Welcome
There are many services available to help you to stay healthy. Some of these services can be accessed directly and for others you need to be registered with a GP Practice (surgery). Our Practice cannot offer a walk-in facility; rather our appointments are based upon being pre-booked. Many of our patients may have waited some time for their appointment.
Contacting us
When you wish to consult a GP about your medical condition, you will need to contact us. The most efficient way to do this is by using our Clinical Triage web form. If you come to the Practice without an appointment, you may not be seen. We may ask you to come back at another time, or suggest that you are seen by another health care professional or other service.
Further treatment or tests
When you see your GP about a medical condition, they may have to arrange for further tests to be carried out. If so, they will explain the arrangements for these tests and how you will get the results. These tests may be carried out within the Practice or elsewhere.
Further referrals
If the clinician thinks that you need to be seen by a specialist doctor or other health care professional, they will refer you. You cannot make an appointment to see an NHS specialist without first of all being referred by your GP Practice
Prescriptions and medications
If you need a medicine, the GP will give you a prescription and a pharmacy will supply the medicine for you.
Preferential clinician
Please let us know what your preferences are, and we will try to help you; but this often dependent upon the available clinicians on the day. If you can only see a specific Clinician then you must understand that waiting times may be significantly longer.
Interpreting service
Let us know If you need an interpreting service because we can arrange this for you, or if you have your own preference then please let us know. Your consultation could be face-to-face, or a video consultation; and there is no cost to you as a patient for this service.
Making appointments on behalf of someone else
Please let us know if you’re making an appointment on behalf of someone else.
Top tips in helping us to help you
Our practice is a busy place and our staff will try their very best to accommodate your needs. In return, you’re asked to behave politely and considerately.
Bottom line upfront:
Civility and Respect | Choose the right time | Turn up on time | Rearrange if possible | Focus on the important issue | Keep in contact | Civility and Respect
- Angst. Try not to raise your voice, or act in an intimidating manner. We understand that we can all have bad days, but our Clinical Administrators are just human like all of us; and please consider that they’re trying to help. We’re trying to avoid the negative impact on our staff and other patients. You may wish to speak to the practice manager, and if he’s available he’ll do his best to help you; and if he’s not available then ask for him to contact you.
- Peak times. First thing in the morning, especially on a Monday or after a public holiday, will always be busy – the same can be said for all walks of life. The last half hour of the day makes it very difficult to be seen, or have a prescription issued; and you may very well get told to wait until 18:00 and call the Out of Hours service. This would be no different to calling the Out of Hours service at 07:30, where you would be told to wait until 08:00 to phone the GP.
- Keeping Appointments. When you have an appointment, please try and attend at the time stated. If you’re not able to attend let us know in advance so the appointment can be used by somebody else.
- Failure to Attend. If you continually do not attend appointments we may need to deregister you. It’s much better to try and rearrange your appointment and if you need to then please cancel in time.
- Late for an appointment. In all probability we won’t be able to see you if you turn up late. The appointment slots are almost always full and there will be someone else waiting in line.
- Taking too many issues to your appointment. Appointments need to be made for each patient. If you have to discuss a complex medical issue, or have more than one issue, please let us know in advance so that we can make a suitable appointment time for you.
- Change of contact details. Please let us know if you change your address or contact details.
What other help is available
Pharmacist
If you have a cough or cold – or if your child has a minor ailment – your pharmacist may be able to help you.
Optometrist
If you have an eye problem, you should go to an optometrist.
Dentist
If you have a dental problem, you should go to a dentist.
Specialists
If you need to see a specialist, we will refer you.
Out of Hours
Our telephone lines Are automatically switched to the Out of Hours service at 6 o’clock p.m. until 8 o’clock in the morning and at weekends.
Minor Injuries Unit
Staff will assess and either treat a minor injury or, if they find a more serious problem, arrange for you to be transferred elsewhere. They can treat a range of injuries including sprains, burns and simple fractures. For a list of Minor Injury units near you please access this link Minor Injury Units near you.
