Who should I see?

To address growing demand, GP practices are employing different types of health and care professionals, expanding clinical skills and developing new ways of working as a team – rather than relying solely on GP-led consultations. Before you book an appointment to see a doctor please consider whether an appointment with another clinician might be more appropriate.
If you are unsure our receptionist team can help you decide which is the right person for you to see.


Nurse Appointments
The Practice employs three qualified nurses who provide a range of services including: wound and ulcer care, suture and clip removals, travel advice, health checks, vaccinations, immunisations, cervical smears. They are also closely involved in the screening and management of long term health conditions such as asthma, COPD and diabetes.
We also have a Health Care Assistant who provides a range of services including INR clinics, wound care, blood pressure and NHS health checks. Additionally we have two Phlebotomists who take blood samples at both sites.

Our reception team have an extensive list of the areas that all our nurses and HCA have trained and qualified to undertake and will book you an appointment with the most appropriate person.

First Contact Physiotherapist
We now have an experienced physio working in the practice, Adam, who is the first point of contact for all musculoskeletal problems. This means that you do not need to see a GP first in order to see the First Contact Physio, you can ask to see them directly without referral if you have a musculoskeletal (MSK) problem. Adam can undertake specialist assessment and provide appropriate advice and establish a management plan that is appropriate for you. He can also refer onwards if further treatment is needed to services including physiotherapy, rheumatology, pain management or orthopaedics, And if clinically indicated, he can refer you for X-rays, blood tests, ultrasound scans, nerve conduction studies or MRI scans.
Our reception team is specially trained to determine who is appropriate for review by the FCP so if you are happy to share that your problem is related to a muscle, bone, nerve or joint issue at the time of booking, they will arrange an appointment for you. Alternatively, you can contact the Sussex MSK Partnership here for muscular and joint problems.  This service includes self-referral as well as self-care for these conditions.


Social Prescriber
Our social prescriber Jo Wood works closely alongside the practice, as well as GP surgeries in Lewes, The Havens and Wealden, to improve the well-being of those aged 50+. Social prescribing works particularly well for patients who have one or more long term conditions, need support with low level mental health issues, are lonely or isolated or who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

What can the Social Presciber help patients with?

    • finding Suitable social activities and opportunities to meet new people
    • liaising with health services and self-managing difficult health conditions
    • finding wellbeing activities to lift mood
    • appropriate exercises to help improve health and mood
    • support with bereavement or difficult emotional health challenges and access to specialist services
    • safe in-person and telephone befriending services
    • support to cope with caring responsibilities and linking to others with similar experiences
    • thinking about and planning for the future
    • assistance with home care needs assessments and finding carers at home
    • improving safety at home, mobility aids and home assessments
    • help with practical problems, like shopping, prescriptions delivery, gardening, and home cleaning
    • community transport options and maintaining independence when out and about
    • help with filling in forms
    • financial support and benefits advice
    • advice on housing problems and access to appropriate services
    • access to other specialist services

If you think that you, or someone you are close to, would benefit from Jo’s help or support, please speak to your GP or any member of the surgery staff team about being referred.


District Nurses
District Nurses provide treatments in patients’ homes following discharge from hospital, poor health, problems getting around or a long-term condition. Referrals to this service are made by GPs.
District Nurses carry out many roles for housebound and older patients, including:

  • general nursing procedures and investigations
  • post-surgery care
  • assessment of patients’ needs
  • care for terminally ill patients
  • looking after wounds and leg ulcers
  • working with patients to enable them to care for themselves or with family members teaching them how to give care to their relatives.

Self Referrals
You can access many free NHS health and wellbeing services directly without the need to seeing a doctor first. Click here to find services where you can self-refer.

  • alcohol or drug abuse
  • counselling
  • MSK
  • stop smoking advice
  • weight management

Antenatal Care & Maternity Services
Community Midwives are available to provide antenatal and postnatal care. They can be contacted at Grove House in Crowborough on 01892 654080. If you have found out you are pregnant you can complete an online self referral form: Maternity Self Referral – East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (esht.nhs.uk)


Health Visitors
Health Visitors aim to promote good health in people of all ages, but take a special interest in expectant mothers and families with children under five years of age, they also carry out routine development checks and run baby clinics. The Health Visitor Service for Groombridge & Hartfield Surgery can be contacted at Grove House in Crowborough on 01892 669393.


Pharmacies
Pharmacies do more than dispense prescriptions and medicines. Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You don’t need an appointment – you can just walk in. Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

Many pharmacies will also offer:

  • emergency contraception
  • asthma inhaler use and advice
  • stop smoking service
  • blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar testing
  • substance misuse service, including needle and syringe exchange schemes
  • weight management advice
  • flu vaccinations
  • travel advice and vaccinations

To find pharmacies near you, use the NHS website online pharmacy search


Health information and advice
The best place to get accurate health information is the NHS website which has information and advice on:

Date published: 17th May, 2023
Date last updated: 4th October, 2023