Services and Information

We offer shared care (your doctor and the hospital) during your pregnancy. Most expectant mothers have their antenatal checks with the midwife who is based at South Lodge in Worthing. A doctor is available if required. Postnatal checks are necessary 6 weeks after the birth and you should book an appointment with the doctor for this.

To book to have your baby at either Worthing or St Richard’s Hospital, complete an online referral form at

https://www.westernsussexhospitals.nhs.uk/services/maternity/pregnancy/booking-birth/

It is recommended patients with Asthma are seen annually in our clinic (6-monthly if under the age of 16). Our specially trained nurses will ensure that treatment is effective by checking inhaler technique and measuring lung function regularly, referring you to your usual doctor.  Please can all patients attending for Asthma appointments please remember to always bring along their inhalers.

If you are not able to make an appointment you can complete our Asthma Questionnaire and send in the the practice. Asthma Annual Review Questionnaire

It is very important to register that you are a carer we need to record this on your medical records. We can only do this when we are informed and quite often people don’t recognise themselves as being a Carer. Young or old we are here for you.   

Do you look after a friend or relative that without your support would not manage their daily living, this could be someone with a disability or ill mental health, drug and alcohol problems, dementia, or frailty.

Please complete our online registration or print version, forms are also available to collect and complete within surgery.  By completing this form our offer to unpaid carers can make a defined difference as follows: flu immunisation, annual health checks and arranging appointments which fit in with your caring responsibilities. Having the consent of the person you care for will enable you to participate in their care planning and treatment and also help us support you both.

(This is if you are both registered with Victoria Road)

Please return the form for the attention of Julie our Carers lead.

Carers registration formVictoria Road Carers registration form 16.11.23 (1)

https://www.carerssupport.org.uk

West Sussex Care Guide

The West Sussex Care Guide is a useful guide to help those who are needing care or for those who provide care and are needing support. The guide also contains useful information about local organisations and businesses that can provide care either at home or in a care home setting. Please use the link below to view the latest interactive care guide magazine.

Current Guide | West Sussex Care Guide

Dementia Careers Count

A useful website for people who are care for others who have dementia, including how to access support groups and useful tips and advice for the everyday challenges.

Dementia carer support groups – Dementia Carers Count

WEBSITES

Carers Support West Sussex are running a series of early-bereavement workshops to support carers who have been bereaved within the last six months. There is no age-constraint with these workshops.  See www.carerssupport.org.uk/bereavement-workshops

West Sussex County Council Website has a informative page about Social care and health in West Sussex. Social care and health – West Sussex County Council

West Sussex Care Guide: The West Sussex Care Guide is a useful guide to help those who are needing care or for those who provide care and are needing support. The guide also contains useful information about local organisations and businesses that can provide care either at home or in a care home setting. Please use the link below to view the latest interactive care guide magazine. Current Guide | West Sussex Care Guide

The nurses are trained to do Cervical Smears. All women aged between 25 and 64 years of age are automatically invited for a smear through the screening programme run by the Health Authority.

By appointment only – a check by the doctor at 6-8 weeks for baby including injections. Development assessment/ health promotion is offered by the Health Visitors to all children at 7 months, 2 years and 3 years.

Parents / guardians will receive notifications via the local community health services when immunisations are due with an appointment. Please contact us if you are unable to attend so a new appointment can be made.

Coronovirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can affect your lungs and airways. there is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Latest information is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19

You may be able to look after yourself at home if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19.

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.

COVID-19 VACCINATION STATUS

There are no longer any requirements for you to provide your Covid-19 vaccination status.

How to avoid catching and spreading coronovirus 

Like the common cold, the COVID-19 infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with COVID-19 via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands. It’s very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food.

Who is at high risk?

You may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:

• have had an organ transplant
• are having certain types of cancer treatment
• have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
• have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
• have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections
• are taking medicine that weakens your immune system
• are pregnant and have a serious heart condition

Pregnancy Advice

Pregnancy advice available from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

For more information regarding Dementia and Alzheimer’s, you can visit Alzheimer’s Society or Dementia – NHS Alternatively if you are worried or having symptoms please contact us.

Dementia Careers Count

A useful website for people who are carers for others who have dementia, including how to access support groups and useful tips and advice for the everyday challenges.

Dementia carer support groups – Dementia Carers Count

Run by specially trained nurses who offer an annual health check as well as dietary and general advice. If problems arise, patients will be referred back to their usual doctor.

Prediabetes Leaflet gives information on pre-diabetes

The Practice offers a range of contraceptive services via the Practice nurse or doctor during normal Surgery hours. Coil fittings are by arrangement only with a dooctor and nurse. An appointment with a doctor is necessary for contraception implants.

The nurses run hypertension (blood pressure) clinics and there is also a blood pressure monitor in reception for your use.

Sometimes it might be useful to records your Blood Pressure at home, using this from will help work out what your average Blood Pressure readings is. Home Blood Pressure Recording Sheet

Time to Talk Leaflet 2017   Time to Talk offer a range of talking therapies

PHQ-GAD7 (Web) Depression and anxiety screening

We have weekly clinics to remove “lumps & bumps”, moles, cysts etc. It is essential that patients have an appointment with the GP first so that the lesion can be properly assessed. If we are able to remove it at the Surgery we will arrange for patients to have an appointment at the Minor Surgery Clinic.

You can refer any MSK problems involving bones, muscles, nerve or joints as well as persistent pain & haematology conditions. You should self refer if you have been suffering from the problem for over 6 weeks. Please use the link to self refer.

MSK Self Referral

We also have many exercise sheets that you may find useful

The NHS does not pay for some of the services we provide. These include private sick notes, insurance forms, holiday cancellation forms and medical reports and much more. Here is a list of private work that we can provide, however there will be a fee for these services. These fees are in line with BMA approved national guidelines, are displayed below: Please note prices were increased as of March 2026.

We do not provided any private work for the following;

• Firearms
• Fit to participate (skydive,Marathons, flying, ect)
• Passports
• Blue Badge
• ESA from Patients
• Visa Medicals
• Working from home letters
• Occupational health forms/assessment or opinions
• NMC Fitness to practice

If you require any of these services please submit a request in writing, Payments for private work must be made once invoice has been received. Your request will only be completed once payment has been received.

The Travel Clinic is run by nurses with special training in overseas health. Patients who are planning to travel overseas, whether on business or pleasure should contact reception at least 6 weeks beforehand to inquire about their specific vaccination requirements. The nurses will give health advice as well as administer the vaccinations. Travel Vaccinations and Information Form

More info coming

Seasonal flu jabs are available at the Practice each September– March for at risk patients or those aged 65 or over. Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment.

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by a flu virus. It spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

Seasonal flu immunisation, or the flu jab, is the injection of a vaccine against flu. It gives good protection from flu that lasts for one year.

The flu jab is offered to people in at-risk groups, who are at greater risk of developing serious complications from flu. To stay protected, they need to have it every year.

The vaccine, which is normally available in the autumn, is made from the strains of flu that are expected in winter.

How the vaccine protects you:

About a week to 10 days after you have had the flu injection, your body starts making antibodies to the virus in the vaccine.

Antibodies are proteins that recognise and fight off germs that have invaded your blood, such as viruses. They help protect you against any similar viruses you then come into contact with.

The flu virus changes every year, so you need to have a flu jab annually to make sure that you are protected against the latest strain of the virus.

How effective is it?

The flu vaccines currently available give 70-80% protection against infection, with flu virus strains closely matching those in the vaccine.

In the elderly, protection against infection may be less, but immunisation reduces the chances of pneumonia, hospital admissions and death from seasonal flu.

For most people, seasonal flu is unpleasant but not serious and they recover within a week.

However, certain people are at greater risk of developing serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. These may require hospital treatment. A large number of elderly people die from flu every winter.

The seasonal flu vaccine is offered free of charge to these at-risk groups to protect them from catching flu and developing these complications.

At-risk groups

It is recommended you have a flu jab if you:

• are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
• have certain long-term health conditions
• are pregnant
• live in a care home
• are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
• live with someone who has a weakened immune system

If you are the parent of a child (over six months) with a long-term condition, speak to your GP about the flu jab. Your child’s condition may get worse if they catch flu.

If you are the carer of an elderly or disabled person, make sure they have had their flu jab.

Who cannot have the flu vaccine.

Most people who are eligible for the flu vaccine can have it.

You only cannot have the vaccine if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine.

Some of the flu vaccines used in the UK contain egg protein. Tell the person vaccinating you if you have an egg allergy.

Side effects of the flu vaccine

The most common side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and get better within 1 to 2 days.

They can include:

• pain or soreness where the injection was given
• a slightly raised temperature
• an aching body

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

The injected flu vaccines used in the UK do not contain live flu viruses. They cannot give you flu.

Social Prescribing is an opportunity to talk through any worries that might be affecting your health and wellbeing in a safe environment. The service supports you to make positive changes in your life by linking you up with groups, activities, and public services that can help.

We meet for hour-long appointments (and up to 6 sessions) to help you to focus on what matters most through shared decision making and support planning. We offer the Going Local service flexibility and tailored to individual needs. We can meet at your GP surgery, at a community venue, by going for a walk together, and also at home if you have a health condition that means it’s not possible to get out.

The support we refer you to could include: finding volunteering opportunities; improving emotional wellbeing including befriending schemes, peer support, or arts and leisure activities; social aspects of healthy living, which includes non-medical support to manage a long term health condition; and practical support at home to keep safe.

Going Local can be accessed via a referral from a GP surgery and or by completing an accessible online referral form here.

You can find out more about the Going Local service here

To contact the team: communityreferrals@adur-worthing.gov.uk

For an idea of what might be a suitable referral into the service: Going Local Service Criteria – Nov 2022

The West Sussex Sexual Health Clinic offers contraception, sexual health, pregnancy and counselling. Testing kits can be ordered online for Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV.

Before you travel abroad it may be necessary to check with your travel agent and the Practice whether or not you need special injections or medication for the country you are travelling to. In some cases you can be denied entry to a country if you do not have a certificate proving that you have had the necessary injections.

The Practice can advise whether or not we give particular injections and how much they will cost.

You must ensure you are vaccinated at least 6 weeks before departure where it is necessary. Malaria tablets have to be taken as advised before departure.

The Practice Nurses run Travel Clinics where they can advise about vaccinations and travel health. You must fill out a Travel Vaccination Form and return it to Reception at least three days before your Travel Clinic appointment.

Travel Form 

Self-Help

Here are some simple self help tips you can follow to make your trip safer:

• Be safe
• Be hygienic
• Take a small first aid kit including re-hydration sachets
• Watch what you eat
• Drink bottled water only
• Avoid ice cubes if they are made with tap water
• Use effective sun protection i.e. high factor sun creams
• Take any medication your GP advises to protect yourself, like Malaria tablets

Further advice on staying healthy while abroad can be found on the NHS website