Appointments
eConsult
Appointment System
All requests for a GP/Clinical Nurse Prescriber appointment OR for help with medical advice/assessment/treatment and administrative requests such as requesting a sick note/Doctor's letter or asking about medications and to give your GP updates about long-term conditions should be made by submitting an eConsult via the online form eConsult
If you require any help to fill in the form, please contact the reception team
For more information on eConsults please see the information box below ('eConsult - Online Consultation').
Please consider BEFORE submitting an eConsult- is there another local service that may be a more appropriate option for you- see the list of local services below:
LOCAL SERVICES
If you think you need medical help right now, please either phone 111 (or 999 in an emergency) or use 111 online as they can advise you what to do next: https://111.nhs.uk/
Could your local Pharmacist help you with your problem through the Pharmacy First service? Pharmacists can offer advice about medicines which may help and advice on a range of illnesses, including coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, impetigo, infected insect bites, sinusitis, UTIs, shingles; certain age restrictions apply- for more information go to: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/
If you have a minor injury that is urgent but not life-threatening you can be assessed and treated at the Crowborough War Memorial Hospital MIU (Minor Injuries Unit)- for further information including opening hours go to: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/services/minor-injuries-unit-crowborough-war-memorial-hospital
Please note there is also an Uckfield Community Hospital MIU: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/services/minor-injuries-unit-uckfield-community-hospital
For minor injuries or illnesses there is also a walk-in service at the Lewes Victoria Hospital UTC (Urgent Treatment Centre)- for further information including opening hours go to: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/services/urgent-treatment-centre-lewes-victoria-hospital
For problems that would benefit from physiotherapy assessment/treatment you can access our First Contact Physiotherapy team by submitting an Econsult/contacting the practice, however you can also self-refer to the local physiotherapy service: https://eastsussexmsk.nhs.uk/gethelp/ or call 0300 131 5225
If you are concerned about your mental health or emotional wellbeing and you are 18 years or over you can self-refer to the free local NHS Talking Therapies Service: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/our-services/community-based-services/talking-therapies
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The Sussex Mental Healthline: 0800 0309 500- offers telephone support & crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are concerned about the mental health or emotional wellbeing of your child there is a self-referral process for anyone under 18 years of age who is experiencing social, emotional and mental health difficulties- to access the relevant support, including CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) please go to: https://www.sussexcamhs.nhs.uk/our-services/service-finder/east-sussex-single-point-advice-spoa or call 01323 464222 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 5pm, Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm)
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A free online counselling service for young people aged 12-18 years who live in East Sussex is available via: https://www.e-motion.org.uk/
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For young people aged 14-25 years help is also available including help with mental health worries, housing issues, employment, studying concerns via: https://www.irocksussex.com/
If you need help or support for alcohol or drug misuse please contact the local drug and alcohol service: https://www.changegrowlive.org/star-drug-alcohol-service-east-sussex Phone: 03003038160; Email: EastSussex.Firststep@cgl.org.uk
eConsult- Online Consultation
Our GP practice is using eConsult. We are aiming to increase the use of eConsult to help direct patients to the most appropriate member of the team or other NHS services to help with medical advice/assessment/treatment and administrative requests such as requesting a sick note/Doctor's letter or asking about medications and to give your GP updates about long-term conditions.
What is eConsult?
How does eConsult work?
- eConsult is easy for patients and practices
- eConsult is an online system for contacting the practice. It can be used for booking an appointment or for any other query.
- It is a simple online form which takes a few moments to fill out.
The Benefits
- Easy to access: no app, no account needed - simply submit a query directly through the practice website or through the NHS app. It should only take a couple of moments to do.
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Convenient: available Monday - Friday (excluding bank holidays), so you can send in your request at a time that suits you, rather than having to wait for the phone-lines to open; you may not need a trip to the surgery and your query may be resolved with a phone call or actioned directly.
- Faster: the requests are simple to submit, so you don’t need to wait on hold on the phone.
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Efficient: your request will be seen by the right person.
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Fairer: to improve access for those who definitely need appointments with a specific member of the team.
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Turnaround time: we will get back to you by the end of the next working day (most of the time this will be the same day).
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Continuity: you can request to be contacted by a specific GP or member of staff – if they are available we will do what we can to honour your request.
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Administrative help: you can request sick notes/paperwork and test results without the need for an appointment - saving patient and practice time.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs
Home Visits
Home visits are at the discretion of your doctor. Please do not ask your doctor to call unless the patient is genuinely too ill to come to the surgery. A rash or a temperature does not prevent patients coming to the surgery and will not endanger others. Simply tell the receptionist on arrival.
Where the condition of the patient does require a home visit, please try to let us know before 11:00 in the morning.
Extended Access
We work together with other local practices in what is known as a Primary Care Network (PCN). For patients registered here there will be early morning appointments with a Practice Nurse at 07:30 and 07:45 Monday to Thursday.
In addition there are consultations with a GP available on some evenings. Please ask at reception or call in if one of these evening appointments suits you.
MTW (Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust) Medical Students
Saxonbury House hosts medical students throughout the year. The students shadow doctors in their clinics which are specifically set up with medical students in mind. Medical students are supervised by Dr Padgham and patients will be made aware at the time of booking their appointment if there will be a student present during their consultation.
Travel vaccinations
If you're planning to travel outside the UK you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.