Appointments

Appointments may be booked four weeks in advance to see a doctor or nurse by telephoning 01823 663551 or calling at the Surgery between 8:30am and 6:00pm Monday to Friday. Although we answer multiple lines on our main telephone system, they are very busy first thing in the morning. Calls are held in a stacking system and are answered in the order they are received. If you can leave non-urgent calls until later in the morning we will be able to deal with them more quickly.

Monday is our busiest day. If your requirement is routine and non-urgent try telephoning on another day. It will allow us to respond to your needs more quickly.

Urgent appointments

Urgent appointments can be made for the same day but may not be with the doctor of your choice and may mean you waiting until a doctor is available. Alternatively, your doctor may be available to phone you back later that day.

How to book

Every doctor has a certain number of appointments each day that are available for booking in advance. These appointments are usually for the first half hour of the morning and afternoon surgery and can often be booked up to 4 weeks in advance. However we would stress that these appointments do get booked up quite quickly.

If you would like to pre-book an early morning appointment we would advise you to book this appointment well in advance (especially if you want to see a particular doctor). The remaining doctors appointments (for that day only) are available for booking by telephoning from 8.30 in the morning.

We will always try to book you an appointment with your own doctor, but this may not be possible on that day, in which case we will offer you an appointment with another doctor. Our appointments are all for 10 minutes. If you have multiple or complex problems you can request a double appointment, alternatively you may need a further appointment.

Telephone consultations

As an alternative to an appointment you may be offered a telephone consultation. If you have a problem that could be dealt with over the phone (e.g., for advice, medication, follow-up, repeat sick note) please tell the receptionist, who will take your details and ask the doctor to phone you back (usually at the end of the morning surgery). Telephone consultations can only be booked on the day.

Doctors on leave

Appointment books for doctors on leave are closed until the day they return. You are welcome to book an appointment with any other doctor in your own doctor's absence.

Practice Nurse appointments

Practice Nurse appointments should always be booked in advance as these clinics get very busy. (You may usually book up to 4 weeks ahead). Medicals & Postnatal examinationsMedicals and Postnatal examinations should be booked in advance. Please tell the receptionist if you need to book either of these, as we follow separate guidelines for these types of appointments.

Unsure?

If you are unsure about any of the above information please ask a receptionist for clarification.

Note:Please note that the surgery does not open on a Saturday morning. If you need medical assistance after 6.30pm, at weekends or bank Holidays, you should telephone the Out of Hours service on 0845 408 8000.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Health Centre.

Telephone consultations

The practice encourages patients to phone for advice when a face-to-face appointment is not necessary. If you wish to speak to a doctor please telephone reception before 11:00am and book a telephone consultation.

The doctor will return your call after the end of morning surgery.