APPOINTMENTS

Please make an appointment by telephoning the surgery. The majority of appointment slots are held so that we can offer appointments either on the day or the following day. This means that requests for appointments should be made on the day before you wish to be seen. A smaller number of appointment slots are available for booking up to one or two weeks ahead. It is not always possible to offer you an appointment with the doctor of your choice due to annual leave etc. If you have an urgent medical condition, you will be offered an appointment on the same day but you will not be able to see the doctor of your choice. We would ask you not just to turn up at surgery without phoning first.

Our access policy is as follows:
1. We guarantee that all patients with an urgent medical condition will be assessed by a doctor or nurse and, if necessary, seen that day.

2. All patients wishing to be seen within 48 hours will be accommodated whenever possible.

3. The practice aims to let patients book an appointment for a named doctor or nurse of their choice within seven days on a pro rata basis.

4. Patients requesting a home visit will be dealt with according to the home visiting policy.

5 We review our appointment availability on a regular basis and design our appointment system to match the demands of patients.

We acknowledge that at certain times our appointment system comes under stress and that at times patients have difficulty booking appointments of their choice – we aim to minimise these occasions.

How do I... Obtain Telephone Advice?

Patients may request to speak to a GP, nurse practitioner or practice nurse on the telephone during the working day. The receptionist will request the GP or practice nurse to telephone the patient and will take accurate contact details from the patient to pass on to the clinician.

How do I... Obtain A Home Visit?

If you need a home visit please try and call us before 10.00am. The receptionist will ask you about your illness to help the doctor. Normally we only visit patients who are housebound or terminally ill.