HOW
DO I...
Obtain Telephone Advice?
All
the doctors are happy to give advice over the telephone, but do not like to be
disturbed during a surgery when they are dealing with other patients.
The best time to phone will be in the morning session. The doctor will return your call after the morning surgery. If the doctor is not available,
the receptionist will advise you about the best time to phone.
She may need to ask for some details
in order to help you, but anything you tell her will be treated in confidence.
HOW
DO I...
Make Appointments?
An appointment system is operational at the surgery. The phone lines are open
from 8.00am to 6.30pm daily (to 8.00pm Monday and Thursday). We do have a few
appointments with each doctor which are reserved for pre-booking. If your condition
is not urgent and therefore not appropriate for a same day appointment, please
ask if there are any regular appointments available for another day. This allows
people with an urgent need to see the doctor and to be seen on the same day.
There are some appointments which can be booked via this website (see home
page), though you do have to register for this service - please ring the
practice for details.
Non-urgent Appointments
Patients are now registered with the practice and not an individual doctor, therefore you may consult any of the doctors in the practice.
Urgent Appointments
If you think that you need to be seen more urgently than the appointment offered,
please inform the receptionists. You will always be given an appointment on the
same day or within 24 hours although a choice of time or doctor may not be available.
The practice employs nurse specialists who deal with minor illnesses and other
conditions and can prescribe. Where a doctor's appointment is not available
on the day and you are seen by the nurse specialist, if she feels it appropriate
then you will be assessed by a doctor. You will always be given an appointment
on the same day or within 24 hours but not necessarily with the doctor or nurse
of choice as they may not be available.
If you think that you may need more time with the doctor, then please let the receptionist know so that, if necessary, she can book you for more time. Please note that one appointment is for one person only. If more than one person is to be seen, then please book an appointment for each person. If you are worried that you or your child may have something infectious, then please inform the receptionist and she will keep you away from the other patients.
Genuine emergencies will always be seen, but please do not say that the problem is urgent if it is not. Please note - requests for Incapacity Certificates are classed as non-urgent and will require a routine appointment.
If you cannot keep the appointment you have made, then please contact the surgery to cancel it as soon as possible, in order that the appointment may be offered to someone else.
HOW
DO I...
Obtain Home Visits?
Non-urgent Visits
Visits will be made by the doctors where there is a genuine inability to get
to the surgery. If at all possible, please try to get to the surgery. If you
think that a home visit is necessary, please telephone the surgery before 10.30am.
This will enable the doctor to plan his day. The receptionist may ask for further
details. This information is treated as confidential; it is required by the doctor
to help him decide which calls should be given priority.
In some cases a visit may not be necessary and a conversation with the doctor is all that is required. Therefore in order to better manage the doctor's time, we now offer telephone consultations. You simply ring the practice, leave your name, telephone number and a brief history of your problem with one of our reception staff. A doctor will then ring you back.
Urgent Visits
During the daytime the receptionist will arrange for a doctor to visit you as quickly as possible.
After the surgery has closed, telephone calls will automatically be transferred to the deputising service.
If you need a visit at night, please leave a light on so that your house can be identified. Please give the doctor clear instructions on how to find your house.
HOW
DO I...
Register With The Practice?
When the practice is accepting new patients, please ask the receptionist for new patient registration forms; these are available any weekday between 8.00am and 6.30pm. All new patients over the age of five years will be expected to attend for an introductory health check with the practice nurse. You are advised to make this appointment when you pick up your forms as you will not be registered with the practice until you have had this medical. |
