Patient Access
Urgent Appointments
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 speaking 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.
Routine Appointments
You can request a routine appointment in the next 7 days by:
- Use this online form to request a routine appointment.
You can also use the form to request other things like test results or any admin queries.
We will respond within 2 working days when we are open. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. - Using Patient Access
- 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 NHS App allows you to access a range of NHS services such as; booking appointments, ordering prescriptions and viewing your medical records.
Please call 01543 377285, option 1, to make an appointment with any of our GP’s, healthcare assistant or Practice Nurse.
Alternatively, you can also use the NHS App.
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.
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:
- 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
You can also use your appointment text reminder to cancel your appointment by following the instruction in the reminder.
Help us help you
- Please attend your appointment on time.
- If unable to attend please cancel your appointment in good time.
- The doctors try to run on time. Be patient.
- An appointment is for one patient only.
- The out-of-hours service is an emergency service.
- Patients are responsible for telephoning for their results.
- If unable to work due to ill-health your employer will provide you with an SC2 self-certificate for the first seven calendar days. Only after this will you need a doctor’s note.
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.
Home Visits
If a patient is housebound or too ill to leave the home they may be visited at the doctor’s discretion. Patients are requested to telephone 01543 377285 before 10.30am if a visit is required that day.
Emergency visits only will be arranged after that time. Please give the receptionist as much information as possible to enable the doctor to allocate priority to house calls.
A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.
House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Health Centre.
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.
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.