Urgent appointments
To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):
- phone us on 01544 318472 or 01981 500227, Monday to Friday during opening hours
– Please ring either surgery to make your appointment as our receptionists can access the appointment lists at both surgeries. - visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday during opening hours
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
To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:
- phone us on 01544 318472 or 01981 500227, Monday to Friday during opening hours
– Please ring either surgery to make your appointment as our receptionists can access the appointment lists at both surgeries. - visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday during opening hours
- use your Patient Access Account
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination
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.
Patient Access
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 you get help sooner. Because it is not always practical for you to ring and find a doctor free at a set time, we will usually take your telephone number and the doctor will ring you back.
There may be times when your GP of choice is not available. If this happens then you will be offered an appointment with another GP.
In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse or healthcare assistant rather than a doctor. Practice nurses and HCA’s are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.
Chaperones
Our Practice is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of everyone is of paramount importance.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend.
On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present.
Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our Chaperone Policy (you can contact reception for further information on this, if required).
If you wish to have a member of the Practice staff present during your consultation please mention this to one of our Reception Team when booking your appointment, or to the doctor at your consultation, and it will be arranged.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system – Patient Access
- phone us on 01544 318472 or 01981 500227, Monday to Friday during opening hours
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other 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
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.