Appointment arrangements
We have fewer doctors working for us than ever before. To provide you with more convenient access to other clinicians, in future all minor illnesses and minor injuries will be dealt with by highly trained nurses, Nurse Practitioners & Advanced Clinical Practitioners. Depending on your needs (our reception team will ask you what your problem is) you will be signposted to the correct clinician; if you problem is more serious you may be passed on to a doctor or advised to attend A&E.
How to make an appointment
There are several different ways of making an appointment including the following:
In person at the reception desk although it can sometimes be very busy as other patients will be wanting to check in or have other requests.
Over the telephone. This is still the most popular way of making an appointment although our lines can sometimes be very busy depending on the number of patients phoning.
With the exception of urgent appointments, some appointments can be made online, and this has the advantage that you can access them even when the surgery is closed. You need to register for this service in order to get access to the online appointments. For more information on how to register, please click here.
Medical Emergencies such as severe chest pain, fitting, collapse, unconsciousness, heavy bleeding etc should be directed immediately to the 999 Ambulance Service.
Terminally ill patients can contact the practice at any time for advice, help with medication, or to organise an appointment with a doctor or nurse.
Follow-up Appointments can be arranged for you by a GP or NP during your consultation if they wish to monitor you for a long term problem, review your medication etc. The GP or NP will discuss with you the date and time of your follow-up and why they want to see you again. Sometimes you may receive a phone call or letter inviting you for a follow-up to review a result or letter from the hospital.
Making An Appointment To See A Nurse
Routine appointments are usually available with a nurse or Healthcare Assistant within 2 weeks and sometimes sooner. Phlebotomy (blood) appointments are offered only before 11am to meet the delivery service to the hospital laboratory. You can arrange a routine nurse appointment at any reception desk or by phone after 10.30am each weekday. Please be ready to tell us exactly why you need the appointment so that we can make sure the nurse has sufficient time to see you.
You may receive a letter asking you to attend a specialist clinic (Diabetes, Heart Health etc). If you cannot keep the appointment please telephone the number given in the letter and make arrangements for another day.
How to cancel a Doctor or Nurse Appointment
Did you know that you can cancel an appointment with us 24 hours a day?
Just telephone 01646 401960 and let us know which appointment you cannot make.
Pop this number in your mobile now!
If you 'do no attend' for a booked appointment you are stopping another patient from seeing a doctor; a patient repeatedly missing their appointments may be removed from the practice list.