Little Common Surgery & Old Town Surgery

28/07/2025

We are currently experiencing reduced appointment availability due to the doctors’ strike. If your concern isn’t urgent, we kindly ask for you to contact us again at another time. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for using NHS services wisely during the strikes.

Please be kind and patient with our staff who are working hard to help you as soon as they can. You may need to wait longer than usual for care if your need is not serious or life-threatening.

25/07/2025

🥊 Summer Boxing Workshop

WBC Cares UK is proud to announce a dynamic initiative aimed at encouraging young people to get active and build confidence this summer. The charity - https://orlo.uk/XhtAI - is dedicated to improving lives through boxing and will deliver a 5-week programme of free sessions designed to inspire and engage young people across our communities.

🗓 Programme Details
• Dates: Monday 28th July to Saturday 30th August - Mondays & Thursdays
• Times: 1400hrs to 1700hrs
• Locations: Hastings Town Centre Community Market, Wellington Place

👥 What to expect - Participants will have access to top-quality boxing equipment and hands-on coaching, including drills and pad work. Sessions are completely free and offer an exciting opportunity for young people to stay active and receive guidance in a safe and supportive environment.

WBC Cares

23/07/2025

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PATIENTS
Resident Doctor Strike: 25th – 30th July 2025.

Resident doctors, including some GP trainees, will be taking part in national strike action from:

🗓 Friday 25 July at 7:00am
until
🗓 Wednesday 30 July at 7:00am

This may mean we have fewer appointments available than usual during this period.

Please help us by:

✔️ Only contacting the practice for urgent issues if possible.

✔️ Using NHS 111, your local pharmacy, or online advice for non-urgent matters.

We appreciate your understanding as we support our resident doctors in their right to take part in industrial action.

🙏 Thank you for your patience.

17/07/2025

We are closed this afternoon for important staff training. We will be open as usual tomorrow morning but if you require anything urgent that cannot wait until we reopen, please call 01323 402710 for medical help and support.

Please do not call NHS 111 or attend A&E.

Remember, you can always visit our website for prescriptions and other querieshttps://www.lcotsurgeries.nhs.uk/

24/06/2025

📢 Important Patient Update: Weight Loss Injections (Tirzepatide - Mounjaro®)

We kindly ask that patients do not contact the practice at this time regarding weight loss medication. We are currently reviewing local NHS guidance and finalising how this new service will be delivered.

📅 From 23 June 2025, some patients living with obesity and multiple health conditions may be eligible for tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) to support weight loss, as part of a wider NHS service.

👩‍⚕️ Due to current appointment pressures, our reception team is unable to book appointments for weight loss reviews. Instead, we will contact eligible patients directly.

🔍 Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, patients must currently have:
✅ A BMI of 40 or more, and
✅ Four or more of the following diagnosed health conditions:

Type 2 diabetes

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Cardiovascular disease

Obstructive sleep apnoea

Dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol)

Only a very small number of patients currently meet these criteria. We will continue to monitor NHS updates, as this guidance may be revised in future years to allow wider access.

💡 What to Expect
This new treatment will be offered alongside healthy lifestyle support, such as help with:

Healthy eating
Increasing physical activity.

Engaging with these services will be a requirement for access to medication.

🤝 Our Commitment
We are committed to helping people live healthier lives. We understand how difficult it can be for many people living with obesity to access the support they need. That is why we are working closely with partners across Sussex to provide services that help people make long-term, sustainable changes to improve their wellbeing.

📚 Further Information & Support

🔗 One You East Sussex – Free local support:
https://oneyoueastsussex.org.uk/

🔗 NHS Better Health – Free tools to lose weight & get active:
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/

🔗 NHS 12-Week Weight Loss Plan:
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

🔗 NHS Exercise Advice:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/

🔗 Couch to 5K App (9-week beginner running plan):
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/

🔗 Active 10 Walking Tracker App:
https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/

🔗 ManVFat – Men’s weight loss community:
https://manvfat.com/

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 💚

19/06/2025

Cervical screening (which used to be called a smear test) is a free NHS health test that’s offered to women and all people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64. It helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for human papillomavirus (HPV). Screening saves over 5,000 lives a year. It’s a quick test, and we’ll make you feel relaxed and comfortable. This is a life-saving test, so when invited, please make sure you .

We're in a race to eliminate Cervical Cancer. Find out more information on Cervical Screening and HPV vaccination. Don't Miss Out, this is a life-saving test, when invited:

18/06/2025

Proud to be autistic! Autistic Pride is a day for autistic people to celebrate their neurodiversity and feel proud of who they are, and for those surrounding them to understand and accept the experiences and needs of autistic people.

Autistic Pride Day celebrates neurodiversity, self-acceptance, and the autistic community. Learn about the meaning behind the day, its symbols, and how it promotes inclusion, pride, and positive change.

16/06/2025

The theme for Learning Disability Week 2025 is ‘Do you see me?’. The aim of the week is to help people with a learning disability be seen, heard and valued. You can find an easy-read version of the information here:

Every year we celebrate Learning Disability Week. Easy read

14/06/2025

13/06/2025

If you’re fit and healthy, and you’re aged between 17 and 65, you can generally give blood! The UK needs around 4,300 donations a day to meet the needs of hospitals and critical care. Men can donate every 12 weeks and women every 16 weeks. Do something amazing and save someone’s life today by giving blood.

Donated blood is a lifeline in an emergency and for people who need long-term treatments. Do something amazing. Give blood.

12/06/2025

Bike Week is the chance to celebrate the benefits of cycling for individuals, communities and the environment. Whether you ride every day or haven’t cycled in years, there are events for you! If it’s been a while since you’ve ridden or even looked at your bike, the Big Bike Revival is for you! 🚴

FREE support to help adults to cycle locally. Sessions start 18 April until 31 October 2025

11/06/2025

If you’re living with diabetes, it’s important to attend your regular checks with us at the surgery. We understand it can feel like you don’t have time or you’re feeling fine, but these checks will help keep you healthy and provide support, even if you feel like you don’t need it! Read here what to expect:

Diabetes can cause other health problems that can become serious if not picked up and monitored or treated in the early stages. So regular diabetes health checks – sometimes called your yearly or annual review – are part of your routine NHS treatment.