Can I bring someone to accompany me to the appointment?
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.
Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.
Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.
If you require interpretation services, please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.
If you have a suspected infectious disease
Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff.
Giving consent for treatment
You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.
Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.
It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.
Problems with teeth or gums
Patients should see their dentist for problems with teeth or gums. If you are not registered with a dentist and have a dental emergency (pain, swelling, trauma or bleeding), please refer to the NHS guidance how to contact a dentist.
When should I worry? Red flag quick guide adults and children
The following should be used as a guide by patients and GP reception staff to identify when a patient should be sent straight to A&E or urgent care, and not wait to see a GP.
- Eyes: Swelling, any chemical injury – direct patient straight to A&E.
- Mouth: Signs of anaphylaxis/allergic reaction, rapid lip and tongue swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E.
- Throat: Any difficulty breathing, very noisy breathing, unable to swallow own saliva – direct patient straight to A&E.
- Ears: Any bleeding from ear(s), any bruising behind the ear(s) – direct patient straight to A&E.
- Chest/breathing: Any noisy breathing, struggling to speak in full sentences – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E.
- Child: Any sucking under ribcage when breathing/very fast breathing – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E.
- Heart/chest pain: Any fast heartbeat that is making the patient feel unwell – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E.
Central crushing chest pain, radiating to left arm or jaw, associated with nausea and/or vomiting or sweating and feeling very unwell – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E. - Suspected sepsis: If patient is saying they feel very unwell, please ask the following questions:
- S: Shivering/hot/cold
- E: Extreme pain or general discomfort
- P: Pale or discoloured skin
- S: Sleepy, difficulty waking and/or any confusion
- I: Patient feeling very unwell ‘I feel like I might die’
- S: Short of breath
- Abdominal Pain: Patient says tummy feels very hard to touch and very painful. Patient complains of recurrent vomiting, high fever, and extreme abdominal pain, sweaty/clammy – call 999/direct patient straight to A&E
Any child with excessive thirst, excessive urinating, weight loss and/or lethargy must be offered an urgent on the day appointment. If they are drowsy or confused, they must be redirected to 999/sent straight to A&E.
Patients who present in practice or by telephone with these symptoms seeking an appointment will not be given one in primary care, they will be advised to go to urgent care or A&E.
For worried parents or carers
A very useful guide has been produced for parents and carers of children, giving you advice about when to see the GP and how to treat many common childhood illnesses. We recommend that parents and carers keep a copy handy with their first aid box.
- Download: common childhood illnesses guide (PDF)