The Croft Practice at Eastergate Medical Centre

11/12/2025

📣 Practice Update: New Influenza Strain (“Super Flu”)

We’re aware of recent news reports about a new influenza strain being referred to as a “super flu.”
While headlines can sound worrying, we want to reassure our patients that there is currently no cause for panic, and we continue to follow NHS and UKHSA guidance closely.

Here’s what you need to know 👇

💡 What we know so far
• A new flu strain is circulating, similar to what we see each winter.
• NHS and UK Health Security Agency teams are monitoring it closely.
• Most people will experience typical flu symptoms.

🛡️ How to protect yourself
• Get your flu vaccine if you are eligible — it remains the best defence.
• Wash your hands regularly and avoid close contact when unwell.
• Stay home if you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to carry out normal activities.
• Keep hydrated, rest, and take over-the-counter medications if needed.

🔍 When to contact the GP

Get medical advice if:
• Your symptoms worsen after 7 days
• You are pregnant
• You are over 65
• You have a long-term health condition
• Your child is under 2 and has flu-like symptoms
• You feel very unwell and are unsure what to do

🏥 We’re here to help

If you’re concerned about symptoms or need advice, please contact us via our usual channels.
You can also use NHS 111 for help 24/7.

Let’s stay informed, not alarmed, and look after each other this winter.

10/12/2025

📞 Meet Emma – Our New AI Phone Assistant!

Helping you get the right care, first time.

When you call the surgery you’ll be greeted by Emma, our new Quantum Loop AI assistant.
Emma helps us manage calls more efficiently and makes sure your request reaches the right team quickly.

⸻

🌟 What Emma Will Do
• Ask simple questions about the reason for your call
• Complete an AccuRx triage form on your behalf
• Send your request straight to the GP team to review, exactly as per our current triage process
• Prioritise urgent issues safely
• Reduce waiting times by sorting calls efficiently
• Send helpful text links or forms when appropriate

⸻

🛑 What Emma Won’t Do
• She does NOT diagnose
• She does NOT replace human staff
• She does NOT decide who is seen – clinicians still make all clinical decisions

⸻

👩‍⚕️ Why We’re Introducing Emma
• To reduce phone queues
• To improve patient access
• To free staff to handle more complex issues
• To ensure every request goes to the right person first time

⸻

☎️ What This Means for You
• Your call experience will be smoother and faster
• You’ll reach the correct service without being passed around
• Your medical request will be triaged by a GP, the same as today
• You can still speak to our team—Emma just helps guide the process

09/12/2025

Total Triage – November Snapshot

Thank you to all our patients for using our online Total Triage system.

Here’s how you’ve been accessing care:

3,386 requests submitted in total
113 requests per day on average
247 requests per 1,000 patients

(National average: 116 | Regional average: 139)

This means our practice is receiving more than double the national average number of requests — showing just how well our patients are engaging with online access and helping us direct you to the right care, first time.

🙏 Thank you for continuing to use online requests.
It helps us manage demand safely, efficiently and ensures everyone gets the help they need as quickly as possible.

If you need medical help, admin support, sick notes or prescriptions, you can continue to submit a request through Accurx Total Triage on our website.

08/12/2025

05/12/2025

⚠️ The number of flu patients in hospital has hit a record high in England for this time of year

If you are eligible for the Flu, Covid-19 or RSV vaccination, please book yours to help keep yourself and others well and out of hospital

https://orlo.uk/qMS8q

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

Meet the team 💙 our Lead Nurse, Suzanne.
“With a deep passion for healthcare and a rich family life as a mother of four and grandmother of seven, I strive to bring empathy and understanding to my work. Since relocating from the Surrey Hills to the Sussex coast with my husband in 2017, I’ve felt truly at home.”

03/12/2025

A visitor from the North Pole has arrived today for our childhood immunisation clinic today to join our lovely Nurses🎄

02/12/2025

02/12/2025

Why We’re Asking You to Use the NHS App or Accurx for Prescriptions

To help us process your medication requests more quickly and safely, we are reducing the use of paper repeat slips.
Paper forms can take longer, are easier to misplace, and slow down turnaround times.

Requesting your prescriptions through the NHS App or Accurx means:

✔ Faster processing
✔ Safer and more accurate requests
✔ Less paper and reduced delays
✔ You can track your request easily

If you need help setting up the NHS App or using Accurx, just ask — we’re here to support you.

30/11/2025

Mental health struggles can touch anyone, anytime, and particularly around the festive season.

Remember, if you or someone you know is struggling this Christmas, you are not alone, help us spread the work by sharing these posts.

Free, confidential Sussex support services are available 24/7. You'll be listened to & heard, so spread the word and support those who might need it. 💚

28/11/2025

Information for about NHS dentistry in Sussex, how to find an NHS dentist and what to do if you need an urgent appointment.