Appointments with the Doctor or Nurse

Extended Access Surgeries

An appointment is normally given for ten minutes and is intended for one problem only, but if you feel that your problem requires more time please ask the receptionist for a longer appointment. At times of heavy demand certain surgeries may have shorter slots but you will be informed of this when booking.

We are increasingly seeing the presentation of multiple, unrelated issues which cannot be effectively dealt within the time allowed.

In order to try and ensure all of our appointments run as close to time as possible, please can you try and set out the issue you wish to raise at the beginning of the consultation and if you do have other conditions you wish to discuss, to make a further appointment please.

Your doctor should be able to guide you further where necessary.

We try to offer an appointment with the doctor of your choice, but sometimes this may not be possible at a time convenient to you and especially at short notice.

For your information, the normal working week for our clinical staff is as follows:

Please note that the above summary does not guarantee availability on these dates and is subject to change.

Named GP 

All patients have a named GP as part of a care plan, this does not necessarily mean they have to see that specific GP every time they visit the practice. Patients may be required to visit for a check up if they have not attended practice for a long period of time, patients also have the choice of seeing a preferred clinician, and we endeavour to make this possible where practicable dependent on appointment type.

Emergency & Urgent Appointments

Please provide our receptionists with clear and concise information concerning your medical condition. Our experiences staff will telephone you back in order to assess your medical needs and take appropriate action for you over the telephone which may involve a doctor calling you back or making an appointment with a nurse or doctor. These emergency appointments are for clinically urgent problems only. We do have a duty doctor each day who is responsible for any clinically urgent issues arising.

Please Remember

If more than one member of the family needs to be seen, please book a separate appointment for each.

To Speak To a Doctor

Please telephone from 8am unless the matter is urgent and cannot wait till the Practice is open, if this is the case please call the Practice Number and you will go through to NHS 111. We now have a mix of face to face, telephone and video consultations.  We request that if you are attending for a face to face appointment you attend on time wearing a suitable face covering and alone where possible. This will help us minimise the footfall keeping you as safe as possible during your visit with us.

Practice Nurse Appointments

The practice nurses are available every weekday between 8.00am - 6.00pm by appointment only.

Health Checks

As directed under our new contract on the 1st April 2004, registered patient who are between the ages of 16 and 75 years who have not been seen in the previous three years may request a consultation for a health check. Similarly patients aged 75 years and over who have not had a health check in the previous twelve months may make an appointment for same. This will be a nurse consultation.

When Requesting Appointments Patients Can Help By:

• Non-urgent appointments can be booked a week in advance.
• Being flexible when accepting appointment days and times.
• Letting the Surgery know as soon as possible if you are unable to keep an appointment or no longer need it in order that it may be given to another Patient.
• Being patient if the doctor is delayed - it could be you who needs extra time on another day.
• Understanding that receptionists only carry out doctors’ instructions regarding appointment times and availability.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

Home visits are only made to those who are too ill or disabled to attend the surgery. The Doctor has the right to assess whether consultation should take place and every effort should be made by patients to be seen at the surgery.  Lack of transport in itself is not a reason for a home visit.

• Please give the receptionist as much information as possible as this helps the doctor assessing your situation.
• The doctor may ring to discuss the problems so please ensure you have given the correct telephone numbers to the receptionist.
• Please make sure the doctor can get in when he arrives and to give the correct name and address of the patient.
• Except for emergencies these should be requested before 11.00am. Please be prepared to give the receptionist a few details, so that the doctors can take into account any degree of urgency when planning their rounds.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).