Changes to our appointment booking system
Please be aware that we are experiencing very high volumes of calls. We had switched to a system of returning calls on the day to cope with the lockdown, but the volume of work has now become unmanageable. We are in the process of exploring the options that will work for you the patients and the practice, but it may take a little while to find the best solution. We appreciate your patience; please be assured our first priority is to provide a safe and responsive service for our patients
The practice is open between 8.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday except bank and public holidays. During these times it is possible to dial directly to the receptionists to make a telephone appointment or to obtain other information using the following number: 01932 505230
For home visits please phone before 10.00am if possible.
For test results between 11.00am and 6.15pm.
Try the NHS App
You can use the new NHS App, as a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.
Use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.
If you already use online access for your prescriptions you can continue to use it, or try the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp
Surgeries
Due to COVID-19 appointments can only be made by telephone. Please do not come to the surgery unless invited to do so by a Clinician or a member of staff
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Surgeries are run on an appointment system. Appointments may be made when the practice is open by calling in person or by telephone. You can also book online 24/7 but you need to register for this, so please contact the practice receptionists if you are interested. Standard appointments are for a maximum of 10 minutes. If you have a number of problems to discuss, the doctor may ask you to make a further appointment so that everything can be fully covered. You may make appointments with any doctor who is available. When you telephone for an appointment we will do our best to give you an appointment to suit you.
Receptionists are able to book routine appointments only and can offer you the earliest one available with your chosen doctor or with any other doctor. If your need to see a doctor is medically urgent, we guarantee to see you the same day that you make the request. If you fall into this category or if you feel you need to be seen earlier than the appointment you have been offered, our duty doctor will telephone you to assess how your problem can best be dealt with. For this reason we ask that you telephone us before coming to the practice without an appointment. Please ensure that you are available to take the return call.
Our Appointment System
Due to COVID-19 requested appointments made before 5.00pm will be dealt with on the day by our clinical team.
If the Clinician thinks a face-to-face appointment is required the Clinician will ask you to come in to the surgery.
Requests made after 5.00pm may be dealt with on the day when possible.
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This may be a little different to what you have been used to in the past. If you telephone or visit the practice to make an appointment you will be offered the next available slot with a GP. If the slot offered to you is not soon enough, the receptionist will take your name and telephone number and the telephone consultation doctor (often referred to as the duty doctor) will phone you back ASAP to undertake a telephone consultation. The doctor will help by discussing your circumstances and recommend a suitable course of action. This could be an appointment with a GP earlier than you have been offered by the receptionist, that you are seen by a nurse, given a prescription and/or advice on what to do.
The role of the telephone consultation doctor is shared by the GP partners on a daily basis. It is a role they have been undertaking for a few years and so are very experienced in dealing with this mode of consultation. The telephone consultation doctor has the flexibility to make appointments not available to the receptionists.
One of the benefits of the system is that it allows the telephone consultation doctor to undertake far more consultations than are possible with face to face consultations, yet arrange a face to face consultation, same day, next day or later if required.
The system does take a bit of getting used to but the increasing amount of positive feedback received in the last three years' patient questionnaire forms is very encouraging and many patients love the convenience of a telephone consultation rather than having to turn up for an appointment. We believe this innovative system will be adopted by more GP surgeries in due course.
Cancelling An Appointment
Click here to complete an online form to cancel an appointment.