Our Services

The personal child health record (red book)red book

Shortly before or after your baby is born, you'll be given a personal child health record (PCHR). This usually has a red cover and is often called the "red book". It's a handy way for you to keep track of your child's health and progress, and can be shared with their health professionals.

It's a good idea to take your baby's red book with you every time you visit the baby clinic, your GP, or hospital. Your baby's health professionals will use it to record your child's weight and height, vaccinations, and other important health information.

Find out more about your baby's vaccinations on the NHS website

You can also add information to the red book yourself. You may want to record any illnesses or accidents your baby has, and details of any medicines they take.

You'll find it helpful to keep the developmental milestones section of the red book up-to-date and fill in the relevant questionnaires before each routine review.

• Child Development: THURSDAYS 2.00pm to 3.00pm. We consider your child’s health is extremely important and advice is always available. At 6-8 weeks we hope to see you mother and baby for a check up with your doctor.
• Immunisations: THURSDAYS 2.00pm to 5.00pm.
  Following the child development check, there is an immunisation clinic which is held on Thursdays.
  If you have missed an appointment for immunisation and want to come along without an appointment card please telephone to ensure there is a clinic running.
  You are invited to discuss with a doctor any concerns you have regarding immunisation for your child at your 6 week check.
• Flu Vaccination: This is a nasal spray rather than an injection and has proved extremely effective. Clinics start in September and parents of children with health conditions and are therefore at risk, will be contacted shortly either by text, email or letter. 
• Well Baby: This is organised by the Health Visitors at The Boundstone Children and Family Centre, Boundstone Lane, Lancing on Wednesdays from 1.30-3pm. No appointment is needed.

Please book an appointment or telephone appointment with our Practice Nurse if you would like to have some advice regarding choosing the right family planning method for you.

Please note:

• Appointments for advice can be made during regular surgery hours including Monday evenings.
• Appointments for the fitting of an inter-uterine device (coil), cap or Implanon need to be arranged with one of our specially trained GPs. 

We have made some changes to the way we review long-term health conditions this year so please read this information carefully.

Any conditions not requiring a blood test (Asthma and COPD) will be reviewed via a Telephone consultation with a Nurse. Patients may request a face to face appointment if necessary. Before your telephone appointment, it is helpful to have answered a few questions using one of our assessment forms

Please remember if you experience any symptoms or feel unwell, please contact the Surgery – do not wait for your annual check up.

What type of appointment do I need?

• Diabetes (with or without Hypertension): 30 minute appointment with a Healthcare Assistant (HCA). You will then be contacted once results have been reviewed.
• Diabetes AND a respiratory condition (Asthma and/or COPD): 30 minute appointment with a HCA. You will then be contacted once results have been reviewed and you will have a telephone review for your respiratory condition
• Asthma: A telephone review appointment with a Nurse
• COPD: A telephone review appointment with a Nurse
• Hypertension: If you have a home Blood Pressure machine, book a routine blood test appointment and provide readings. If you do not have a home Blood Pressure machine, book a 15 minute appointment with a HCA. You can download a sheet to record Home Blood Pressure readings here: Home Blood Pressure Readings
• Chronic Heart Disease, Heart Failure, or Stroke: Patients who do not have any of the above conditions but have been diagnosed with Chronic Heart Disease, Heart Failure, or Stroke will be invited for routine blood tests when the GP or Clinical Pharmacist does their annual medicine review.
• Pre-Diabetes: Patients who have Pre-Diabetes require an annual blood test to check their condition has not progressed to Diabetes.

We have facilities to carry out minor operations.

For example, we are able to provide certain joint injections, toe-nail problems and cryotherapy (freezing) for warts etc.

If you would like help with stopping smoking, please talk with any of our Healthcare Assistants, Nurses or GPs. We have specially trained Smoking Cessation Advisers available at the surgery.

If you are committed to attending 6 appointments, ask to be directed to this service. This service is often also available on Monday evenings.

Other help is also available from:  

• Quitters helpline 01243 815505
• NHS helpline 0800 1690169

If a GP or another member of our health care team believes you need hospital treatment or specialist care elsewhere, they will discuss your referral with you and where possible offer a choice of where you may like to go.

If the information is available then we will indicate the expected wait times.

If you are unable to attend a hospital appointment please let them know in advance so that they can rebook your appointment. If you no longer wish to attend, please also let them know.

In certain situations it is important that you are assessed within 2 weeks. The doctor will let you know this and it will be very important that you keep the appointment that you are given.

If you have any questions about the wait time for your appointment or you do not receive an appointment from the service you have been referred to, in the first instance you can contact:

• Western Sussex Hospital Trust Appointment Call Centre on 01273 446067 for appointments at St Richards, Worthing or Southlands Hospitals
• The West Sussex Coastal Musculoskeletal Assessment Treatment Team (MATT) based in Bognor on 01243 623601.