Appointment System
The surgeries run on an appointment system. When you contact the surgery the Care Navigation team will ask you for some information about what is wrong with you so that they can sign post you to the most appropriate clinician or service.
We also have a variety of different appointments available to book through the NHS app.
Appointments can be broadly broken down into 4 main areas:
Routine GP Appointments
We encourage all patients to speak with or see their own GP whenever possible. When you contact the surgery, our care navigation team will ask for a brief description of your medical issue. This helps us direct you to the most appropriate healthcare service.
Your GP can offer both face-to-face and telephone appointments:
- Telephone appointments are typically 10 minutes long
- Face-to-face appointments are usually 15 minutes long
To ensure we provide the best possible care, we kindly ask that you follow the “one appointment, one problem” approach. This allows your GP to focus fully on each issue and maintain a high standard of care. If more time is needed or additional concerns arise, your GP will advise you to book a follow-up appointment.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Nurse Appointments
There are many procedures and conditions for which it is not always necessary to see a GP, but instead one of our fully qualified nurse clinicians can help. They offer appointments such as Long-term condition reviews, Sexual Health, Immunisations and Contraception.
On the day care team
This is available 8:00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
If you have a medical problem or need advice on the day, speak with our Care Navigation team to arrange a telephone consultation with our Advanced nurse practitioner led ‘on the day’ team. The on the day team will be able to book an appointment that day, if needed, or with a clinician when appropriate.
Clinic Appointments
We are expanding our multi-disciplinary team and are proud to offer our patients appointments with a range of new specialists such as our physiotherapists, pharmacists, and a range of appointments with our Primary Care Mental Health Team.
Please speak to our Care Navigation Team for more information.
These are just some of the appointments we have on offer in the practice; please contact the surgery for more information.
Urgent Appointments Please note that we do not offer a walk in emergency clinic . If you require urgent care; please call the surgery on 01962 871730.
Find the best options for your care
Often your GP practice is not the best option for your care
How to book an Appointment
- Make a medical request via Accrux – the Care Navigation team will review your request the next working day (Monday to Friday) and direct your enquiry to the appropriate clinician.
- Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App).
- Book an appointment using the GP online system – please contact the practice and speak to the Care Navigation Team to register for this service called Patient Access.
- Phone us Monday to Friday during opening hours on 01962 871730.
- Visit the surgery and speak with a care navigator, Monday to Friday during opening hours.
- evening or weekend appointments are available on request by calling the surgery.
Please be aware, when you contact the surgery the Care Navigation team will ask you for some information about what is wrong with you, so they can sign post you to the most appropriate clinician or service. Routine appointments for GPs can be booked a maximum of 3 weeks ( 21 days) in advance, with appointments being released on a daily basis.
Non-urgent advice: Emergencies
What is an Emergency?
Whatever the time of day, if you or someone else experiences the symptoms below and you feel it is so serious that it cannot wait, go to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department or call 999.
Symptoms include;
Non-blanching rashes (the glass test)
Possible anaphylactic shock (swelling of mouth and throat)
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
Appointments by phone, can be more flexible and often means you could get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If, for any reason, you will not be attending an appointment you have made, please cancel so that we are able to offer your appointment to someone else. Each week a large number of patients fail to attend their booked appointment which cannot then be used by others.
There are a number of ways in which you can cancel an appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system – please contact the practice and speak to the Care Navigation Team to register for this service called Patient Access
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
- telephone the surgery on 01962 871730 and speak with our Care Navigation Team
- drop in to either of our surgeries and speak with the Care Navigation Team in person
- If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
If cancelling an appointment on the day – please press option 3 to speak to our appointments team
If cancelling an appointment in the future – choose option 1 to go through to the cancellation message line, without having to wait in a queue. This also means you can call when the surgery is closed to cancel appointments.
You can also call when the surgery is closed to go through to our cancellation message line.
If you need help now or when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to see or speak to
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, or by face-to-face
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs.
Home visits
If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need. If you have a sick child who can come to the surgery, a receptionist can offer a quiet room for you.
To request a home visit, it’s helpful if you phone the practice before 10:30am.
Help from your pharmacy
Did you know that your local pharmacy can help you with a lot of minor ailments; and a lot of treatments are covered by the Pharmacies.