HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN
TELEPHONE ADVICE?
If
you have been asked to telephone for a result, or if you have a query concerning
your health records, we ask that you telephone between 11.00am and 1.00pm.
If
you wish to speak to the doctor or practice nurse on the telephone, you will be
given a time to ring back when the relevant clinician is free to speak with you.
Calls
to the surgery number when it is closed are automatically diverted, either to
another of our surgeries or to NHS Direct for the out-of-hours service.
HOW
DO I...
MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT?
Routine appointments
These can be booked up to a month ahead and there are some routine appointments that are available for booking on the day. If you have a problem that is sudden and serious, you will be given an emergency appointment for that day. With greater demand on doctor time our aim is to reduce patient waiting time at the surgery and cut the number of missed appointments and so this system helps us give a more efficient appointments service for our patients. We would advise talking to our friendly team of receptionists who have leaflets available and who will book as appropriate to your needs.
Extended Hours
We offer seven late surgery sessions per month across the practice. These evening surgeries are intended primarily for patients who have difficulty coming during the day, either because of working, caring for others, or due to availability of essential transport. Should you wish to see the doctor at one of these extended hours sessions, please telephone your usual surgery to be given an advance appointment. Please note that these appointments are not for emergencies and cannot be booked on the day that the session is held.
Long Appointments
If you know that your problem will take some time to sort out, or you expect to
need a full examination, please ask the receptionist for a double appointment.
This helps us to plan the appointments better and causes less waiting for others.
Urgent Appointments
If there are no regular appointments available and you feel your case cannot wait,
we will always fit you in with a doctor the same day (though not necessarily the
doctor of your first choice). In this instance, you will be expected to wait until
the end of the normal surgery.
Referral to Hospital
For this, the NHS uses a "Choose and Book" procedure. This is a method of referral to the provider of your choice with the option for you to make your own appointment at a convenient time for you. After discussion with the GP, you will be given a leaflet to explain the scheme, and also an instruction sheet with a unique booking number and password for making your appointment. If you would like to know more about Choose and Book, please ask the receptionist for a leaflet.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN
A HOME VISIT?
These are for the housebound or for those too ill to go out. It will help us to judge the urgency if you will give details to the receptionist at the surgery with whom the patient is registered before 10.00am. Only Urgent requests will be considered after that time.
PLEASE remember that the doctor is able to see four patients in surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit.
