Appointments


Routine Appointments

You can request a routine appointment in the next 7 days by:

  • Phone
    Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Using the NHS App to book a screening test or vaccination

The Practice operates a full appointment system to see our Doctors, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse or our Health Care Assistants.

Patients requiring an appointment should ring the main surgery number on 01384 634511 from 8am each weekday.

If you have a child under the age of 5 and feel that they need to be seen as an emergency please inform the Reception Team who will be happy to help.

Urgent Appointments

a number of appointments are available on the day for emergencies only; you will asked a brief reason for the emergency and the Clinician for that day will triage, and call you back.

Non-urgent advice: Please Note

These appointments are NOT for repeat prescriptions or repeat sick notes.

If you have a child under the age of 5 and feel that they need to be seen as an emergency please inform the Reception Team who will be happy to help.

You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) by:

  • Phone
    Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your Appointment

However you choose to contact us we may offer you a consultation:

  • By phone
  • Face-to-face at the surgery
  • On a video call
  • By text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means the doctor or nurse can help you sooner.

We usually provide a telephone appointment and then offer a face-to-face appointment if needed.  However, if you prefer a face-to-face appointment, please tell us. 

If you need help with your appointment, please tell us:

  • If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or another health professional you would prefer to respond
  • If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • If you need an interpreter
  • If you have any other access or communication needs.

Telephone Triage System

If you contact the surgery requesting an urgent on the day appointment, reception staff will request basic information; this is then logged and passed onto the nominated triage GP for the day.

The GP will call you back, assess over the telephone which will result in advice being offered, a prescription being issued or an on the day emergency appointment being allocated for yourself.

Appointments can be booked in advance if required and encourage patients to do this especially if you have an ongoing problems that requires a regular review.

Home Visits

Home Visits are reserved for the following groups of patients:

  • Terminally ill
  • Truly bedbound patients

Please request visits before 11am whenever possible as this allows the Duty Doctor to assess the request for necessity and urgency so that it can be appropriately managed, the receptionists are trained to deal with your call so do expect to be asked; all information is confidential.

Chaperones 

We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required. 

This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained receptionist who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time. 

You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined. 

 The role of a chaperone: 

  • Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations. 
  • Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability. 
  • Provides emotional comfort and reassurance. 
  • Assists in the examination. 
  • Assists with undressing patients, if required. 

Cancelling or changing an appointment

If you are cancelling an appointment for the same day, please contact the surgery.

If you are cancelling an appointment for another day, please cancel your appointment by:

  • SystmOnline
  • Phone
    – Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    – We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm

When we are closed

NHS 111

If you are very unwell and you cannot wait until the surgery has opened, please call NHS 111 by dialling 111, and they will be able to advise on the care that you need. They can organise emergency services or an ambulance if needed. The NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisers supported by experienced nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. The NHS 111 service is available if you require urgent medical help, but it is not a life-threatening situation.

Late Night Pharmacies

As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website.  Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.