Appointments
Appointment System
We have been listening to patient feedback on our appointment system and working hard, in collaboration with the Patient Participation Group, Staff and Partners to make improvements.
We have a number of available appointment types to choose from some of which can be booked online using the link opposite.
Bookable Appointments
These appointments are bookable on the day or can be booked in advance. They are face to face appointments with a GP. If you wish to have a chaperone present at your appointment, please let the clinician or receptionist know when you book. A clinician may also ask for a chaperone to be in your consultation. If an appropriate chaperone is not available at the time of an appointment, you will be booked the next available appointment.
Telephone Assessments (Triage)
These are generally bookable on the day only, you will speak to a GP and if they need to see you they will offer you an appointment for later the same day. Telephone triage appointments are only available in morning clinics. You will not be booked a call with a GP if you wish to extend a sick note or order repeat medication. You can do both of these things with the reception team.
Telephone Consultations
Calls can be booked to speak to a GP or a Nurse practitioner. These are generally bookable on the day only. We will not make calls to patients to order repeat medication or for an extension of a sick note. These queries should be dealt with at reception. You will also not be offered an appointment with a GP if these are telephone advice only. Please check with a receptionist if you are not sure.
Emergency Sit and Waits
If you feel that you need urgent medical attention but A&E or Urgent Care are not the most suitable option we may be able to offer you a Sit and Wait appointment with a GP. You will be asked what the emergency is, and given a time to attend the surgery. You cannot choose who you see or what time you attend. If the matter can be dealt with more effectively else where you will be signposted to the most relevant organisation.
Home Visits
Our doctors and nurse practitioners can carry out home visits to patients who cannot get to the surgery. We would ask that you call before 11.30am to request as home visit. Calls made later in the day may be differed to the following day at the doctors discretion.
Be prepared to give the receptionist details of your name, age, address, phone number, your usual doctor and the reason for your request. All this information remains confidential. The doctor will need these details to plan the most appropriate response to your problem and may well phone back for more details before leaving the surgery.
Home visits are not considered to be a routine service. The Doctor can deal with several patients at the surgery in the time it takes to visit one patient at home so please think carefully before requesting a home visit.
Practice Nurses
Our practice nurses offer reviews for conditions such as Asthma, COPD, diabetes and hypertension. They also offer contraceptive clinics, smear clinics and child immunisations as well as travel vaccinations. The clinics with our practices nurses can book up quite quickly so book in plenty of time to ensure you get an appointment to suit you.
Health Care Assistant (HCA's)
HCA's provide a number services such as ECG's dressings, suture and staple removal, ear syringing, lifestyle advice, health checks and Blood Pressure (BP) checks. These appointments can only be booked by staff at the practice and can book up quite quickly. To ensure you get the appointment you need please book ahead.
Nurse Practitioner
Our nurse practitioners have undertaken specialist training to be able to assess and diagnose acute new presenting problems.
The list below includes examples of what our nurse practitioner deals with on a day-to-day basis. If you are suffering from any of the following symptoms, then you could be offered an appointment with the nurse practitioner:
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Minor illness/minor injury Sore throat Possible chest infection Abdominal pain Diarrhoea and Vomiting Urine disorders/infections Earache
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Eye infections Skin problems Acute allergies Limb pain – new Cuts and burns Sinusitis/headache Emergency contraception
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Generally these appointments are bookable on the day only with a limited number available to pre-book on other days.
The nurse practitioner is also an independent prescriber and can prescribe for acute problems. However, she is not able to print and issue prescriptions for repeat or long-term medication.
The nurse practitioner will also arrange tests and investigations if they are required and may sometimes refer you to your Doctor.
Patients should arrive on time with ONE problem per 10 minute appointment. Babies under 6 months old will not be seen.