Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice if:
· you think you might have coronavirus
· you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus
For the latest Covid-19 advice please visit www.nhs.uk.
Though you're not obliged to do so, we are asking patients to continue to wear a face covering where possible to help us to limit the spread of Coronavirus.
OUR APPOINTMENTS SYSTEM WILL BE CHANGING FROM 3rd SEPTEMBER 2022
From 3rd September 2022, all our appointments for the day will be released at 8am. Until this time, we will continue to operate our 8am and 12noon release of appointments for Morning and Afternoon appointments respectively.
You can make an appointment either by calling us 01977 703437 or online following the link at the top of this page. (To use the online booking system, you will need to contact the surgery to complete a simple registration before you can use this service).
If you are calling the surgery about anything else other than appointments, you may find the phone lines are less busy between from 12noon onwards.
You can make an appointment to see a nurse in exactly the same way. As well as providing our triage service, our nurses also specialise in the care of people with particular conditions. They can also provide general health advice, and deal with minor illnesses, and of course, will seek the opinion of one of our doctors if they have any doubts. The length of appointment you may be offered will depend on the condition you have, and whether it is a first, or follow up visit.
Routine GP appointments are ten minutes long. Double appointments are available if you have more than one issue and need a longer appointment with the doctor. Please let the reception staff know if this is the case so that it can be arranged for you.
Our doctors and nurses will give advice over the telephone where this is medically appropriate. Obviously they cannot be disturbed when they are seeing patients in surgery, so normally your message will be passed on, and you will be called back.
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.
Your doctor will consider whether you should be referred to a specialist for further diagnosis, tests or treatment. Under new arrangements, you have the choice of which hospital you should visit.
In making this decision you should take into account how you will travel there, as well as how long the waiting list may be, and the hospital’s record on a number of points. For advice on clinical matters, please ask your doctor at the time of your consultation. For other matters, our reception team may be able to help.
If you wish to be treated privately, please mention this to your doctor at the time of your consultation.
In 2021, we had a total of 844 wasted appointments due to patients not attending!
This year between January 1st and June 30th, we have had a total of 482 wasted appointments.
It is really important that you inform us if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters may be removed from our list and asked to register at another surgery.
You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.
We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.
To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.
Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.
Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day-except in the event of an medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
If you require an interpreter to attend with you for your appointment, please notify the receptionist when your appointment is booked, so we can arrange this for you.
The surgery now offers pre booked early morning appointments with the nurse and the healthcare assistant on a Monday & Wednesday from 07:10. Please note the door will be locked, press the buzzer for the receptionist to let you in.
This is for pre booked appointments only. Patients wanting to arrange any future appointments won't be able to do so until 08:00 when the surgery officially opens.