Community Nursing Team
The West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) employs community matrons, district nurses, health visitors, midwives and a community psychiatric nurse who work with the practice providing care for our patients.
District Nurses
The district nurses visit those patients in need of nursing care who are too infirm to attend the surgery. Parents, carers and relatives can contact the Community Health Services on 0845 0920 414. An answering machine will record your message if they cannot take it personally. Messages will be collected every day.
Health Visitor
The health visitor is a fully qualified nurse who has had extra training in caring for people in the community. She will assume care of new mothers and infants when the baby has reached 10 days old as well as offering support, advice and information about feeding and also general health and safety of the family. She will also visit other families with children five years and under. The team run baby clinics, parenting groups and baby massage classes. As well as the health visitor, there is a qualified nursery nurse, who is able to offer support and advice on child development. Telephone: (01293) 600300 ext 3230.
Midwife
The midwife is qualified to give advice and look after you during pregnancy, labour and after the birth (for 10 days). You will see the midwife for a booking appointment at Crawley Hospital (ring (01293) 600338 to book appointment), where your health and pregnancy will be discussed and a risk assessment completed. Follow-up care will be arranged at the surgery or at a consultant clinic at Crawley if you are high risk.
The midwife runs an antenatal clinic at the surgery (Ifield Drive - Thursday pm or Crow Place - Monday pm). You need to ring the surgery to make appointments.
The midwife will arrange and take antenatal classes to prepare you for the birth and afterwards. She can be contacted between 8.30 - 9.30am by ringing Crawley Hospital on (01293) 600300, ext. 3631, or leave a non-urgent answer phone message after 9.30am.