How we can help you
- You can request an appointment by speaking to a member of our reception team by telephone or by visiting our reception desk. Please do not use email or SMS text messages to request an appointment.
- eConsult is an online form you can use to contact one of our doctors. Once your request has been reviewed you will receive advice, a prescription or an appointment. Please do not use eConsult to ask us to arrange an appointment.
- All of our urgent appointment requests are triaged by the Duty Doctor and appointed based on clinical priority. We will endeavour to offer you something convenient but cannot always guarantee this.
- We offer direct booking of some appointment types via the NHS App and SystmOnline such as blood tests, smears and some vaccinations.
- We may signpost you to other more appropriate services depending on the nature of your symptoms/query. This includes self-care, community pharmacy, minor injury unit, A&E or 999.
How you can help us
- Don’t miss your appointment. Write down your appointment and/or add it to your phone calendar. Even better, set a reminder.
- Always cancel unwanted appointments, no matter how late in the day.
- Encourage family members and friends to attend or cancel their appointments.
- If you book an appointment but don’t attend, another patient will miss out!
- Failure to attend or cancel an appointment increases administrative work.
- A GP appointment can cost up to £50. Missed appointments waste money that YOU have invested in the NHS
Non-urgent advice: Cancelling an appointment
You can cancel your appointment by telephone; 01287 619611
If you received an appointment confirmation by SMS text message there may be a link within the message to cancel the appointment.
You can also cancel the appointment online using the NHS App or SystmOnline
Chaperones
We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.
You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the receptionist know) or at any time during the consultation.
Consulations
In the UK, patients on average have just ten minutes with their GP. The BMA’s Doctor Patient Partnership offers the following advice to help you use this time effectively;
Be prepared
Make a list of any questions and problems you wish to discuss before hand.
Take a pen and paper as you may want to note down important points.
Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined.
Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non prescription medicines or supplements you are taking.
You can bring someone with you for support.
During the appointment
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.
If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember pharmacists are experts in medication and a very useful source of advice.
Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.
One problem at a time
If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.
Be on time
Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.
Separate appointments
Make a separate appointment for each member of the family.
Under 14s
Accompany under 14 year olds. If however, a young person strongly wishes to be treated without his or her parent’s involvement, his or her confidentiality will be respected.
Home visits
For the majority of cases the best place to be seen is in the surgery where the doctors have access to your medical record and any medical equipment that may be needed. However, for the truly housebound and severely ill, a home visit can be arranged.
PLEASE CALL BEFORE 10:00am and give some indication to the receptionist of what the problem is. This information is useful to the doctors in assessing the priority of the visits for that day. Please note that home visits are made for clinical reasons only and not for the convenience of patients. Please provide a telephone number where you can be contacted in case the doctor needs to know ay further details prior to visiting.
Late for your appointment
Please attend your appointment on time. If you are late you may not be seen.
If you miss your appointment time you may not be able to rearrange your appointment for the same day except in the event of a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.