Appointments
Appointments may be made:
In person at our reception desk.
By telephone. Please call (01442) 213919 between 8 am and 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.
On the Internet. Please follow the link in the panel on the left to "On-line services"
Would a telephone appointment be more convenient?
Where appropriate, telephone appointments are an efficient use of our clinicians' time and may be more convenient for the patient. If you would like to book a telephone appointment please tell the receptionist.
Would it be best to book an appointment with one of our nurses?
Our nursing team can deal effectively with many common problems. For more information about the services provided by our nursing team, please click here.
Making best use of our appointment system:
We try to balance the needs of all patients, providing some appointments that can be booked up to 4 weeks ahead, but releasing most appointments two days in advance. This arrangement ensures we can always provide a timely appointment for the acutely ill. We will always offer an appointment within two working days. If you have a medically urgent condition, we will offer an appointment the same day. However, in this case we cannot guarantee that you will see your usual doctor.
The widest selection of appointments will be available if you contact us one or two days before you wish to be seen. It is not necessary to call early in the morning. In fact, your call will be answered more quickly at a less busy time.
A few appointments in each surgery are released up to 4 weeks in advance. If you need to book ahead our receptionists will offer you a selection of appointments. Our internet booking service also offers a range of appointments at various times.
Finally, if you need a follow-up appointment, the doctor will give you a slip for the receptionist. This will ensure you can obtain an appointment at the appropriate time. Please make this appointment before leaving the surgery.
Please understand our receptionists cannot offer an appointment to you until it is released by our scheduling system. We must retain sufficient appointments for the acutely ill and we apologise if you cannot always see your preferred doctor at the time you choose. We continually monitor the availability of appointments, and we try to optimise our system to meet the needs of as many patients as possible.
You are welcome to consult any available doctor in the Practice. However, to ensure continuity of care, we encourage you to see your usual doctor wherever possible.
Please do not request emergency appointments other than for medically urgent problems.
If a hospital refers you to your GP or Practice Nurse (eg for removal of stitches) please make an appointment.
Home Visits:
Requests for visits should be made before 11am. The Receptionist will need to ask for some details relating to the illness. Please consider the need for a home visit, as in most cases care is provided more quickly and effectively in the Surgery where a more complete assessment is possible. Home visits are intended for the housebound and those clinically unable to travel. We are not obliged to visit because you have transport problems. Please bear in mind that we can see 3 to 4 patients in the Surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit. All requests that may involve a home visit are referred to the Doctor available at the time.
Cancellations:
Please inform the Surgery as soon as possible if you are unable to keep your appointment, so that it may be made available to someone else.
Timetable:
Our doctors and nurses have many commitments outside surgery time (attending home visits, generating hospital referrals, reading clinical reports, dealing with prescriptions and letters, training, etc). Our timetable also has to incorporate annual holidays as well as occasional sickness. We review our timetable each week, and make adjustments to ensure that we can always meet the demand for appointments.