All Services
Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
Why screen for bowel cancer?
About one in 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year.1
Regular bowel cancer screening has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16 per cent2.
What is the purpose of bowel cancer screening?
Bowel cancer screening aims to detect bowel cancer at an early stage (in people with no symptoms), when treatment is more likely to be effective.
Bowel cancer screening can also detect polyps. These are not cancers, but may develop into cancers over time. They can easily be removed, reducing the risk of bowel cancer developing.
How is the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme organised?
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme started being rolled out in July 2006 and will achieve nation wide coverage by 2010.
Programme hubs operate a national call and recall system to send out faecal occult blood (FOB) test kits, analyse samples and despatch results. Each hub is responsible for coordinating the programme in their area and works with up to 20 local screening centres.
The screening centres provide endoscopy services and specialist screening nurse clinics for people receiving an abnormal result. Screening centres are also responsible for referring those requiring treatment to their local hospital multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Who is eligible for bowel cancer screening?
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69. People over 70 can request a screening kit by calling the freephone helpline 0800 707 6060
How will the screening process work?
Men and women eligible for screening will receive an invitation letter explaining the programme and an information leaflet entitled Bowel Cancer Screening – The Facts. About a week later, an FOB test kit will be sent out along with step-by-step instructions for completing the test at home and sending the samples to the hub laboratory. The test will then be processed and the results sent within two weeks.
What happens next?
Around 98 in 100 people will receive a normal result and will be returned to routine screening. They will be invited for bowel cancer screening every two years if still within the eligible age range.
Around 2 in 100 people will receive an abnormal result. They will be referred for further investigation and usually offered a colonoscopy.
Around 4 in 100 people may initially receive an unclear result which means that there was a slight suggestion of blood in the test sample. This could be caused by conditions other than cancer such as haemorrhoids (piles). An unclear result does not mean that cancer is present, but that the FOB test will need to be repeated. Most people who repeat the test will then go on to receive a normal result.
How does the FOB test work?
Polyps and bowel cancers sometimes bleed, and the faecal occult blood (FOB) test works by detecting tiny amounts of blood which cannot normally be seen in bowel motions. ‘Occult’ means hidden. The FOB test does not diagnose bowel cancer, but the results will indicate whether further investigation (usually a colonoscopy) is needed.
People who receive an abnormal result will be offered an appointment with a specialist nurse. The nurse will explain what a colonoscopy involves, assess the patient’s fitness for the procedure, and answer any questions.
Please visit http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel/index.html for more information regarding Bowel Cancer Screening.
Self Referral
Mental Health – Self Referral
Time To Talk – talking therapies service in West Sussex
Time to Talk is an NHS service offering free, confidential talking therapy to adults registered with a GP in West Sussex.
If you’re feeling low, anxious or worried, talking therapies can really help you. Time to Talk can also help people with depression, phobias, social anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorders, health anxiety, low self-esteem or low confidence, relationship difficulties and bereavements. Talking therapies are available in person, on the phone and via video call.
How can I access the service?
You can self-refer to Time to Talk – you don’t need to speak to your GP first. If you would rather speak to your GP first, they can refer you with your permission. You can self-refer by phone, or you can access and complete an online self-referral form from here Online Referral Form. Visit the Time To Talk website (link below) to find out more about how to contact them. Once you’ve self-referred or your GP has referred you, one of the Time to Talk team will be in touch with you for an initial assessment.
More information
More information can be found on the Time To Talk website, please click the link below. There are also useful links to online self-help resources. The Time to Talk service is provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
Click here to access details on how to access Time To Talk services
Better Health – every mind matters
Children & Young Peoples Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Services
Sussex Mental Healthline click here
Wellbeing & Mental Health Services Information Link
Alzheimer’s Society – no GP referral required
Dementia Connect Telephone Support Line 0333 150 3456
Monday – Wednesday 9am – 8pm
Thursday – Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm
Physiotherapy – Self Referral
PRINCESS ROYAL HOSPITAL, HAYWARDS HEATH
If you are registered with a Mid Sussex GP Practice you can self-refer into the physiotherapy department at Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath. Musculoskeletal physiotherapy can be particularly beneficial if you are suffering from low back pain, neck pain, recent injuries such as strains and sprains, or joint and muscular pain.
You can self-refer yourself to physiotherapy through an online from, by picking up a paper referral form from your GP practice, or by printing the form from this website. Paper referral forms need to be handed in or sent to:
Royal Sussex County Hospital
Outpatient Booking Centre
Lower Ground Floor
Elliot House
Eastern Road
BN2 5BE
https://sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk/self-referral/
PLEASE CHOOSE MID SUSSEX AND NOT HORSHAM AND THEN CHOOSE COWFOLD SURGERY
If you want clinical advice or to learn more about the physiotherapy services available, the MSK website has lots of resources available about different conditions and self-management options. Please click the following link:
Non NHS Services – Why do I have to pay for these?
The National Health Service provides most health care to most people free of charge, but there are exceptions: prescription charges have existed since 1951 and there are a number of other services that are not covered under the NHS remit and for which fees are therefore charged.
It is important to understand that many GPs are not employed by the NHS; they are self-employed and they have to cover their costs – for example the GP time it takes to review patient notes to complete your form, staff, buildings, heating, lighting, etc – in the same way dentists, vets, solicitors and accountants do or any other small business. There is also often some follow-up work to be done once the initial process has been completed, e.g. for Shotgun licences. The NHS covers the costs for NHS work, but for non-NHS work, the fees charged by GPs contribute towards their costs. We will advise you of any fees at the time of your enquiry to enable you to make an informed decision on whether you wish to proceed. Work will commence once your fee has been received.
For more information, please click here: British Medical Association – non NHS services
We provide a range of non NHS services, with fees based on British Medical Association recommendation of rates. Please ask at reception for further details:-
- Accident and Sickness Claims
- HGV medical examinations
- Holiday Cancellation Claim
- Life Assurance Proposal
- Sickness or Accident
- Insurance Reports
- Private Medicals
- Orange Badge Scheme
- Shotgun Licence
- Private Medical Certificates
- Solicitors reports
- Access to medical records Data Protection Act
- Certain Travel Vaccinations and International Certificates
Children’s Immunisations
A letter will be sent to parents informing them when immunisations are due. This letter will offer you an appointment with the practice nurse for you to bring your child along for these immunisations.
It is important to keep as close as possible to the schedule.
If you cannot make the appointment that you have been offered then please telephone the surgery as soon as possible to rearrange.
Flu Vaccination
If you are eligible for a Flu Vaccination please contact the surgery to make an appointment. Please be advised that vaccines are
subject to availability.
Breast Screening
The breast screening service offers regular screening for all women from 50 to 70 years. You will be sent a card inviting you to attend for a mammogram.
Cervical Smears
We offer regular cervical smear screening every 3 years for women between the ages of 25 to 50 and women between the ages of 50 and 65 every 5 years who are registered with the practice. You will be sent a reminder letter and asked to make an appointment with the practice nurse.
Practice Nurses
The Practice Nurses perform many tasks.
- Dressings
- Cervical Smears
- Ear Syringing
- Travel Injections
- Diabetic checks
- Asthma and COPD checks
- Injections: Flu, Shingles, Pneumonia
- Childhood Immunisations
- Family Planning
- Removal of Stitches
- Swabs
- Smoking Cessation
- ECG’s and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Blood Tests and INR’s: Phelbotomist and HCA’s
- NHS Health Checks: HCA’s
Practice Nurses also assist the doctor with the following:
- Minor Surgery