Access Facilitator Service

The Access Facilitator Service works closely with GP practices across Sussex to help engage with people who have a severe mental illness (SMI), and support and encourage them to access physical health checks.

Access Facilitators take a proactive outreach approach in supporting people who have not had recent contact with their GP to have a physical health assessment.

Employed and trained by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the 24 roles are also working alongside the Health and Wellbeing Service, a social prescribing service delivered in partnership by Southdown and Sussex Partnership, as part of ongoing improvements to community mental health services.

If you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychosis, you should be on your GP surgery’s severe mental illness register. You are entitled to a free physical health check at least once a year.

People living with severe mental illness (SMI) have on average a life expectancy 15–20 years lower than the general population. This is partly due to diagnostic overshadowing, physical health needs not being managed as a priority, and as a result of potential side effects of anti-psychotic medication.

For this reason, it is important that patients with SMI are on the SMI register at their GP surgery, and attend their annual Physical Health Check (PHC), so that any potential medical conditions which might require further assessment or treatment can be identified early.

The physical health check includes a series of six tests, as listed below, to help identify any signs that you may be at risk of developing a physical health condition, such as diabetes, heart condition, or stroke.

  • Blood pressure check
  • Height and weight
  • Blood glucose - a blood sample will be taken to check your glucose levels (the main type of sugar in your blood)
  • Blood lipid - a blood sample will be taken to check your cholesterol levels
  • You will be asked whether you smoke
  • You will be asked whether you drink alcohol - and if so, how much

Contact your GP surgery, or your local Access Facilitator, to book your physical health check.

For more information, please ask your GP or GP surgery staff.