Appointments

Routine appointments can be booked by dialling the appointments line on 01634 240296 .These lines are often very busy at peak times (08:30 - 10:00, 14:00 - 15:30). We do not have the capacity of a call centre, at peak times we have a maximum of 4 receptionists answering the telephones.

The calls are dealt with as quickly as we can. Please try to avoid peak times when at all possible especially, when making an appointment with the nurse, phlebotomist, or health care assistant.

You will normally be seen by your own doctor when they are available. This will be:

• As soon as possible in an emergency
• Within 48 hours for a routine appointment
• Or you may wish to plan ahead and book your appointment up to 3 weeks in advance
• Surgeries and clinics normally start on time and we aim to see you within 20 / 30 minutes of your appointment time. Please appreciate that delays are sometimes unavoidable but when this happens, we will try and keep you informed. Please ask for information if you have waited 30 mins beyond your appointment time.

Please note that children under 5 must be seen by the doctor.

Receptionists

Our Receptionists will help you make the best use of the services whether calling by telephone or visiting the Surgery. Please remember that they have a difficult job to do and are working under protocols laid down by the doctors and the practice manager.  When telephoning to make an appointment the receptionist may ask for a few details. They have been trained to make these enquiries so that they can help you in the most appropriate way.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:30 if you require a home visit.

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 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 surgery.

Telephone Surgery

We have a booked telephone surgery for the convenience of the patients who need to consult their GP but feel that a face to face encounter or physical examination is not needed. Examples would include advice on simple illnesses, results of investigations ordered by the doctor, medication advice, renewal of repeat prescriptions etc. Our practice nurses can also give telephone advice, please telephone the surgery and ask for an telephone triage slot.

These appointments can be booked in the same way as one would book a routine clinic appointment. The clinics are slotted at the end of the morning surgery and the GP/Practice nurse will give you a telephone call to carry out the consultation.

Please note:

1. Please do not forget to leave your contact telephone number, even if it is ex-directory when booking the appointment.
2. Mobile telephone numbers will be accepted.
3. There can be a slight delay if the morning surgeries are running late due to unavoidable circumstances. Please be patient.

GP Training

Dr Sanjay Singh is the GP Trainer

We are a training practice for qualified doctors who want to enter General practice. You may be offered an appointment with them. Please say if this is not to your satisfaction. During their training they are required to make video recordings of their consultations.  You may be asked if you mind having your consultation recorded, you do not have to have the consultation recorded, but if you agree the receptionist will ask you to sign a consent form.

Medical Students

From time to time we have medical students in the Surgery. If you do not want a student present, please tell the receptionist.

How you can help us

You can help us provide an efficient service by:

• Keeping appointments or giving as much notice as possible should you need to cancel. (you can leave a message on the answerphone to cancel an appointment, option 3) Please leave your name and date of birth, and say who you were going to see and on which date and time.
•  If you need a long appointment let us know)
• Make requests for routine visits before 10:30
• Keep us informed of changes of address, telephone numbers etc.
• Ask for immediate appointments only if it is urgent otherwise patients who have booked appointments will be delayed.