Independent Services Offered Within the Building

Dentist

Mon-Sat (08:30-13:00, 14:00-17:00)

Dumbledore Dental Care is an NHS dental practice operating within Dumbledore Primary Care Centre. The lists are open for both NHS and private patients.

The reception area for dentistry patients is situated at the far end of the surgery reception desk.

Contact: 01444 400088 or walk in and speak to the dental receptionist.


Dermatology

Alternate Thursdays (09:00-17:00)

Sussex Community Dermatology Service (SCDS) is a community-based service for patients with skin problems. The aim of the service is to improve patient access to specialists and to reduce hospital waiting lists by seeing patients with a wide-range of skin problems for diagnosis and treatment in a community setting within six weeks of their referral. The service is part of a new government initiative to provide patients with Care Closer to Home, and was commissioned by West Sussex Primary Care Trust.


Maternity Services

Tuesdays (09:00-16:00)

Antenatal clinics are held at Handcross Surgery. Before booking an appointment with the midwife, please complete a self-referral form here.

Book an appointment at reception or Contact: 01444 441881 ext. 4414 (between 08:30 and 09:30 on Mondays only)


Wellbeing Clinic

Friday (09:00-17:00)

Mid Sussex Wellbeing are at Ouse Valley Practice every Friday to help you make the changes you want to make. A 45 minute appointment for you to discuss, in a confidential and non-judgemental environment, your health and wellbeing needs. The Wellbeing Advisor will be able to support you towards the goals you want to achieve and motivate you towards success.

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore a charge will apply. Examples include the following:

  • Medicals for pre-employment and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
  • Insurance claim forms  
  • To Whom It May Concern letters
  • Private sick notes
  • Vaccination certificates
  • Firearms licencing*

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.
 

*There has recently been a change in the process required for the application of firearms certificate.  It is best not to send your application to the police until the medical proforma is completed and can be sent accompanying the application.  The Practice may complete Medical Proformas in relation to an application for a shotgun/firearms licence or renewal of a licence, for which the fee is £35.00 plus VAT.  However the individual doctor may make the decision to decline this private service to prioritise NHS work.  If licence holders are members of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) they can ring 01244 573010 for further advice.  Alternatively you could contact MedCert (www.medcert.co.uk).

Travel Clinic

Travel Questionnaire

If you are due to travel abroad and need advice and/or administration of vaccinations, please call the surgery to book an appointment with one of our nurses. This should be done at least 6 weeks before you travel so that there is time to order the vaccines and for the vaccines to take effect. We are offering NHS vaccines only at this time. If others are required, we will advise where these can be done privately.

We have included a Travel Risk Assessment Form below for you to complete & return to us. This form must be completed & returned in advance of your appointment.


Prescription Charges

Some travel vaccines will incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.


Further Information

Europe Europe & RussiaNorth America North America
Central America Central AmericaSouth America South America
Caribbean CaribbeanAfrica Africa
Middle East Middle EastCentral Asia Central Asia
East Asia East AsiaAustralasia  Australasia and Pacific

Diabetic Clinics

We have a specialist nurse who looks after our patients with diabetes. Please ensure you ask for Clare when making one of these appointments.

Flu vaccinations

It is important that “at risk” patients receive an annual flu immunisation. Clinics are held in October/ November each year. Pneumoccocal vaccinations are offered to patients over 75 years.


Seasonal Flu Vaccination

Flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. It spreads rapidly through small droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person.   For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.

Studies have shown that flu vaccines provide effective protection against the flu, although protection may not be complete and may vary between people. Protection from the vaccine gradually decreases and flu strains change over time. Therefore, new vaccines are made each year and people at risk of flu are encouraged to be vaccinated every year.

The flu vaccination is offered to people in at-risk groups. These people are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they catch flu, such as pregnant women and elderly people.

Should I get the Flu Vaccination?

For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.

However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These conditions may require hospital treatment.

The flu vaccine is offered free to people who are at risk, to protect them from catching flu and developing serious complications.

At-risk groups

It is recommended that you have a flu jab if you fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • are 65 years old or over (including those becoming age 65 by 31 March 2019)
  • all pregnant women  (including those women who become pregnant during the flu  season)
  • all those aged two and three years old  on 31 August 2018 (DOB 1.9.14 to 31.8.16)  
  • have a serious medical condition (see below)
  • are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
  • people who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill 
  • are a frontline health or social care worker (see below)
  • Patients registered as having Learning Disabilities

If you are the parent of a child who is over six months old and has a long-term condition on the list below, speak to your GP about the flu vaccine. Your child’s condition may get worse if they catch flu.

Pregnant women

It is recommended that all pregnant women should have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they’re in.

This is because there is good evidence that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly from the H1N1 strain.

Studies have shown that the flu vaccine can be safely and effectively given during any trimester of pregnancy. The vaccine does not carry risks for either the mother or baby. In fact, studies have shown that mothers who have had the vaccine while pregnant pass some protection to their babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.

People with medical conditions

The flu vaccine is offered free to anyone who is over six months of age and has one of the following medical conditions:

If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be able to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP about this.

Frontline health or social care workers

Employers are responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place for frontline healthcare staff to have the flu vaccine.

Outbreaks of flu can occur in health and social care settings, and staff, patients and residents are at risk of infection.

Frontline health and social care staff should protect themselves by having the flu vaccine to prevent the spread of flu to colleagues and other members of the community.

If you care for someone who is elderly or disabled, speak to your GP about getting vaccinated against seasonal flu. You should also ensure that the person you care for has the flu jab.

Children

An annual nasal spray flu vaccine will be offered to all children aged two and three years of age on 31 August 2018 as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

It will also be offered to children aged 2-18 with long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.

Children aged six months to 2 years with long-term health conditions aren’t able to have the nasal spray and will get the injected flu vaccine instead.


Who should not have the flu vaccination?

You should not have the flu vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. This happens very rarely.

If you have had a confirmed very serious (anaphylactic) reaction to egg, have an egg allergy with uncontrolled asthma or another type of allergy to egg, your GP may decide that you should be vaccinated with an egg-free vaccine. One such vaccine is available for this flu season (called Preflucel, manufactured by Baxter Healthcare).

If no egg-free vaccine is available, your GP will identify a suitable vaccine with a low egg (ovalbumin) content.

Depending on the severity of your egg allergy, your GP may decide to refer you to a specialist for vaccination in hospital.

If you are ill with a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered.

Is this year’s vaccine safe?

Although no medical procedure is totally free of risk, flu vaccines are generally very safe. The most common reaction to the jab is a sore arm, or you may feel hot for a day or two after the vaccination.

This year’s flu jabs have been tested and approved for use across the UK and in Europe. The jab cannot give you flu because it doesn’t contain any active viruses.

The Department of Health recommends that everyone who is eligible for a flu jab should have it as soon as the vaccine is available.

If you are in an at-risk group and do not have the jab, you will have a greater risk of developing serious complications or even dying if you get flu this winter.

If you haven’t had the flu vaccine and you are in a risk group, make an appointment to get vaccinated.

Find out more about the flu vaccine, including how the vaccine is made and how it protects you.

Flu vaccine for children

A annual nasal spray flu vaccine is now offered to all children aged two and three years as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme.

In certain geographic areas the spray will also be offered to children aged 2-18 with long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.  Please contact the surgery for further information if required.

Children aged six months to 2 years with long-term health conditions aren’t able to have the nasal spray and will get the injected flu vaccine instead.

Read more information about:

Cervical Screening Services

Book in via reception for cervical screening with one of our nurses. Follow up letters will be sent out to patients who have not attended and are overdue for appointments.

Family Planning

Doctors are happy to discuss all forms of family planning and are able to provide most forms, including coil fitting. Nurses provide follow-up appointments.

Childhood Immunisations

Wednesdays in Balcombe (11:00-12:30), Thursdays in Handcross (10:30-12:00)

A card will be sent to parents informing them when immunisations are due. If you have recently moved or feel your child is overdue for immunisation, please contact the surgery.

Care Co-ordinator

Mon-Tues (12:00-16:00), Wed (09:00-15:30)

Our Care Co-ordinator enables patients and their carers to access support in the community and also helps to promote health and wellbeing. Please contact Reception and ask for the Care Co-ordinator.