How to make an appointment
Please call our surgery numbers to book an appointment at our main practice. If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP. If you don’t need an appointment within two working days, you also have the option to book up to 3 weeks in advance if this is more convenient for you.
Nurses based in our practice treat patients for a wide range of common conditions. We also have a Nurse Prescriber who is qualified to prescribe from a range of medicines. You can book up to a month ahead for clinics.
Role of reception
Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help with your enquiry, ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician. Nonetheless, it is your right to request to talk only to the doctor. Anything that is discussed with the receptionists or any other member of the team is treated in strict confidence. You have a right to be treated courteously, and our receptionists also have a right to be treated courteously by you. If your enquiry is sensitive you can ask to speak to the receptionist in a more private environment. Please respect the privacy of other patients by standing well back from the reception desk while waiting for your turn.
Difficulty with getting an appointment
The surgery is particularly busy on Mondays and Fridays especially during the winter months. If your appointment is not urgent, try to book on a less busy day after 10.30am. We do get a number of patients failing to turn up for their appointment. If you let us know as soon as possible you can’t attend your appointment, we can then make it available for another patient. You can book to have a telephone consultation with a doctor if you wish.
Routine appointments
If you need to book a routine follow-up appointment with a particular GP you can make an appointment up to two weeks in advance. Please phone after 10.30am to avoid busy times. Many routine appointments are for patients who have a long-term or chronic condition that needs monitoring on a regular basis. We will let you know when your next appointment is due with the practice nurse or doctor by post or telephone. If this time is not convenient, please telephone reception to re-arrange it. It is important to continue your regular check-ups, even if you are feeling well. Routine appointments are available during normal surgery hours with the practice nurse and/or doctor.
How to get travel vaccinations
For routine protection against Tetanus and Polio please make appointments with the practice nurse. We offer a full range of vaccinations for foreign travel. For all advice and information regarding foreign travel please make an appointment with the practice nurse 4 – 6 weeks before departure so that immunisation can be completed. Please note that not all travel vaccinations are free of charge.
Home Visits
We ask our patients to come to the practice if at all possible. However, we can visit you at home if your condition means you cannot attend one of our premises. Please ring your surgery in the morning as soon as possible to arrange a visit. Please be prepared to tell the receptionist about your condition so we can visit the most urgent cases first. The doctor (or triage nurse) may wish to speak with you to see if it would be better for you to come to the surgery to be seen immediately. Home visits are normally made after morning surgery.
Out of Hours Emergencies
If you need to see a doctor urgently when the surgery is closed please phone any of the three surgery numbers and follow the instructions. You will be put through to the ‘out-of-hours’ service. They will pass a message to the doctor on duty who may phone you to assess your problem. You might be asked to attend the out-of-hours clinic, or receive a home visit.
Alternatively you can phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit their website at www.nhsdirect.co.uk.
NHS Direct offers free expert health information and advice 24 hours a day. It can advise you whether you need to go to the nearest Accident and Emergency hospital department, or if there is an alternative such as visiting an NHS walk-in centre. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, a telephone services is available on 0845 606 4647. If English is not your preferred language, you can choose to use a confidential translation service.
Whatever the day or time, if you or someone else experiences severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, go to your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999.
