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Behind the Clinic Door
Every day at Southend Coastal Surgeries, incredible work happens behind the scenes.
Behind the Clinic Door shares the real stories of our staff, patients and community partners. Discover how our teams work together, the services we provide, the events we organise and the difference primary care makes in our community.
From preventative healthcare and women's health to community events and digital innovation, we're proud to share the people and stories behind your GP practice.
Real people. Real care. Real stories from Behind the Clinic Door.
All Posts
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
A Personal Reflection from Southend Coastal Surgeries When I think of vaccination, I picture new parents sitting next to their tiny eight-week-old baby, nervous but resolved to do the right thing. I picture older people who wish to remain active and independent as long as possible. I imagine families getting ready for long-awaited holidays abroad. Vaccination is ultimately about protection, prevention and peace of mind. In the past few years, we’ve witnessed a troubling decli
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago4 min read
Coughs, Colds, Sore Throats & Ear Infections: The Back‑to‑School Survival Guide (With a Big Shout to Pharmacy First!) Southend Coastal Surgeries. Here for Southend- here for you .
Because the moment school starts, every virus in Essex decides to come out of retirement. When September arrives, children march back into classrooms full of enthusiasm, new stationery, and approximately 400 opportunities to catch something. At Southend Coastal Surgeries, we see it every year — the sniffles, the coughs, the sore throats, the ear pain, the “Mum, I don’t feel well” at 7:52am. But before you panic‑dial us at 8am, let’s talk about Pharmacy First, the NHS scheme d
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago6 min read
Celebrating Achievement, Growth, and the Future of Primary Care
This week has all been about celebrating our staff’s achievements. We had five members of our team graduating from the University of Essex, completing their degree in Nursing, all of whom had come through Southend Coastal Surgeries as apprentices or students on placement. Alongside them, two more of our team graduated from Anglia Ruskin University, achieving their Master’s in Advanced Practice. It was a day that made me feel incredibly proud, seeing how far each of them has c
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago5 min read
A Reflective Thank You: Celebrating Our Community at the Southend Coastal Surgeries Health & Wellbeing Fair
There’s something special that happens when healthcare steps outside the clinic walls and into the heart of the community. That’s exactly what we saw at the Health & Wellbeing Fair, hosted by Southend Coastal Surgeries at Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church on Wednesday 12th August- a day filled with energy, learning, connection, and more than a few “I never knew that!” moments. This wasn’t just a fair. It was a celebration of community health, shared knowledge, and the
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago7 min read
Why Your Hands Could Save a Life: Bystander CPR.
Lets talk CPR It’s one of those things everyone thinks they remember from school — you know, somewhere between the recovery position and that weird plastic dummy that always smelled faintly of disinfectant. But when something actually happens, most of us freeze and suddenly forget everything except the fact we’re panicking. Here’s the truth though: bystander CPR saves lives. Real lives. Ordinary lives. The kind of people you love, live with, work with or bump into at Asda whe
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago2 min read
A Day in the Life of a GP Care Co-ordinator and GP Assistants- part 2
Southend Coastal Surgeries — where the work never stops, and the staff haven’t finished a hot drink since 2019. The Roles You Never See — But Rely On Every Day Care Co‑ordinators and GP Assistants are two roles that quietly transform the way a GP surgery runs, yet most patients have never heard of them. They work behind the clinic door, smoothing out the bumps, preventing delays, and making sure patients receive the right care at the right time. They’re the organisational bac
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago5 min read
Digital Triage: What If I’m Not Digital? Don’t Worry — We’ve Got You
Digital Triage at Southend Coastal Surgeries | Anima & NHS App Digital triage. Two words that can make some people think: “Oh dear. I’m going to need to understand technology now, aren’t I?” Well, no. If you are a patient at Southend Coastal Surgeries, whether you attend North Shoebury Surgery, Thorpe Bay Surgery or Westcliff Medical Centre, I want to reassure you that you do not have to be digitally minded to receive the same fair and appropriate care. In fact, we still have
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago7 min read
A Day in the Life of a GP Care Navigator (Receptionist) part 1.
(Southend Coastal Surgeries — where the phones never stop and the tea is always cold. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a GP Care Navigator, imagine trying to solve a Rubik’s cube while someone shouts at you, someone else cries at you, and the phone rings 400 times, all before you’ve finished your first cup of tea. People often think they “just answer phones,” but the truth is far messier, far busier, and far more important. We don’t call them receptionists anymore
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago7 min read
The Great British Summer: Sun, BBQs… and Insect Bites
Every year, without fail, as soon as the sun comes out, so do the bugs, and suddenly half of Southend is walking around looking like they’ve lost a fight with a tiny, winged ninja. Insect bites are one of the most common things we see this time of year at Southend Coastal Surgeries, and if you’ve ever sat in a waiting room trying not to scratch your leg off, you’ll know exactly what I mean. We all know how unbelievably annoying insect bites are. They itch, they swell, they ma
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago4 min read
Headaches & Migraines: What’s Going on Inside Your Head?
Headaches are one of those universal experiences we all share. They’re annoying, persistent, and they always seem to appear at the exact moment you finally sit down with a cup of tea. Migraines, however, are a different breed entirely. They don’t just arrive quietly — they make an entrance. They dim the lights, demand silence, and proceed to ruin your entire day with the confidence of someone who knows they’re in charge. The truth is, headaches and migraines are incredibly co
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago2 min read
Digital Triage: What Really Happens After You Hit Send... presented by Southend Coastal Surgeries
Digital triage has become part of everyday life in general practice, but let’s be honest, for many patients, it still feels a bit like sending a message into the void. You type out your symptoms, hit submit, and then… silence. What actually happens next? Who reads it? How do we decide what’s urgent? And is there really a human being behind the screen, or just a very tired robot with a stethoscope? Time to lift the curtain. Because behind every digital request is a real clinic
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago5 min read
Have You Heard? We’re Bringing Healthcare Out of the Surgery and Into the Community
And This Year… We’re Teaching You How to Save a Life Yes, you read that right. At this year’s Southend Coastal Surgeries Health Fair, we’re offering free CPR and choking response training for everyone who attends. No booking, no fuss, just real, practical, life‑saving skills you can learn in minutes. Why start with CPR? Because it’s the kind of thing people always mean to learn, but never quite get around to. And because most cardiac arrests happen at home or in public place
southendcoastalsur
5 days ago4 min read
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