The Prescription Ordering Direct (POD) Service is closing mid August. You will no longer be able to order your repeat prescriptions using this service. You can still order your medication using the NHS app, using our Online Services, or by handing in a paper request to the prescription collection box or letterbox in ground floor Reception. 

In the past couple of weeks, the number of overdoses has been unusually high (with some deaths) among people who use drugs, primarily heroin, across parts of the country.

Testing of some batches of heroin has shown that they had been adulterated with an extremely dangerous synthetic opiate called Nitazene. Nitazenes may be hundreds of times more potent than heroin and can be at least as potent as fentanyl. Nitazenes have also been found in drugs sold as oxycodone pills and alprazolam (Xanax) powder.

Staying safe and helping others

The only way to avoid all the risks is to not take drugs which are not prescribed for you. However, if you do choose to take them, remember:

•Go low and slow - Be extra cautiousabout the sources from which you getyour drugs, and about the drugs you aretaking; maybe starting with just a quarterhit of a new supply.

•Do not use alone; make sure thatsomeone you trust is present andequipped with a couple of naloxone kits

•If using with others, it’s best if only oneperson uses the drug first and uses less asa test dose

•Don't mix drugs: Using more than one drug increases your risks of overdose, including mixing with alcohol and other depressant drugs such as diazepam and pregabalin

•Look after your friends: watch others carefully for the signs of an overdose, e.g. unable to wake up, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, weakness or slurred speech

•Make sure you have enough naloxone available: more doses of naloxone may be needed to recover from a synthetic opiate overdose.

•If you have oxycodone pills or Xanax powder that you don't take, make sure to get rid of them safely e.g. at a pharmacy or an amnesty bin (not down a toilet or in a rubbish bin).

If you don’t have a naloxone kit, or yours has expired, please contact us

Join us in person for a cuppa, cake and chat and meet families with similar experiences from Whitehawk.

Tuesdays from 9.30 - 11.30am
5th September, 3rd October, 7 November &
5th December 2023

St Cuthmans Church, Whitehawk Way, Brighton BN2 5HE

We will discuss; does your child have special needs or not? What help can you get and what services may be available? You may have a diagnosis for your child and are wondering what to do next? An opportunity to tell us what you need from us and how we can best support you and your family.
This group will sometimes have an emphasis on children or young people with a neurodevelopmental condition, such as ASC, ADHD or dyslexia.

To find out more, contact Sandra: sandra@amazesussex.org.uk
07485347388

Refreshments are provided.

Join us in person for a cuppa, cake and chat and meet families with similar experiencesfrom Woodingdean.

Thursdays from 9.30 - 11.30am
7th & 21st September, 19th October, 16th November &
14th December 2023

Parish Church of the Holy Cross, Woodingdean, Downsway,
Brighton BN2 6BD

We will discuss; does your child have special needs or not? What help can you get and what services may be available? You may have a diagnosis for your child and are wondering what to do next? An opportunity to tell us what you need from us and how we can best support you and your family.
This group will sometimes have an emphasis on children or young people with a neurodevelopmental condition, such as ASC, ADHD or dyslexia.

To find out more, contact Sandra: sandra@amazesussex.org.uk
07485347388

Refreshments are provided.

This is a new partnership between the East and Central Brighton Primary Care Network
and ADHD Aware. Our Primary Care Network (PCN) covers 9 GP practices looking after 75,000 patients in the city.

You can read this ADHD-Aware-Welcome-Pack.pdf to find out more about what they are offering

We are very aware of the long waits for an ADHD assessment and the lack of support pre and post diagnosis. We support people to use the Right to Choose pathway where appropriate, but are aware of some concerns recently regarding the holistic quality of the assessments and focus on medication rather than psychosocial support.

We are excited to work with ADHD Aware to investigate new ways of supporting people and are commissioning peer support and educational sessions for our patients as part of this project.

We provide monthly peer support groups, both in person and online, for ADHD adults, their partners and for parents of ADHD children or young adults. You don’t need an official diagnosis to use our services. Many people who attend our groups are wondering whether they have ADHD, and want to meet others like them, to learn more about it.

The PCN are offering a mindful movement session every Tuesday at East Brighton Park in front of the cafe. Sessions include Qi Gong with a qualififed physiotherapist from 12-1pm and a drop in chat with a local GP from 1-2pm. 
The short term plan for these sessions is to tackle loneliness, get people moving mindfully. improve breath (to help calm the nervous system which in turn improves your health) and the long term plan is to increase the numbers in each surgeries patient participant group (PPG) and form a self sustaining community group directly linked with improving mental and physical illness.

If you are interested please either text on 07361 476 900 or email sxicb-bh.ecb-pcn-team@nhs.net

The PCN Team is running a free drop in mindfulness class on the 3rd floor of the Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD. This is open to anyone and is lift accessible. Sessions run on Monday afternoons between 3-4:30pm.

As part of LGBTQ+ history month we have been sharing Pride Guides, which are quick guides to health issues we know can be more prevalent or more difficult to access support for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Please see the links below;

Mental Health Guide

Sexual Health Guide

Switchboard is an excellent charity available to help and support the LGBTQI+ community. Please see their website for more details and information.https://www.switchboard.org.uk/

Drop in breath work and yoga Wednesdays 3:15-4pm and 4pm-5pm

Humankind Studio - 35A St George's Road Kemptown BN2 1ED

Please email sxicb-bh.ecb-pcn-team@nhs.net or text 07361476900 if you are interested

LGBTQ+ domestic abuse support group weekly drop in on Wednesday 5-7pm

Arcobaleno, Kemptown BN2 1EA

Contact outreach@acrossrainbows.com to find out more 

East & Central Brighton NHS PCN are holding free exercise sessions

Tai Chi Tuesdays 2-3pm Drop in - Suitable for alll

Circuits (beginner’s level Circuit Training Class that focuses on cardiovascular fitness and resistance training) Tuesday 3-4 pm

WHERE: ST MARTIN'S CHURCH HALL (WAGNER HALL, 37 LEWES ROAD, BN2 3HQ)

PLEASE CONTACT 07460 032613 TO JOIN

Drop in Yoga Sessions on Fridays 2pm-3pm 

Unit 4, 20-26 Round Hill Street, BN2 3RG

For enquiries:

Text only: 07361 476 900 

Email: sxicb-bh.ecb-pcn-team@nhs.net

The NHS should contact you if you're eligible for a seasonal booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine this spring.

You may be offered a seasonal booster if you:

• are aged 75 or over (you need to have turned 75 on or before 30 June 2023)
• live in a care home for older adults
• are aged 5 or over and have a weakened immune system

To book: call 119 or go to www.nhs.uk/covid-booster

Help to get a COVID-19 vaccine

Talk to one of the vaccine team about any concerns you have including: which vaccine you need, where to go, how to book, help with transport or any worries you have about needles, getting an injection, leaving the house or side effects. Please call 0300 303 8060 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or email here.rovingpatients@nhs.net 

For further information visit: Covid-19 vaccinations - Sussex Health and Care (ics.nhs.uk).

For information in multiple languages, look at the SIS Covid webpage