Appointments

We operate two systems:

To make a routine appointment, please contact the surgery during working hours. You can pre-book up to 1 month ahead. 

Same day appointments are for problems that are not able to wait until the next routine appointment, please call at reception or ring at 08:30am each morning when same day appointments are released. If all same day appointments have gone and you still feel it necessary to be seen, we may advise you to go to the Walk-in Centres or you will be asked to complete a request form detailing your symptoms, the doctors will then triage your needs and provide you with an emergency appointment or call you back with advice.

Mobile phones must be switched off during consultations, preferably when entering the building.

Telephone Advice

The doctors and nurses are available to speak to you if necessary on the phone. Please leave your contact details and a brief reason with the reception team, and either a doctor or nurse will give you a call back later that day.

Chaperone Services

The practice offers patients the service of a chaperone if they require an intimate examination, and doctors may also request this service. Patients are encouraged to ask for a chaperone if required at the time of booking their appointment wherever possible.

All staff have received appropriate training in providing this service.  All formal chaperones understand their roles and responsibilities and are competent to perform that role.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. The practice operates a “Did not attend” policy, in that we will write to you if you fail to attend 2 appointments. If you repeatedly fail to attend without reason we will write again informing you that further failure to attend appointments without good reason may result in your name(s) being removed from the practice list.

Text Message Reminders

If you have given us your mobile telephone number we may use it from time to time to send you a text message. If you prefer not to use this service, please let us know by using the Text Messaging Consent & Opt out form and we will note your records accordingly.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.

We are not obliged to visit  you at home once you move out of our practice area, unless we have agreed to do so in advance.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Choose & Book

This is an initiative by the NHS to allow patients to be more involved in taking decisions and making choices about their healthcare.  If a doctor refers you for secondary care, you will be informed of your choice of hospital/healthcare provider.

Choose & Book will enable patients to choose a convenient place, date and time for their initial hospital appointment. 

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)