Ashdown Forest Health Centre

The Health Centre is open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 6.30pm and closed daily between 12.30 - 1.30pm. We are also open alternate Saturdays 8.00am - 1.00pm.

All the doctors are approved by the Primary Care Trust to provide the following services: maternity medical services, child health surveillance, contraceptive services, minor surgery services. Please check with our reception for all surgery and clinic times before coming to the health centre for an appointment. Each day one doctor is our duty doctor to deal with urgent appointments and visits, so surgery times can change as that doctor will be less available for non-urgent appointments.

Please telephone us after 9.00am for non-urgent enquiries. Remember the health centre is closed Monday to Friday 12.30 - 1.30pm.

Please advise us if you will not be attending for a pre-booked appointment as it is our policy to remove from our list patients who repeatedly fail to attend without good reason/prior notice.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THE SURGERY IS CLOSED

If you feel the situation is an emergency, then you should consider dialling 999 to request an ambulance. If you need healthcare information or advice NHS 111 is a telephone service staffed by nurses giving confidential assistance 24 hours a day. Telephone 111. If you need a doctor urgently when the surgery is closed, please telephone NHS 111 by simply dialling 111 where your call will be answered by a trained receptionist who will assist you. They will then advise what action to take, it may well mean that you need to be seen by our “Out of Hours” doctor, NHS 111 will arrange this for you.

The service is intended for urgent but not emergency help. During our lunchtime closure telephone (01342) 822131 for contact telephone number.

What is NHS 111?

• Asimple, free to call, easy to remember three digit number that is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• NHS 111 directs patients to the service that is best able to meet your needs taking into account your location, the time of day you are calling and the capacity of local services.

When should I use 111?

• When its not a life threatening situation and, therefore, is less urgent than a 999 call
• When you cannot see your own GP, for instance when it is closed or your are away from home
• When you feel you cannot wait or are simply unsure of which service you require
• When you require reassurance about what to do next

ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY

The accident and emergency units at Kent & Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells and Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath are open 24 hours a day.

There are also Minor Injury Units at local hospitals open as follows:-

Some minor accidents can be dealt with in the centre's treatment room. A practice nurse is present during normal hours but doctors are often out.