eConsult Due to pressure of work for our remaining clinicians during Dr Hacking’s extended sick leave, we have had to make the difficult decision to turn off eConsult for GP consultations until further notice. We are very sorry that this is the case and have not made this decision lightly but, until we can recruit more doctors, we have to find ways of managing the practice that are safe and workable within the medical capacity that we do have.
You can still use eConsult to look up general medical advice. You can also get advice from the NHS website or the NHS App. Your local Pharmacist can help you with self care.
If you need to consult a clinician you can contact the surgery by telephone Monday to Friday 08:30 – 12:00 and 15:00 – 18:30 however if your medical problem cannot wait you can contact the NHS 111 helpline by dialling 111 from any phone or by visiting NHS 111 Online. NHS 111 online is also a good place to check your symptoms.
For anything life threatening call 999.
Welcome to The Avenue Surgery
With patients' needs at the heart of everything we do, our website has been designed to make it easy for you to gain instant access to the information you need. As well as specific Practice details such as opening hours and how to register, you’ll find a wealth of useful pages covering a wide range of health issues along with links to other relevant medical organisations.
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Are you having difficulty booking an appointment?
Click here to find out more
General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR)
The NHS needs data about the patients it treats in order to plan and deliver its services and to ensure that care and treatment provided is safe and effective. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data that can be used to do this. For example patient data can help the NHS to:
- monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
- plan how to deliver better health and care services
- prevent the spread of infectious diseases
- identify new treatments and medicines through health research
GP practices already share patient data for these purposes, but this new data collection will be more efficient and effective.
The collection will now start on 1 September 2021 (extended from 1 July 2021) so if you do not want your data to be shared with NHS Digital please register your Type 1 Opt-out by 25 August 2021 to allow time for us to process your opt-out.
Click here for more information. Type 1 Opt-Out form.
Mythbusting social media posts about the national data opt-out - NHS Digital
Organisational Change at The Avenue Surgery - Click here for more details
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HANDS FACE SPACE FRESH AIR.
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COVID VACCINE UPDATE
COVID-19 UPDATE FROM THE AVENUE SURGERY
Like you, we are very pleased to see that the national COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to be lifted.
We are aware of the need to balance the need to keep you and our staff safe from COVID whilst moving towards some form of normality.
As we work this through, please could we ask you to be mindful of the following:
We have a responsibility to you and our staff to maintain a COVID-safe environment, so please continue to follow the national guidance on social distancing and do not come to the practice if you have any COVID symptoms.
We are offering face to face appointments where these are clinically necessary as judged by a doctor or nurse but will continue to use phone consultations as a first step in many instances.
When we refer you to hospital, we make clear the level of clinical urgency of your condition. We are sorry that hospital waiting times can be long but, after we refer you, we have no control over how quickly you are seen.
We are not responsible for the COVID vaccination programme criteria or administration and are not able to deal with queries about it.
Whilst we appreciate that it can be frustrating when you are not able to find the answers to your questions quickly, please could you appreciate that our team are doing their best to help you but can only do things that are within our control.
Thank you for your help and understanding.
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We are really pleased to be able to announce arrangements are now in place for patients registered at our practice to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at a new GP led vaccination service set up at Brighton Racecourse.
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You will be contacted by the NHS when it is your turn to receive the vaccine, and so we kindly ask you to please NOT contact the practice to ask about appointments.
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Click here to find out more .
If you are an unpaid carer aged 18 or over, click here to find out how to book a COVID vaccine.
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The Sussex Health and Care Partnership FAQ page contains up to date information about the COVID-19 vaccine programme.
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Can people pick which COVID vaccine they have?
No. Any vaccines that the NHS will provide will have been approved because they pass the MHRA's tests on safety and efficacy, so people should be assured that whatever vaccine they get, it is worth their while.
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Warning over COVID vaccination scams
Be on your guard against fraudulent text and email messages as new scams are being sent to patients.
People are receiving a text or email notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link.
This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent to patients to arrange their appointments at the GP led vaccination services.
Please follow the advice below.
- The COVID-19 vaccination is ONLY available from the NHS and it is FREE – you will never be asked to pay for it or give your bank details.
- If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
- If you receive a text or email that you believe to be fraudulent please delete it. Please be assured that if you don’t respond because you are worried and it is a genuine text or email, you will remain on the vaccination list and be contacted again
- If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.
Guidance on official NHS texts
- An official NHS text message from your GP practice or the organisation arranging the appointments for your GP practice such as the local Primary Care Network will include their details such as the name of the Practice, group of Practices or the name of the Federation working on their behalf. It may also include details of the vaccination centre. Scam text messages and emails usually don’t include his information
- An official NHS text message from the national booking system will be a reminder text so will include details of your booked appointment include date, time and location
If you have any further concerns about something you have received please contact the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme team on sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net
Travelling safely to a Brighton COVID vaccination centre
If anyone is concerned about how they will travel safely to get a vaccine during lockdown, we can confirm that it is permissible to receive a lift from someone or use community transport providers offering this support for transport for medical appointments.
You can find information about community and non-emergency transport on the Brighton and Hove City Council website or call the community hub on 01273 293 117.
City Cabs of Brighton are offering free cab rides for Brighton residents to and from the Racecourse for patients to receive their COVID vaccine.
Anyone aged 80 and over currently qualifies for free travel with City Cabs and they are hoping to open this offer up to the over 70s.
Any patient who lives outside Brighton or who cannot access the vaccination site themselves and would rather not use public transport are being offered discounted rates for travel to the Racecourse with City Cabs if travelling within Brighton, or South Coast Taxis if travelling from outside Brighton.
Please call City Cabs on 01273 205205 if you live in Brighton or South Coast Taxis on 01273 301111 if you live outside Brighton and they will be happy to help. You will be asked for your vaccination appointment day and time.
Click here for more information about the City Cabs/South Coast Taxis transport options.
#HelpUsHelpYou
GERM DEFENCE
Scientifically proven and practical advice to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at home
Click here for advice to help protect your home from COVID-19
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PRE-BOOKED FACE TO FACE APPOINTMENTS
WITH A DOCTOR OR NURSE
We are asking all patients on entering the building to wear a face covering (this can be a face mask, a scarf, a bandana or even a handkerchief).
Face coverings can help contain the Coronavirus, especially when social distancing measures cannot be maintained.
There may be exceptions regarding face coverings, for example very young children and people with breathing difficulties. For further information please speak to a member of staff.
Please attend the surgery unaccompanied where possible. If a carer needs to attend they too will need to wear a face covering.
In order to observe social distancing and minimise contact with other patients and staff, please do not arrive too early for your appointment - ideally no more than 5 minutes before.
Please press the buzzer next to the front door to advise reception that you have arrived.
You will be asked to wait in the car park and advised that your clinician will come out to the car park to ask you some screening questions and take your temperature. You will then be taken directly to their consulting room
We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your support.
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Breast Screening invitations for women aged between 50 and 70 will be sent out by the East Sussex Breast Screening Unit starting in November 2020. Click here for more details and here for Frequently Asked Questions.
Requests for certification or letters in relation to wearing face masks
As the Government extends its advice on the number of venues where face masks should be worn, we are receiving requests for “letters of exemption”.
There is no requirement for evidence of exemption, it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this, and there is no requirement for General Practitioners to provide such letters.
For more information patients should visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own#exemptions-to-wearing-a-face-covering-where-they-are-mandated
Brighton and Hove Buses https://www.buses.co.uk/face-covering-guidance
Transport for London have a specific website/phone line for customers https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/face-coverings
South Eastern Railways https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/help-and-contact/get-in-touch/coronavirus-travel-advice
IMPORTANT: Please note any digital image submitted as part of an online consultation, will be stored within your clinical notes.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
NHS England have made the decision to keep face to face appointments to only those that are medically essential.
DO NOT COME DOWN TO THE SURGERY BUT RING THE SURGERY ON 01273 606214 OR 604220.
All patients requesting a consultation will need to speak to the doctor by telephone first.
If the doctor decides, you need to be seen they will arrange this.
Request prescriptions online via SystmOne or the NHS App. If you need to leave a prescription request or a letter please use the black mailbox on the wall to the right of the front door.
If your child is unwell during Coronavirus parents can click here for advice.
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UNDER 25s DROP IN CONTRACEPTION AND SEXUAL HEALTH NOT CURRENTLY OPERATING AT THE AVENUE SURGERY
Until further notice there will be no Under 25s Drop in Contraception and Sexual Health clinic at The Avenue Surgery. The Brighton and Hove Sexual Health & Contraception Services (SHAC) offers contraceptive and sexual health advice. For the latest information during the Coronavirus emergency Click here
Could you be eligible to join the PRINCIPLE trial and help the fight against COVID-19? Click here for details.
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2019-Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Stay alert
We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:
- stay at home as much as possible
- work from home if you can
- limit contact with other people
- keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- wash your hands regularly
Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
- you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- your condition gets worse
- your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19
For the most up to date advice go to:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
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Links to Online Services are at the bottom of this page
Your Data Matters - National Data Opt-Out Programme - click here to find out more.
Click here for details of the Physiotherapy Self-Referral Scheme
Measles is a serious illness that is highly infectious. To be protected from measles and other infections including mumps and rubella, you need to be immunised with 2 doses of MMR vaccine. Click here to read Measles: It's not just a kids' problem.
Sussex Interpreting Services (SIS) offer free help, support and information in 17 languages. Click here for more information.
Together Co (formerly Impetus) is a loneliness charity that creates connections to change lives.
Together Co does this through their befriending, social prescribing and volunteering services in Brighton, Hove and beyond, and by sharing our ideas and expertise nationally. In a city of nearly 300,000, no one should be lonely or socially isolated.
Together, we can make sure no one is.
https://togetherco.org.uk/
Find out about Community Navigation - help improve your health and wellbeing. It is a free of charge social prescribing service in Brighton and Hove that links you to community services and groups. Click here for a short video.
Links to Online services are at the bottom of this page ↓
Speak Up On Cancer Video
Albion in the Community have made a video as part of their "Speak Up Against Cancer" service. It features a cancer survivor discussing her experience of breast cancer
Links to Online services are at the bottom of this page ↓
Accessible Information Standard
Do you have any information or communication needs? Do you require information in a different format? Click here for more information.
Named Accountable GP
From 1 April, 2015 GP practices are required under the General Medical Services (GMS) Contract, to allocate a named, accountable GP to all patients, including children. The Practice has decided that your named, accountable GP will be the doctor you are registered with. If you are unsure who is your named GP and wish to know, please ask the Reception staff the next time you are at the Surgery.
Should you express a wish to be changed to another GP the practice will make reasonable efforts to accommodate this request.
Please be aware that having a named GP does not affect your ability to make an appointment with any of the GPs at The Avenue Surgery.
Information for our Diabetic Patients
The Avenue Surgery is taking part in the National Diabetes Audit (NDA). Please click here for further information. If you are a diabetic patient and would like to opt out please let a member of Reception know.
The 2017/18 Summary of Findings Reports can be accessed by clicking here.
CCTV
Closed circuit television (CCTV) is installed at The Avenue Surgery premises for the purposes of patient, staff and premises security. Cameras are located at various places on the premises and images from the cameras are recorded. CCTV is used in accordance with the Data Protection Act and Home Office and Information Commissioner’s Office Codes of Practice.
Get Well, Keep Well
Of course we’re not just here for when you are unwell. Our team of healthcare professionals and back-up staff offer a number of clinics and services to promote good health and wellbeing whatever your medical condition.
Join In
We hope you enjoy having a look around the site and familiarising yourself with some of the online features such as ordering a repeat prescription. Whatever your thoughts, be sure to let us know via our feedback function. Comments and suggestions are always a great way of helping us continue to enhance the way we look after you.
Access
Easy access is available to all clinical areas and special toilet facilities which are all on the ground floor.
(Site updated 17/06/2021)