How Do I...
Make An Appointment?
Before booking an appointment with the doctor, please consider whether one of the following options would
be more appropriate:
- The Minor Ailment Scheme - this is provided by certain local pharmacies. If you are
suffering from certain minor ailments, you may have a personal consultation with the
pharmacist who will be able to recommend appropriate treatment. If you do not
normally pay for your prescriptions, you will be given medication by the pharmacist
to treat your ailment free of charge. Further information on this scheme can be obtained
from the surgery.
- See an optician for eye problems, a dentist for dental problems and a podiatrist for
foot problems.
- When the surgery is closed and you are not sure if you can wait until the surgery
re-opens, you can ring NHS Direct for advice on 0845 4647.
- Ring the surgery to speak to the receptionist to discuss what might be the best way to
deal with your request.
This may take the form of:
- a telephone consultation with the doctor or nurse, especially if your request is
urgent.
- a nurse appointment, for example to check blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, general
health checks and for vaccinations.
- an administrative request. You do not usually need to see a doctor for the following,
unless advised to do so: first week self certification forms (these are obtained
from your employer), DSS forms, housing letters, Blue Badge application forms,
insurance letters etc. Some of these may incur charges.
Appointments may be made by telephoning or by calling at the surgery. Routine appointments may be made
well in advance (maximum three months), which will enable us to offer you an appointment at a time best
suitable to your requirements.
If you cannot keep an appointment, please inform us as soon as possible as this will enable us to offer
that appointment to someone else.
Checking In
When you arrive for your appointment please inform the receptionist. Your name will appear on the screen
in the waiting room when it is your turn to see the doctor/nurse. Please note that each appointment is for 10
minutes only.
Emergencies
In addition to routine appointments there will be an extra session each day to deal with urgent problems.
Please note that this is for urgent conditions that cannot wait. Do give as much information as possible to
the receptionist as this allows the nurse or GP to prioritise the request.
If you are confronted by a serious problem such as severe chest pain or severe bleeding call an
ambulance.
Choose and Book
Choose and Book is a new service that, following referral, allows you to choose your hospital or clinic
and book an appointment with a specialist.
When your GP believes it is necessary for you to see a specialist, you will be able to choose from at
least four hospitals or clinics. You will also be able to choose the date and time of your appointment.
How Do I...
Obtain A Home Visit?
Patients are requested to telephone before 10.00am if a visit is required that day.
The decision to make a home visit is always at the clinical discretion of the doctor. It is usually better
to be seen in the surgery where examinations and investigations are more effectively performed.
How Do I...
Obtain Test Results?
Test results and letters from local hospitals have to be checked by the doctor or nurse. Therefore please
telephone for results in the afternoon. Some tests take longer than others: your doctor should be able to give
you an idea of how long you are likely to wait.
Please telephone the surgery to make certain that test results are available on site before making an
appointment to see the doctor or nurse.
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