbeing newsletter from HDC

December Newsletter December Newsletter Horsham District Council sent this bulletin at 01-12-2023 08:30 AM GMT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Health and Wellbeing Newsletter December 2023 Welcome to your December Health and Wellbeing Newsletter! With the festive season well and truly upon us,...

NHS bulletin from Sussex Health and Care (far more than just the weather warning, a lot of other useful information and contacts)

NHS Sussex News Bulletin: 3 November 2023 NHS working to support people during and after Storm Ciarán Following Storm Ciarán, which reached the south of England this week, the NHS in Sussex is urging everyone to take… Continue reading NHS Sussex News Bulletin: 3 November 2023

The Horsham Wellbeing November newsletter is available on the link

November Newsletter November Newsletter Horsham District Council sent this bulletin at 01-11-2023 10:00 AM GMT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Health and Wellbeing Newsletter November 2023 Welcome to your November Health and Wellbeing Newsletter! As the days get shorter and the nights get long...

Meet the team at our surgery.

Billingshurst Surgery - Our Staff Meet the dedicated Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics and Healthcare assistants, and the support staff at Billingshurst Surgery.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month click on the link to get info and advice

https://coppafeel.org/breast-cancer-info-and-advice/

You can book free sessions via the email address below

Hospital and Accident and Emergency impact and advice due to strike action

This week, both junior doctors and consultants will be taking joint strike action from 7am on Monday, 2 October to 7am on Thursday, 5 October. Dental trainees are also striking on these times. Radiographers are also striking from 8am on Tuesday, 3 October to 8am on Wednesday, 4 October.

Details are:

Consultants: 2 to 5 October
Junior doctors: 2 to 5 October
Dental trainees: 2 to 5 October
Radiographers: 3 to 4 October

Details and advice are in the link below

People urged to support the local NHS ahead of joint historic industrial action next week The NHS in Sussex is calling on the public’s support to help ensure emergency care is available for those in most need as consultants and junior doctors strike together next… Continue reading People urged to support the local NHS ahead of joint historic industrial action next week