Welcome to the RUDGWICK Medical Centre Website

******We welcome new patients ******

If you would like to register with us, please click here to check our catchment area You can register on line or at the surgery - click here for more information.

•  Once you have submitted your econsult, your request will be sent to the clinical team where it will be reviewed and assigned the appropriate priority for response based on clinical need. This may NOT be within 2 working days due to high demand

Visit us on Facebook  This is regularly updated with news, surgery updates and health advice and information

We are closed for training from 12.30pm on Tuesday 30th April 2024.

If you have a non-urgent query during this time please refer to your local pharmacy. If you need urgent advice, please call the urgent GP service on 01293 698088.  If you have a life-threatening emergency please dial 999. 

Minor illnesses and other services

Many minor illnesses can be managed by pharmacists. We can refer you to a pharmacist who can advise and treat many conditions. They will let us know if a GP consultation is required. 

SPRING COVID BOOSTERS

The Spring Covid booster programme opens from 15th April - 30th June, we will be starting to vaccinate the care homes in Horsham first. Patients who are able to attend a hospital appointment are being offered their vaccination at Courtyard surgery and our NEW POP-UP SITE, Bohunt School, Sports Hall, Bailey Road, Horsham, RH12 6AP by the Horsham Collaborative PCN (Courtyard, Villages Southwater, Cowfold and Rudgwick medical practices).

The booster is for all patients aged 75 and over (including patients who will turn 75 by the end of June) and only patients aged 5- 74 who are recorded as immunosuppressed.

Eligible patients will be contacted with a link to book an appointment directly or alternatively patients can contact the surgery to book an appointment.

As with the previous campaign, we have ensured there is ample parking available as well as support for patients with limited mobility to receive a vaccine.

We also have quiet clinics to support mental ill health, anxiety, needlephobia.

Should you require patient transport to get to the vaccine, please call Sussex transport on 01403 754206.

All eligible housebound and care home patients will be contacted by our team to arrange a visit for the booster vaccine.

For further information about the Spring Booster programme and who is eligible please visit COVID-19 Vaccine Updates (gpweb.org.uk) or https://horshamcollaborativepcn.gpweb.org.uk/our-primary-care-network

NEW -- Sleep Station Service

We have a new service available to our patients for 12mths from 1/11/2023. This is to help chronic insomnia sufferers without the use of medication. The service is a web based online CBTi programme where digital access is required for daily internet access via a computer/smart phone. This is available for adults aged over 18 and you can self refer using this link https://www.sleepstation.org.uk/start-now/

See below for further information

SLEEP STATION SERVICE.docx

Staff changes/recruitment

We have welcomed Dr Douglas McCleod to the team, a very experienced GP who has worked extensively in Sussex for a number of years. We hope to have news of another new GP joining us very soon.

Dispensary notices

Friends and Family Test

We welcome patient feedback to tell us what we are doing right and what we can improve. Click here to complete a short survey. 

See below for the results from March 2024

Asking the question - "Overall, how was your experience of our service?"

"Efficient handling of my problem from first phone call to present day. Now waiting for some test results"

"Answered the phone quickly, had GP appointment the next day, thank you"

"Not able to park in the car park. And my appointment was 39 mins late"

Thank you to everyone who has responded. The  majority of our patients have been satisfied with the treatment received. However we recognise that a number of patients are not happy with the current system of the triage system to request an appointment. Unfortunately due to continuing high demand and in line with many other practices we need to ensure we manage demand as safely as possible. Some of our patients have commented that sometimes they are not seen on time when they have an appointment. Unfortunately some patients unexpectedly take longer than others during an appointment which means a doctor can run late. However, if this is the case and you are unable to wait we can of course rebook your appointment. 

Another theme is that patients are not happy as they feel Dr Mckenzie is not seeing patients. As the sole full time GP partner at Rudgwick MC Dr Mckenzie is responsible for triaging all calls, reviewing all hospital letters and all results (eg blood results). This workload is huge and although Dr Mckenzie does of course still see patients his capacity for doing so is limited. All clinicians have access to the patient's medical record and so continuity of care is not compromised. We do however have a new regular part time GP, Dr McLeod, who has joined the team and will regularly be seeing patients. We will continue to attempt to recruit a further permanent GP but due to the national shortage (in particular in this area) this is proving challenging. 

Some comments suggest we employ more locums so we can offer more appointments. Unfortunately the cost of locums is high and given the limitations in funding for GP services, this would make the surgery financially non viable. 

We will continue to evaluate and monitor feedback. 

Patient Survey

Click here for the results of the 2023 national patient survey. We have reviewed the results, please see below for our report.

Rudgwick Medical Centre Patient Survey Report 2023

Advice for parents with unwell children                                                                

Not all children who are unwell need to see the doctor unless they are significantly unwell (eg breathless or wheezy). Please see this link to a video which discusses the sorts of symptoms it would be entirely normal for children to have and there is also advice when you should be more concerned. The video focuses on infants, but the same advice applies to children who are older. 

A fever/high temperature in children is very common and usually suggests your child has an infection. A temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds. Viral infections are far more common than bacterial infections and get better on their own without needing treatment from a GP or antibiotics. Click on this link for more information.

Click here for more useful information and advice about other childhood illnesses, or good resources are www.what0-18.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk  

Extended evening opening

We will be open on Monday evenings until 8pm for a range of pre bookable appointments including ECGs, NHS health checks, smoking cessation, Care Co-Ordinator consultations, blood pressure checks and pulse checks. We are also working on a health coaching programme relevant to patients with a variety of conditions. The surgery and dispensary will NOT be open for prescription collections or other queries.  There will also be a range of appointments available at other surgeries in our Primary Care Network (Southwater, Courtyard and Cowfold).

The NHS app and access to your medical records

The NHS App is owned and run by the NHS and is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smart phone, tablet or desktop. You can download and install the NHS App from the App store, Google play or through your browser. For more information click here. 

As your GP practice, we have been asked to provide you with access to your full medical record going forward via the NHS app (and NHS website) if you have a suitable NHS login. For more information please see below -

Accessing your medical record

Zero tolerance policy

Thank you to the majority of our patients who have shown us support and kindness before and during the pandemic. This video by the Institute of General Practice Management however highlights the abuse practice staff, especially receptionist/care navigators receive on a daily and often hourly basis. Unfortunately our practice is no different and many of the comments in this video have been said to staff here. Sadly we have had several members of staff resign over the last few months stating negative patient behaviour and abuse as the primary factor.  We appreciate that times are difficult and it can be frustrating not to get the help you want when you want it. Sadly, we cannot always help in the way you are expecting. Our staff are only human and are trying to help you as best as they can and following protocols to ensure those patients who most need help from their GP receive it. 

Self referral/Self help

You do not need to speak to a GP and can self refer for these problems - 

Musculoskeletal problems - eg back pain - you can self refer to the MSK service - click here for the referral form and click here for further information. Requesting to see a GP before self referral will significantly delay any treatment options. 

If you need pain relief, the first port of call is the pharmacist who can advise and recommend appropriate over the counter medication. The GPs will not prescribe pain relief until you have tried this first for the recommended length of time. If you are still unable to manage your pain, then please contact us and the GPs can review your pain relief.

Talking therapies - eg anxiety, depression - click here for more information

Taking photos

Sometimes the GP may ask you to take a photo such as for your throat/skin lesion. 

• Always ensure you have adequate lighting and avoid shadows
• Make sure the subject is clear and in focus (so that the image has crisp edges)
• Ensure you do not take the photo too close to the subject (this can cause poor focus)
• Where appropriate, place a ruler or coin in the photo to provide a sense of scale
• Take photos from various angles
• Review the photo on your PC (if possible) before sending to check quality is good

Tips for taking photographs

Other useful links -

How to to take and send photos to your doctor

How to upload a photo while submitting an eConsult

Self test chlamydia kits

Self testing chlamydia kits are now available for patients to order on line.

Please click here if you live in West Sussex, and here if you live in Surrey.

Urine samples

We regret that we are unable to accept urine samples after 5pm unless this has been agreed in advance with our staff. Thank you.

Blood tests

We have chosen to provide a phlebotomy service. However please be aware that we are unable to do blood tests when these have been requested by the hospital. We can only do these in certain circumstances and ONLY if you have the hospital blood test request form. We CANNOT request bloods requested by the hospital ourselves as this will mean the results go to the incorrect clinician breaking the chain of care.  These blood tests can be done at either the Royal Surrey County Hospital or at Cranleigh Village Hospital - click here for information on services providing phlebotomy appointments. 

Dental problems

Please be aware that GPs are not able to issue antibiotics for dental problems and are not licensed or indemnified to do so unless they have had special training. If you have a dental problem please contact your dentist or contact 111 who can put you in touch with an emergency dentist.

Accessible Information and translation and interpreting

Please click here for more information or talk to us.  We want to make it as easy as possible for people to communicate with us. If you need information in an alternative format please let us know.

Let us know if you need help with interpretation. We have access to services including -

• face to face, telephone and remote community language interpreting
• face to face, telephone and British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting (including Signlive on demand BSL interpreting)
• translation servgices including BSL videos, braille and easy read
• bilingual advocacy

See Veterans page in further information