Appointments
Appointment System
The practice operates an appointment system with doctors for both pre-bookable and urgent appointments.
We also offer appointments with our nurse practitioner (link below)
Pre-bookable appointments can be booked up to 28 days in advance
Urgent appointments are for matters that cannot wait for a routine appointment and should be to discuss one concern only with the doctor.
If more than one person per family needs seeing, please book a separate appointment for each person.
On-line Booking
If you have Patient Access or NHS App, we have routine GP face-to-face or telephone appointments available to book online.
If you are not signed up yet, please attend the surgery and request access. You will need to provide photo ID before this can be released to you and it can only be given directly to the person registering.
Specialist clinic appointments are not available to book on-line or if you wish to book a longer appointment with the doctor of your choice please telephone the surgery on 01905 363351.
Telephone Times
In order to reduce the pressure on our telephones at the busiest times we ask patients to ring at the following times depending on your requirements:
Urgent appointments / Home Visits:
Routine Appointments:
Prescription Enquiries:
Test Results:
General Enquiries:
Press 1 (Home visits need to be in by 10.30 to allow time for us to allocate your visit to the GP)
Press 2 Lines open at 9.00am
Press 3 Lines are open between the hours of 11am and 2pm
Press 4 Lines are open between the hours of 11am and 4pm
Press 5 E.g. sick notes and insurance reports
Cancellations.
It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you receive appointment reminders, you will have the opportunity to cancel your appointment by following the link on the message.
Missed Appointments (Did Not Attend - DNA).
A missed appointment is when a patient fails to attend an appointment (Did Not Attend - DNA) without a phone call to cancel, or cancels with less the 20 minutes notice.
Late cancellations (under 20 minutes notice) are considered to be missed appointments, unless a valid reason is given.
The GP/patient relationship is built on mutual respect. With this in mind we do our best to be on time for your scheduled appointment and ask that you let us know when you are not able to keep your appointment.
On average we have 120 wasted appointments per month where patients have failed to cancel. The effect of this is:
An increase in waiting time for others to see a healthcare professional
Frustration for both staff and patients
A waste of practice resources
A potential risk to health of the patient
We acknowledge there may be reasons for not turning up for an appointment. We do have a DNA policy in place should patients wish to see this.
Please be aware that if a patient books an appointment which carries a fee (e.g. medical), but fails to attend without giving 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, the full fee will be charged.
Late for Appointments
Patients have a duty to attend for appointments promptly, and to take into account logistical difficulties or time involved in travelling to the surgery. We do recognise that there may be reasons why a patient arrives late, and whenever possible, we will try to see the patient as soon as we can.
Our practice policy states that if a patient arrives late for their “book on the day” appointment, the reception staff should inform the Duty Team and they will make the decision as to see the patient or request that they rebook another time. In these situations, other factors need to be taken into consideration, such as urgent home visit requests and the effect on other patients who have arrived on time.
If you are 10 minutes or more late for your “routine” appointment with the GP, you will not be seen and will be asked to rebook your appointment.
Home Visits
Home visits take the doctors a great deal more time than surgery consultations and sometimes full examinations and tests cannot be done in the home. If, however, you need the doctor to visit you at home please telephone to request before 10.30am if possible. Urgent calls will be attended to.
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare Navigation
Need help urgently?
Patients with urgent requirements will always be seen on the same day—but if you have an emergency you don’t think is appropriate for us, or we are closed, you should call the following numbers:
999
Patients with very serious or life-threatening health conditions, such as chest pain, severe bleeding or loss of consciousness, should phone 999 without delay.
NHS 111
Patients who are unsure whether to visit A&E for their condition, or have an urgent medical need outside of our opening hours, should call NHS 111.