FAQs

A PCN is an NHS primary care organisation usually formed of a number of GP practices working together to provide the primary healthcare for a large population.

The PCN is in contract with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It has a Clinical Director and a Board who work on behalf of the PCN to develop services. As a single PCN we are able to work alongside other NHS and Social care providers to influence improvements in design and delivery of services to our population.

Our PCN has been created with the merger of River Lodge Surgery, School Hill Medical Practice, St Andrew's Surgery and the Ringmer based, Anchor Field Surgery. Who are now known collectively as 'Foundry Healthcare Lewes.'

Our ‘urgent or on-the-day’ GP service is now based at the Victoria Hospital to provide phone advice and face-to-face appointments if your problem requires it. However, if you have an ongoing condition, or you need a follow-up appointment, you will usually go to your existing surgery.
In some cases, we may ask you to go to a specific surgery for things like joint injections, vaccinations, and specialist clinics like dermatology.

To improve continuity of care we are creating 8 GP teams of 4 GPs each; these will look after a smaller number of patients (approximately 3,500 per team). This way, if you have an ongoing problem, you are more likely to get to see your usual GP, or a GP in their team if they are not available that day.

As a PCN we receive additional budgets for the employment of extra staff. We have sought to employ additional GPs and Nurses, as well as Social Prescribers, Frailty & Dementia Coordinators, in-house Pharmacists, Paramedics, and in the very near future direct access Physiotherapists. We also plan to supplement the drop-in young person’s mental health clinics with increased primary care-based mental health support.

We now have a single phone number - 01273 480 888. The receptionist will get some basic details of your problem and determine with you whether it can best be dealt with by the urgent on-the-day GP team, or the ongoing conditions and follow-up teams, either the same day or during a suitable appointment within the next 1 – 4 weeks.

We have put a lot of thought into re-designing the way we run our appointments system, to make it better able to direct patients to the best person to deal with their problem - the right GP or Nurse, or the most appropriate other member of our team. In some instances it may be suggested that patients consult a pharmacist first or try self-referral routes (such as Health in Mind's Online Self Referral for those suffering with stress, anxiety or low mood.) Having a telephone triage system in place allows us to offer more patients access to our services and ensures that those who need urgent attention on the day receive it.

The fully refurbished Urgent Treatment Centre at Lewes Victoria Hospital has replaced the Minor Injures Unit. Run by Sussex Community Foundation Trust, it is staffed by highly experienced Nurse and Paramedic practitioners, all with experience in both A&E and GP care. They can deal with a lot of minor ailments and minor injuries, including arranging X-Rays. They are supported by the team of GPs, now based at the Lewes Victoria Hospital. Where they can call upon a GP for further opinion or prescription is needed.