Which appointment is for me?
You don’t always need to see a doctor. Pharmacists now provide a minor illness service (click here to see what services local pharmacists can provide!)and our Nurse Practitioners are well trained to treat a variety of problems.
You can safely treat a number of problems yourself by accessing NHS24 or patient UK online for information on the latest advice.
Emergency appointments
If you experience severe chest pain, severe breathlessness, severe bleeding or sudden loss of speech, movement or vision you should dial 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Urgent appointments
You should ask for an urgent appointment on the day if you experience a sudden and significant change in your health, psychological wellbeing, unexplained pain or if a significant problem fails to improve after the anticipated time.
Routine appointments
Are the best way of dealing with the majority of problems. You have full control over who and when you will be seen. We would encourage you to try and see the same GP all the time.
Home visit
If it is impossible for you to come to the surgery we can give you advice over the telephone or come and visit you at home.
Specialist appointments
Like heart and lung disease, diabetes, pregnancy care or mental health problems, please look under our ‘Specialist clinic’ section for further information
All routine appointments are 10 minute slots; if you feel you need more time either ask for a double appointment, or if this is not possible please make a separate appointment.
You may telephone 8.15 to 6.00 or call into the Centre 8.30 – 6.00 to make an appointment. We try to offer routine appointments within 10 – 14 days but sometimes this is not possible when demand is higher or if a specific doctor is away.
If you feel unable to accept an appointment offered because your condition is URGENT please give the receptionist brief details:
· Your Name & Address
· Your Date of Birth (for identification)
· Your Telephone Number
· Why you feel you require an earlier appointment
The Doctor, the Nurse Practitioner or the Specialist Nurse will telephone you as soon as possible to discuss your condition.
The Doctor or nurse may give you advice, make an appointment for you in a few days' time or if an urgent appointment is required make the necessary arrangements with you to attend a special surgery 9.30 to 10.30 or later in the day.
Consultations
The times of surgeries are given elsewhere but please note that at times of high demand it may be possible for additional doctors sessions to be added especially on certain days and when there are fewer house calls, so please check with us.
The appointment system aims to minimise your waiting time but, whilst we do try to run to time, we cannot know exactly how long each appointment will take, some patients have problems which do take longer than the time allocated. We do ask you to be especially understanding if there is a delay. We suggest that, when possible you try to see the same doctor on each visit especially during a particular spell of illness. This enables you and the doctor to get to know each other and aids the understanding of your problem. If you have an urgent problem, however, you can see any doctor. If you are returning for a planned review appointment please book at least three or four weeks in advance and always tell the receptionist which doctor you wish to see. The demand for appointments is very high and we recognise that you may not be able to see your preferred doctor or have an appointment when you would wish but we do endeavour to provide as many routine appointments as we can.
If you have urgent medical problems you will also be contacted or seen the same day
Failure to keep appointments
We understand that occasionally patients are unable to keep appointments but we do ask that we be informed in good time. Even with just ten minutes notice we can offer the appointment slot to another patient. An increasing number of patients fail to attend appointments without informing us and this leads to much time being wasted and other patients having to wait longer at emergency surgeries. It is essential that we provide an efficient and effective appointments system for all our patients. Your missed appointment times could have been given to someone, perhaps in greater need.
Emergencies
The NHS has services to deal with emergencies 24 hours a day each day.
During working hours you should telephone the Centre number: 414874. When you telephone please give the receptionist, clearly, your name, address, a contact telephone number and the nature of the problem. The duty doctor will then deal with your problem.
Outwith working hours you should contact NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24
We receive information on all our patients using the emergency service the following morning.
Home Visits
If you feel you need to see a doctor but are unable to come to the Centre please try to request a home visit before 10.00am. This helps us to plan the day's home visits more efficiently, although we realise that it is not always possible in the case of an emergency.
Please give as much detail to the receptionist as possible, you will be asked questions which enable us to assess the urgency of each request. Whilst it is appropriate for some consultations to take place in the home, often these take longer than those in the Centre and are more difficult and less effective. We would be grateful therefore if you could try to attend the Centre if possible. Please think carefully and considerately before requesting a visit.
Telephone Advice
The Practice is always happy to provide advice to you if you are concerned about a health problem. There is a duty senior nurse/nurse practitioner or a duty doctor available each day subject to house call commitments; If immediately available he or she will take your call; if not please leave details with the receptionist – the duty staff will contact you, occasionally this may not be possible until later in the day or even the following day. For advice calls it is best to try to ring late morning or early afternoon
If you wish to speak to a specific doctor the best time to call is between 10.45am and 11.15am but availability cannot be guaranteed and your details may need to be taken by the receptionist for passing on to the doctor.
