Buxted, East Hoathly and Horam Medical Centres

We would like to reassure local residents to Buxted Surgery that an engineer from our alarm company has been and visited.

He has located the fault and has been able to temporarily solve the problem. You should no longer be subject to random night time (or day time) alarms coming from the Surgery.

Please see our earlier post for the alarm company's office number should the alarm sound over the weekend.

We would like to, again, extend our gratitude to our local population for your patience whilst this problem was being investigated.

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

Good morning all,

Firstly, we would like to thank all of the local residents of Buxted for your patience with regards to our alarm sounding intermittently.

We have only been aware of the problem since Monday when we contacted the company to come and fix it. We are waiting for them to come again today to turn it off as we are not able to do this within the practice.

We are hoping for a quick resolution from our alarm company but will continue to work closely with them to ensure the problem is solved as quickly as possible.

We have contacted our alarm company again to see if we can speed up an engineer attending the site. If you would like to also report the alarm, the number to do so is 0845 880 2113.

Kind regards
Buxted Medical Centre
Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

In addition to our previous message we are still experiencing a technical difficulty which is affecting multiple businesses nationwide.

We are currently unable to access medical records or book appointments.

If you are unwell and need to be seen today please visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 999.

Good morning,

We would like to inform all of our patients that due to clinician sickness we will not be opening our Manor Oak Surgery today.

East Hoathly and Buxted will remain open as usual.

Unfortunately, this also means that we will be offering fewer appointments than we would usually like to offer. This is so we can continue to operate in a safe way.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to our patients but we are thankful for your support and understanding in a difficult situation.

Kind regards
Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Surgeries

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

Just a reminder about the Protected Learning Time on Wednesday (tomorrow). The surgery will be closed from 12.30 and will be open as usual on Thursday at 8am.

The NHS App lets you order repeat prescriptions, view your health records, review your GP appointments and more.

If you would like some help with downloading/ using the NHS app we will be holding some free sessions at our surgeries for patients to get the help with the app. These will take place on:

Monday 8 July at Buxted
Monday 15 July at Manor Oak
Tuesday 16 July at East Hoathly

If you'd like to book in please speak with one of our receptionists or submit an admin query here https://florey.accurx.com/p/G81102 specifying your preferred site and we will be in touch. If the sessions prove popular we will put on some additional ones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqivFwl7cWE

Meet your NHS App (BSL) This is the BSL version of the Meet your NHS App videoNHS App. Free to download from the App Store or Google Play. Then you can book appointments, check your...

As requested by NHS Sussex we will be closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday 3 July for protected learning time for our team. We will be open as usual on Thursday 4 July from 8am.
If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Remember, you can always use our online service or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

Our Patient Participation Group Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group are holding their annual AGM on Tuesday 2 July. You are welcome to attend. Further details below

As requested by NHS Sussex we will be closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday 23 April for protected learning time for our team. We will be open as usual on Wednesday 24 April from 8am.

If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Remember, you can always use the NHS portal (website) or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

As requested by NHS Sussex we will be closed from 12.30pm on Tuesday 23 April for protected learning time for our team. We will be open as usual on Wednesday 24 April from 8am.

If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Remember, you can always use our online service or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

Date announced- new way of working from 22 April 2024
Further to our announcement on 21 March we would like to confirm that with effect from 22 April 2024 we will be operating a new way of working called Accurx Total Triage. One of the aims of the new system is to remove the 8.00 a.m. ‘rush to book’ an appointment via the telephone which, can be stressful for both our patients and our staff.

Another aim of the new way of working is to improve access for our patients and make it easier for patients to make initial contact with us and for our team to understand everyone’s needs and help you to get the most appropriate help and support.

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document has been prepared with the help of our Patient Participation Group and we hope that this will provide useful information about our proposed Total Triage system and how this will change the way your requests to the surgery will be dealt with. A copy of our FAQ can be found at the bottom of the following web page:

https://www.buxtedandeasthoathlymedicalcentres.co.uk/page1.aspx?p=2&pr=G81040

We understand that there will be patients who are unable to submit their request electronically, and you will still be able to phone us, or visit us in person. In these cases, a receptionist will ask you the same questions as the online form, and take the same information. These requests will then be dealt with in exactly the same way as those who submit their requests electronically with the requests being triaged by the same team triaging the electronic requests.

We will continue to work with our patients and engage on how this is working for patients and staff via the Patient Participation Group.

Thank you

www.buxtedandeasthoathlymedicalcentres.co.uk We have recently changed our online consultation provider from Anima to Accurx. We believe Accurx will offer a simpler platform for patients and staff alike.

We recognise that the traditional method of people calling to book appointments at 8am is not working, from a patient and staff perspective. We have been researching alternative approaches and are delighted to announce that we will soon be moving to a brand new system.

The aim of the new way of working is to improve access for our patients and make it easier for patients to make initial contact with us and for our team to understand everyone’s needs and help you to get the most appropriate help and support.

In the new model we will be asking patients, where possible, to submit their medical and admin requests using a short form found on the homepage of our website (https://www.buxtedandeasthoathlymedicalcentres.co.uk/). The short form will ask a few questions about your issue and it will provide you with the opportunity to upload photos if you wish. It is designed to be as easy as possible to complete and will take no more than a few minutes.

Every request received will be triaged (reviewed) with the assistance of clinicians, and next steps will be determined for each patient. When an appointment is needed, these will be allocated on the basis of clinical need. Patients will no longer be given an appointment time at the time their form is submitted but instead, someone from the surgery will make contact once the request has been reviewed.

We understand that there will be patients who are unable to submit their request electronically, and you will still be able to phone us, or visit us in person. In these cases, a receptionist will ask you the same questions as the online form, and take the same information. These requests will then be dealt with in exactly the same way as those who submit their requests electronically with the requests being triaged by the same team triaging the electronic requests.

Once demand has been reached on a given day, patients will be advised to contact 111, similar to now or advised on next steps.

We believe that the new system will mean fairer access for all and will help ensure patient’s needs are met by the right person at the right time. GP appointment capacity should increase as we will be able to make better informed decisions about how best to manage a patient request.

Further updates and information, including a frequent asked questions document will be available in the near future. Further information about the total triage model can be found here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvsxpA3Ul1o

We will continue to work with our patients and engage on how this is working for patients and staff via the Patient Participation Group.

Thank you

Good morning everyone,

We have had an unusually high level of staff sickness in our reception team today. Unfortunately this means we will be unable to open East Hoathly reception.

If you need assistance of have any queries please call 01825 732 333 or visit either Manor Oak or Buxted reception who will be able to help you.

The East Hoathly dispensary will remain open as usual.

We appreciate you patience with the team who, as always, will do everything they can to help you.

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

Please find a link to the Patient Participation Group's latest Newsletter. Kind regards
https://www.buxtedandeasthoathlymedicalcentres.co.uk/website/G81040/files/PPG%20Newsletter%20January%202024.pdf

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

www.buxtedandeasthoathlymedicalcentres.co.uk

Services update

It should be the season to be jolly, unfortunately a number of our surgery team, clinical and non- clinical, are presently unwell and unable to attend work because of this. Some of our team are also on already pre-booked annual leave.

We are sorry that staff sickness will have a direct impact on the availability of appointments, as well as telephone answering times, on an already pressured system. Should you feel unwell with a minor illness, please continue to make use of your local pharmacist for any minor ailments including rashes, coughs, colds, aches and sore throats. https://111.nhs.uk/ also contains lots of helpful advice on a number of conditions.

The Minor Injury department at Uckfield and Crowborough Hospitals remain on hand to deal with any injuries, burns, sprains etc.

Many thanks to our patients for bearing with us and thank you also to the team who are stepping up to work extra hours etc to help increase our capacity.

Thank you

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As requested by NHS Sussex we will be closed from 12.30pm tomorrow (Thursday 12 October) for protected learning time for our team. We will be open as usual on Friday 13 October.

If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Remember, you can always use our online service or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Patient Group

Demand is at its absolute highest today. We suspect this is due to the industrial action taking place in hospitals, today and for the rest of this week.

The phone queues presently are significant. Please do remember that you can speak to your local pharmacist or use https://111.nhs.uk in the case of minor ailments. Our receptionists are doing their best to deal with all the calls as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thanks for bearing with us

Get help for your symptoms - NHS 111 This website only stores the cookies that are needed to make it work. Read more about how we use cookies (opens in a new tab).

We know that how our patients can access our surgery is such an important matter for you all. We are really please to update you that in the past six weeks we've employed an extra four receptionists into our team and we very much hope that our patients will experience an improvement in call answering times in the near future allowing time for training etc . We have been understaffed in our reception team for the last few months which has impacted how we have been able to work. Thank you for bearing with us and we are sorry that there have been delays in answering the telephones during this time. The new 'call back' system appears to be working well - as a reminder, it's available between 8am and 11.30 and 2 and 4.30pm every day, and we would encourage patients to select the option for a call back when offered. Our team will call back when you reach what would have been queue position number 1. Thank you

Shingles, flu and covid clinics update

We are offering a range of flu and covid vaccination clinics from the end of September and throughout October. We are in the process of sending out invitations to our flu and covid clinics and this is being done in batches. We hope to have completed our invites to those eligible by the end of next week.

As of 1 September the criteria for those eligible to receive a shingles vaccination changed. In this regard we are planning to hold specific shingles vaccination clinics in November. This will allow us to vaccinate a large number of those patients who are now eligible to receive their shingles vaccine preserving our regular nursing appointments for our patients' every day needs. Dates for the shingles clinics will be announced towards the end of September. Patients who are eligible for the vaccine (who have a mobile phone number registered with us, as well as a 'smart phone) will then be able to use a web link from their phone to book themselves directly into an appointment. The 'self booking' system does not work for clinics more than 6 weeks ahead, hence needing to wait to release the invitations. Patients will also be able to book in for their appointment using a dedicated practice vaccination line phone number.

Further information around the shingles vaccination and who is eligible can be found on the link below. In very brief summary the following patients will be eligible:

* People who turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023. You'll remain eligible until your 80th birthday.
* If you turned 65 before 1 September 2023, you'll be eligible for the shingles vaccination when you turn 70
* Patients aged 70 to 79. You will remain eligible up until your 80th birthday
* People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system

Shingles vaccine Find out about the shingles vaccine, including who it's for, how to get it and possible side effects.

Just a reminder that we will be closed from 12.30pm tomorrow Wednesday 13 September for protected learning time. We will be open as usual on Thursday 14 September. If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Please do not call 111 or attend A&E. Remember, you can always use our online service or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

Like other local surgeries our practice (including dispensaries) will be closed from 12.30pm on Wednesday 13 September for protected learning time. We will be open as usual on Thursday 14 September. If you require anything urgent which cannot wait until we reopen please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support between the hours of 12.30 and 6.30pm. Please do not call 111 or attend A&E. Remember, you can always use our online service or the NHS app for prescriptions. Local pharmacies including the Buxted pharmacy will remain open.

A helpful article on how to keep your homes cool during the heatwave

Heatwave: How to keep your home cool With temperatures rising, how can you stop your home from retaining too much heat?

POST UPDATE at 13:13. IT PROBLEMS NOW FIXED. Thank you for your patience and thank you surgery team for your tenacity this morning.

Unfortunately we are having problems with the IT for our clinical systems today. It keeps crashing which is impacting our clinicians, dispensing and reception teams who are trying to book appointments. IT have informed us that this issue is affecting many practices nationwide and they are working on a solution. We will provide an update later. Many thanks

FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS
Vaccination line is now open until 6pm today 01435 811560

We will be following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice and will be co-administering flu and Covid-19 vaccinations this autumn.

In line with NHS England guidance the first Covid-19 and flu vaccination appointments for adults we are able to hold will be on Saturday 7 October.

There will be a clinic at our Buxted and Manor Oak sites on Saturday 7 October and Monday 9 October for our East Hoathly site. We will put on some additional clinics to the above, but the dates for these are not yet known. This will be largely dependent on vaccine supply.

All patients who are aged over 65 will automatically be eligible to receive a covid and flu vaccination.

In addition the following patients will be eligible for Covid vaccinations:

Those patients aged 6-64 in a clinical risk group
Frontline health and social care workers
Residents in a care home for older adults
Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed
Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (those who are in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carers of an elderly or disabled person)

Further information about who is eligible for flu vaccinations can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

We have a dedicated vaccination telephone line open today until 6pm to take your vaccination booking. We will also confirm the hours the vaccination line will be open tomorrow. To book your vaccine please telephone 01435 811560.

Flu vaccine Find information about the flu jab, including who should have it, why and when.

FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS
Vaccination line open until 6pm today and 8am to 6pm tomorrow. 01435 811560

We will be following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice and will be co-administering flu and Covid-19 vaccinations this autumn.

In line with NHS England guidance the first Covid-19 and flu vaccination appointments for adults we are able to hold will be on Saturday 7 October.

There will be a clinic at our Buxted and Manor Oak sites on Saturday 7 October and Monday 9 October for our East Hoathly site. We will put on some additional clinics to the above, but the dates for these are not yet known. This will be largely dependent on vaccine supply.

All patients who are aged over 65 will automatically be eligible to receive a covid and flu vaccination.

In addition the following patients will be eligible for Covid vaccinations:

Those patients aged 6-64 in a clinical risk group
Frontline health and social care workers
Residents in a care home for older adults
Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of those who are immunosuppressed
Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (those who are in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carers of an elderly or disabled person)

Further information about who is eligible for flu vaccinations can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

We have a dedicated vaccination telephone line open today until 6pm to take your vaccination booking. We will also confirm the hours the vaccination line will be open tomorrow. To book your vaccine please telephone 01435 811560.

Flu vaccine Find information about the flu jab, including who should have it, why and when.

East Hoathly Medical Centre

We are sorry to have to let our patients know that due to staff sickness East Hoathly Medical Centre reception will be closed this afternoon.

Our dispensary will remain open until 5pm this evening.

If you have any urgent queries please call 01825 732 333 or visit either Buxted or Horam where the team will try to help you.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

East Hoathly Medical Centre

Good morning,

We want to let our patients that regularly attend East Hoathly Surgery know that the surgery will be closed in line with the dispensary this week.

On Tuesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon we will lock up the surgery. If you need medical assistance in this time please call 01825 732 333 or visit either Buxted or Manor Oak Surgery where the team will be ready to assist you with you query.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to our patients.

Kind regards
Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Surgeries

Manor Oak Surgery

Good morning,

We would like to reassure our patients who may encounter an 'access only' sign on the road to Manor Oak Surgery that we are still open and you can access the surgery as usual.
Your appointments will not be affected by the road closure.

Kind regards
Buxted, East Hoathly and Manor Oak Surgeries

Manor Oak Surgery

We would like to inform our patients that our Manor Oak Surgery will be closed today due to essential plumbing work.

If you need to speak to a member of the team please call 01825 732 333 or visit our East Hoathly site this morning or our Buxted site.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused

Huge thanks thanks to Phil @ Howdens Kitchens in Uckfield who came to our rescue when our Manor Oak staff room kitchen sink sprung a rather large leak damaging the worktop, carpet and surrounds. Working with Tony Clarke from Kitchens Limited Uckfield, Phil and Tony got it all all fixed, sorted and replaced our old work surfaces and sink for new, at no cost within 24 hours so our water supply was off for as short a period as possible. Thank you so much Phil and Tony for helping us out so speedily and for your generosity. We are really grateful