Latest News
Children's & Expectant Mums Flu Clinic
We have a dedicated flu vaccination clinic for all children aged 2-3 years and expectant mothers on Friday 25 September, with appointments now available to book.
Patients can book their appointment using the booking link sent to them or by contacting the Practice on 01323 725667.
Our Flu Vaccination Appointment Book Will Open on Monday 7 September.
Patient Consent - Why you may notice a change
Protect yourself this winter with the NHS flu vaccination
Flu is a highly infectious virus that can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, pregnant women, young children, and those with certain health conditions. The flu vaccine is the most effective way to help protect yourself and those around you from flu and its complications. [nhs.uk]
Your flu vaccine is guaranteed
We have carefully ordered flu vaccines specifically for our eligible patient population. This means that if you are eligible to receive your flu vaccination through our practice, a vaccine has been allocated for you and will be available when you attend your appointment.
We encourage eligible patients to have their vaccination with us so that the vaccines we have ordered for our practice population are used to protect our local community.
Booking your appointment
Our flu vaccination appointment book will open on Monday 7 September.
Appointments can be booked by calling the practice after 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Patients with a mobile number registered with the practice will also receive a booking link by text message from this date.
Who is eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination?
This year, the NHS is offering free flu vaccinations to:
- Patients aged 65 years and over
- Patients aged 16 to 64 years in clinical at-risk groups
- Residents of long-stay care homes
- Carers receiving Carer's Allowance, or those who are the main carer for an older or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Those who are seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)
- Pregnant women
For full eligibility information, please visit the NHS website: [nhs.uk]
When will flu vaccinations be available?
In line with NHS guidance:
- Pregnant women and eligible children can receive their flu vaccination from 1 September 2026.
- Patients aged 65 years and over and patients aged 16 to 64 years in clinical at-risk groups will be invited for vaccination from 1 October 2026.
Housebound patients
Patients who are registered as housebound do not need to contact the practice. Our paramedic team will arrange home visits for eligible housebound patients to ensure they receive their flu vaccination.
Can the flu vaccine give you flu?
No. The flu vaccine cannot give you flu.
Some people may experience mild side effects, such as a sore arm, headache, or a slight temperature for a day or two after vaccination. These are normal signs that your immune system is responding to the vaccine and are not the same as having flu.
Why is it important to get vaccinated?
The flu vaccine helps to:
- Reduce your risk of catching flu
- Lower your risk of serious illness and hospital admission
- Protect vulnerable family members and friends
- Help reduce pressure on NHS services during the winter months
If you are unsure whether you are eligible for a flu vaccination, please contact the practice and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics here at the Surgery for over 75 years of age patients
We are holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the surgery this year:
Saturday 3 October
Tuesday 6 October (evening)
Saturday 10 October
If you are over 75 please contact the surgery Monday - Friday before Friday 4 September after 2:30pm on
01323 725667 to book an appointment. When you contact the surgery the reception team
will enquire if you would like to have your flu vaccination at the same time!
For further information, please contact the practice team
Childcare Choices Campaign - Led by the Department of Education
From September 2025 and in addition to the support already available, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, starting from the term after their child turns 9 months old. This is all part of the government’s Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life by making high-quality early years education and childcare more affordable and accessible for families.
Find out what you might be eligible for and apply ahead of the 31st August deadline (to start using their hours from 1st September) by visiting: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Are you a working family and already using 15 hours childcare?
Parents don’t need to reapply for a new code. They simply continue to reconfirm their details every 3 months on their GOV.UK account and their existing code will update automatically to enable them to take up 30 hours from September.
If they are already using their 15 hours of childcare and want to increase their hours from September, they need to speak to their provider directly, as places may be limited.
If they are struggling to find a place, you can recommend they contact their local authority to find out what support and options are available.
Weight Loss Injections
A BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or greater AND four or more of the following diagnosed health conditions:
Introduction of Routine Call/Recall for Transgender and Non-Binary Patients
Improving access to the Cervical Screening Programme for eligible transgender & non-binary people – Introduction of opt in for routine call/recall for Transgender and Non-Binary People
• Transgender men and non-binary people with a cervix are eligible for cervical screening.
• On the previous IT system, individuals registered as male could not receive automatic invitations, but their GP or practice nurse would arrange an appointment for individuals with a cervix.
• From 1st April 2025 there is the functionality within the IT system that will ensure trans men and non-binary people with a cervix can opt-in to receive routine automatic invitation letters for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.
If you are a transgender man or non-binary and have a cervix and want to opt in the cervical screening, complete the form and return to us:
Physiotherapy Self-Referral with East Sussex MSK
East Sussex MSK Community Partnership (ESMSK) is an NHS referral management service, offering pathways and services for the care and treatment of patients with bone, joint and muscle conditions (musculoskeletal or MSK for short). The service also manages referrals and provides care and support for rheumatology patients and those with chronic pain.
There are multiple routes into the service. MSK accept referrals from a variety of practitioners, for example your GP. They also accept referrals from physiotherapy providers and other NHS services.
If you would like to access physiotherapy you can also self refer.
Urgent Dental Care and Stabilisation Programme
The Urgent Dental Care and Stabilisation (UDCS) programme is operating across 'high street' primary dental practices in Sussex.
This service provides access to urgent dental care for anyone unable to access a dental appointment for urgent dental issues. The service is intended for patients without access to a regular dentist and those that are struggling to get an urgent appointment with their regular dentist.
The service also offers appointments to patients from identified vulnerable groups who for whatever reason require an urgent assessment of their oral health. Vulnerable patients could be those on bisphosphonate medication, immunosuppresse and patients requiring dental assessment or fitness to commence oncology or cardiology treatment. Other vulnerable groups would be, homeless people, care home residents, looked after children and care leavers and those from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
This service is managed by the Sussex Dental Helpline between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday on 0300 123 1663 or by email to kcht.dentalhelpdesk@nhs.net
Recycling Through Surgeries
If you have unused and unopened surgical consumables such as bandages, catheters etc, please bring them to the Surgery and place them in the yellow Medi Tech Trust Recycling Bin in our Reception Area. Medi Tech Trust will send them to overseas hospitals where they can be immediatly used.
If you have larger unused medical equipment such as crutches, boots, supports etc, plese phone Medi Tech on 01323 442211 to arrange a collection.
To comply with UK legislation, NO MEDICINES can be accepted. These must be returned to a pharmacy.
Click here for further information about Medi Tech.
Urine Samples
We would like to ask patients to refrain from dropping off urine samples to the surgery for suspected urinary infections (UTI) unless a clinician has requested you to. The Practice has a protocol to follow as dip testing samples in the Practice doesn't give the clinical information required or an indication of how unwell a patient may be. A sample may need to be sent to the hospital laboratory but before doing so symptoms must be discussed with a clinician.
Due to new guidelines, your GP is no longer the first port of call for UTI's. If you are female and aged 16-65 and think you may have a UTI you should now contact your pharmacy where they will assess you and provide necessary treatment. If you have blood in your urine, pregnant or have diabetes you still need to see a GP.
If you suspect you have a UTI and do not fit the criteria for the Pharmacy service they will advise you to make contact with the Practice for either a telephone or face to face consultation. This procedure has been put in place following NICE guidance. For more information on this follow the links provided.
Implementation of the British Medical Association’s Safe Working Guidance
Safe Working Guidance - Patient Information
Did you know that your Practice receives just £107.57 per year for each patient, whatever their health needs. That's less than the cost of an annual TV licence, working out to be just 30p a day for every patient registered with us. We believe General Practice deserves a bigger slice of NHS funding so we can hire more GP's, Clinical and Administrative staff to enable us to deliver services you require and make it easier for you and your loved ones to get appointments to see your GP and Practice team.
Private Medicine and your NHS GP- Shared Care Agreements
Advice and guidance to patients who access private treatment from a specialist without being referred by their GP and how Seaside Medical Centre can only prescribe 'shared care' medications initiated by an NHS provider of care. See our information on Shared Care Agreements
Pharmacy Services - Pharmacy First
The new Pharmacy First Service will enable community pharmacists to provide care for patients without the need for patients to visit their GP.
Patients ringing into Seaside Medical Centre will be triaged by the team and depending on the condition referred to the pharmacist if it is found to be appropriate. The pharmacists will be able to provide advice and NHS funded treatment where clinically appropriate for these 7 conditions:
- Sinusitis for adults and children aged 12 and over
- Sore throat for adults and children aged 5 and over
- Acute otitis media for children aged 1 to 17years
- Infected insect bite for adults and children aged 1 year and over
- Impetigo for adults and children aged 1 year and over
- Shingles for adults aged 18 years and over, and
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women aged 16-64 years.
A patient’s General Practice will be notified of the outcome of the Pharmacy First consultation at the pharmacy.
National GP Patient Survey 2026
We are committed to providing the best possible care and your feedback plays an important role in helping us improve our services. The results of the 2026 GP Patient Survey is now available. Please click on the link below to see what our patients said.
Hot weather: protecting patients and service users
Hot weather can pose significant risks across health and care settings, particularly for older people, those with long-term conditions, and individuals accessing hospital, community, and mental health services.
As we approach periods of higher temperatures, organisations are encouraged to sign up to the UKHSA Weather-Health Alerting (WHA) system, which provides early notification when temperatures are likely to impact health and wellbeing, supporting timely planning and response across services.
UKHSA has also produced a range of guidance to help providers mitigate risks and support vulnerable people during hot weather, including:
- Summary action card for services delivering care to people in their homes
- Summary action card for hospitals and healthcare settings in the community
- Supporting vulnerable people before and during hot weather: social care managers
- Beat the heat: advice for hot weather
- Adverse Weather and Health Plan
These resources provide practical steps to help protect people using services during periods of high temperatures.
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Meningitis Information
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Severe headache
- Limb and muscle pain
- Cold hands and feet
- Pale, mottled skin
- Rash anywhere on the body
- Stiff neck
- Unable to tolerate bright lights
- Very sleepy
- Confused
- Seizures
- Meningitis - NHS
- The Meningitis Research Foundation
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
UK: 080 8800 3344
Republic of Ireland: 1800 41 33 44 - Meningitis Now
0808 80 10 388
(9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday)
SDHC GP Federation - Health and Wellbeing Podcasts
SDHC bring you regular experts from varying fields of health and wellbeing, interviewed by Dr Nick Harvey, of South Downs Health and Care.
SDHC's aim is to improve people's lives by enabling better health and wellbeing now and into the future. Their podcasts are one way in which they are empowering the community through knowledge.
Below is a link to their Podcast page, and below are examples of the type of Podcasts they do.
https://www.sdhc.org.uk/podcasts
https://www.sdhc.org.uk/news/sdhc-health-wellbeing-podcast
https://www.sdhc.org.uk/news/the-sdhc-health-wellbeing-podcast-02
https://www.sdhc.org.uk/news/the-sdhc-health-wellbeing-podcast-03
Urgent Patient Message - Blood Test Changes
We can only perform blood tests requested by our practice GPs. For blood tests requested by other healthcare professionals outside our surgery please book using the hospital service via this link: https://tinyurl.com/4kcbsxk3 or Bexhill Community Diagnostic Centre via this link: https://tinyurl.com/3a22693k or call 0300 131 5560. Please do not call reception, details are in the attached letter.
Page created: 22 September 2022