News
INVITED PATIENTS MAY NOW BOOK A COVID VACCINE AT PORTSLADE VACCINATION CENTRE
OTHER LOCAL COVID VACCINATION CENTRES
If you prefer to book a vaccination at the Large Vaccination Centre at Brighton Centre, or at a local Pharmacy-led Vaccination Centre, you will receive a letter about how to do this from the NHS Covid Booking Service when it is your turn
Please visit these OFFICIAL COVID INFORMATION sites for ALL questions about the vaccines, which groups are being called, and to keep up to date on local services:
www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccination-programme
PLEASE DO NOT CONACT THE SURGERY ABOUT THE COVID VACCINE
When it is your turn we will contact you by telephone or text to attend a local vaccination centre (not Charter). The NHS Covid Booking Servicewill also send you a letter inviting you to book a vaccine elsewhere using their service if you wish.
The order of priority will be decided by Public Health England and there are no exceptions.
PLEASE DO NOT ASK FOR ADVICE about the vaccine. Expert advice is available on the above webpages.
Warning over COVID vaccination scams
Be on your guard against fraudulent text and email messages as new scams are being sent to patients.
People are receiving a text or email notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link.
This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent to patients to arrange their appointments at the GP led vaccination services.
Please follow the advice below.
- The COVID-19 vaccination is ONLY available from the NHS and it is FREE – you will never be asked to pay for it or give your bank details.
- If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
- If you receive a text or email that you believe to be fraudulent please delete it. Please be assured that if you don’t respond because you are worried and it is a genuine text or email, you will remain on the vaccination list and be contacted again
- If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.
Guidance on official NHS texts
- An official NHS text message from Charter Medical Centre about Covid will include our name. It may also include details of the vaccination centre. Scam text messages and emails usually don’t include his information
- An official NHS text message from the national booking system will be a reminder text so will include details of your booked appointment include date, time and location
If you have any further concerns about something you have received please contact the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme team on sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net
SEASONAL FLU VACCINATION NEWS
Flu clinic now booking – click here for Flu news and Flu Clinic instructions
COVID RESEARCH STUDY
Can you help increase our understanding of the impact of coronavirus and resultant restrictions/ lockdown on our mental health?
As part of Charter Medical Centre's on-going commitment to research, we are helping to recruit to a study by researchers in Southampton who are asking people to complete a short, 15 minute questionnaire about the impact coronavirus has had on their lives. They will use this information to help understand how our mental health and wellbeing may be being affected by the pandemic and to inform policy decisions about how best to help people who have been adversely affected.
Can you spare 15 minutes to help? Click on the link to the questionnaire for more information: https://bit.ly/36ok8nK
Thank you for staying COVID alert.
We are open and do not want you to delay your care. But
Please continue to STAY AWAY from our Reception Desk unless we have asked you to attend surgery, OR you are unable to use the Telephone or the Internet. All our services are available online or on the telephone.
Keep Staff and other patients safe: Before attending the surgery for any reason please check the latest Coronavirus advice here: .GOV.UK/CORONAVIURS
WEAR A FACE COVERING PLEASE if invited to attend the surgery

Keeping you safe in surgery
How we are keeping patients and staff safe during Coronavirus (Covid-19)
We are open and we do not want you to delay getting help. But we are not seeing most patients face to face. Your doctor or nurse will contact you first to see whether the problem can be dealt with by a phone call, or video. Please do not visit the surgery for any reason unless we ask you to attend. And please never attend surgery if you have Covid-19 symptoms.
We have lots of new ways to help you avoid visiting surgery including Telephone consultations, and eConsult. If your Doctor thinks it would be useful, and if you agree, they can convert your telephone appointment into a Video consultation or they may ask you to send photographs to our secure email or to our secure text service. Please note any digital image submitted as part of an online consultation, will be stored within your clinical notes.
We also have a new 'live' Telephone Interpretering service and Video Sign Language service.
The nursing team are seeing some patients face to face for some of the highest priority tasks such as leg ulcer dressings, blood tests, immunisations and injections, and from June 2020, Cervical Screens.
If we ask you to attend surgery don't worry - we have made lots of changes to keep you and our staff safe. Social distancing in our waiting rooms, staggered appointments, reception screens, PPE, and clean rooms are all in place. Click here to see videos of what to expect when you visit us. Please follow the advice here staying-safe-outside-your-home including covering your nose and mouth.
If you need help and we think you might have Covid-19, we may help you to attend an alternative sit where some of our GPs will be working from August.
Coronavirus information in 50 different languages
Please follow this link to information on Coronavirus (Covid-19) transalted into many different languages across the world
Telephone Interpreting Services available at this surgery.
LanguageLine Telephone interpreting
With Languageline you do not need to book an interpreter in advance. When you book an appointment tell us that you need an interpreter and the language and country (eg. Syrian Arabic).
When the Clinician is ready to speak to you, they will call Languageline who will call you and will set up a 3 way call.
Sussex Interpreting Service offer a telephone or face to face service
This is a pre-book service. Please ask reception to book for you, or you can book yourself and let us know. Please tell us language and region (eg. Syrian Arabic)
Signlive video BSL service is available at this surgery
COVID Research study
Join a COVID-19 clinical trial
The PRINCIPLE trial aims to find treatments that reduce hospital admission and improve symptoms for people with COVID-19. You could be eligible to join if
- You have had these symptoms for fewer than 15 days:
- a continuous new or worsening cough
- and/or a high temperature
- OR have a positive test for SARS-Co-V2 infection with COVID-19 symptoms in the past 14 days
- You are aged 50 to 64 with a pre-existing illness
- You are aged 65 and above
New! Advanced Physiotherapist
For bone, joint or muscle pain, you can now see our Advanced Musculo-skeletal Physiotherapist. She can Assess you and diagnose what’s happening, give expert advice on how best to manage your condition, and refer you on to specialist services if necessary
Workshops for mind and body
We are delighted to be involved in a series of new workshops across our Primary Care Network led by Anna Betz who has a special interest in diet and health.
Anna runs a variety of workshops for diabetes prevention, Type 2 diabetes reversal and workshops for physical and mental health.
In the 6 week Virtual Workshops you can learn what you can do to regulate your blood sugar, have more energy, feel good and have fun at the same time.
You will be supported all along the way in figuring out what changes could work for you, learn how to live on a low budget and still eat healthy food. You can also get 1:1 coaching if you find making changes challenging. Click here for more details on the workshops
Please contact anna@unleashourhealth.com or mob: 07731 584358 for further details
eConsult- NEW!!
Try out our brand new way to get advice from your Health Care Team.
eConsult allows you to tell your story your way, explores your symptoms in depth with you and directs you to the most appropriate advice. The form is confidential. Click here and follow the instructions. eConsult can now also be accessed from within your NHS App if you have set up an account.
NB this should not be used for urgent problems