NHS Clinics & Services

The table below contains a comprehensive list of all the NHS funded clinics and services offered by Billingshurst Surgery and local NHS providers:

A&E and 999 calls	Calls to the ambulance service are for serious accident, critical and life threatening emergencies only, such as loss of consciousness, severe chest pain and/or loss of blood. The A&E departments at Worthing Hospital, the Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath; and St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, are open 24 hours a day.
Asthma & COPD Clinics	Twice weekly by appointment.
Blood Clinic	Monday to Friday am by appointment. This is supervised by our nurses for taking blood and other specimens for laboratory testing.
Cardiovascular Clinic	Weekly by invitation & appointment. All cardiovascular patients aged over 40 years can have a check up with the Clinic without invitation. Please contact the surgery to book an appointment.
Cervical Smears	With the practice nurse by appointment. We recommend 3 yearly checks for women up to 50 and 5 yearly checks for women between 50 and 65. Breast examination technique, blood pressure check and urine testing available.
Childhood Immunisations	Usually Wednesday 2.00pm - 4.00pm Your child will be sent for when injections are due. It is important that children receive all these immunisations. Please consult the doctor if you have any worries.
Continence Clinic	Monthly at the surgery by appointment. Run by a Continence Advisor who is a dedicated professional and who specialises in the care of people with bladder and bowel problems. If you think you would benefit from this clinic please ask to book an appointment with your GP.
Counselling Service	If you feel you would benefit from the services of a Counsellor you can be referred through consultation with a GP. There may be a waiting list for access to the Counsellor who has sessions weekly at The Surgery.
Diabetic Clinic	Weekly by appointment.
Diabetic Support	Information about Type 2 diabetes and help managing it. Provided by DESMOND (Diabetes Education And Self Management For Ongoing And Newly Diagnosed). For more information go to DESMOND web site.
Dentists	Need a dentist? Ring the local dental helpline 0300 1000 899 for details of dentists offering NHS dental services. If you have a dental emergency, contact your dentist. If you don't have a dentist, call the dental helpline or NHS Direct, or visit www.westsussexpct.nhs.uk
Electronic NHS Care Records Service	The NHS is introducing electronic patient records through the CARE RECORDS SERVICE (CRS). The aim is to link all parts of the NHS in England by 2010 giving Healthcare Professionals access to Countrywide electronic patient information. For more information about this there is a very good, comprehensive website we would advise you to visit.www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk
Emergency Contraception	Visit a pharmacy or contact a family planning clinic.
Expert Patient Programme (EPP	Living with a long term condition can often be a frustrating time not only for the person with the long term condition but also their family. The Expert Patient Programme helps people gain a greater sense of independence and control over their condition. This FREE self-management course teaches you how to self-manage your own condition more effectively. You will have the opportunity to learn new skills to help improve your own quality of life. Rachel Howlett EPP Administrator 01403-227000 ext 7547 / Email: epp@westsussexpct.nhs.uk The Annexe, Horsham Hospital Hurst Road Horsham West Sussex RH12 2DR
Family Planning	Thursday afternoons by appointment only. All services are provided including fitting of implants, intra-uterine devices, diaphragms and dispensing of the contraceptive pill/ injection.
Living well Course	Watch this space for details of the next Living Well Course.
Maternity Medical Services	Provided by all doctors during normal surgery hours. For appointments with a midwife, please collect a pregnancy pack from the surgery which will include midwife contact details.
Minor injury units and Urgent Treatment Centres	Before going to A&E consider if you would get the right treatment at a minor injury unit (MIU) or the urgent treatment centre. Crawley Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre - Open 24 hours a day (including Christmas and New Year). Telephone 01293 600300 ext 4141. Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital MIU - Open 9-5pm, Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and bank holidays. Telephone 01243 623564. Horsham Hospital MIU - Open 9-5pm, Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and bank holidays. Telephone 01293 600300 ext 7202. Zachary Merton Hospital MIU - Open 9-4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Closed weekends and bank holidays. Telephone 01903 858100.
Pneumonia Immunisation	Everyone over 65 should be immunised to help protect against pneumococcal infection which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis. We provide these vaccinations. More information
Seasonal Flu clinics	Our seasonal flu clinics are now underway. If you are over 65 years of age or suffer from a chronic disease and have not yet had your seasonal flu vaccine please contact the surgery.
Smoking Cessation	We do not currently run a Smoking Cessation service at the surgery. However, your GP will be able to advise you in this area. Alternatively support can be found at: Lloyds Pharmacy (High Street, Billingshurst) who have two trained advisors Stop Smoking Courses at Horsham Hospital, contact heather.bourn@westsussexpct.nhs.uk , 01403 227000 ext 7614. West Sussex Stop Smoking Helpdesk on 0300 100 1823 (local rate)
Travel Service	Patients travelling abroad and needing vaccinations are requested to complete a Travel Risk Assessment Form. On completion of this form please return it to the surgery reception desk as early as possible prior to the date of travel. You will be telephoned to make an appointment with the practice nurse about six weeks before your departure date. We are also a Yellow Fever vaccination centre. See our price list
Test Results	Routine, non-urgent tests take at least 48 working hours to reach the surgery. Normal results will not be communicated to the patient routinely. Abnormal results will be communicated to the patient.
West Sussex Breast Screening Service	West Sussex Breast Screening provides breast screening every three years for all women in the county aged 50 and over. In line with national recommendations, this service is currently rolling out to include women up to the age of 70. Women over the age of 70 are encouraged to continue to invite themselves for screening every three years. Most of these screening mammograms are performed in mobile units, which travel around the county, staffed by our specially trained radiographers. Women aged 71 and over can refer themselves for screening by phoning the Breast Screening Office on 01903 239757.