Appointments

GP appointments can be requested using our Online Triage Service.

If you have additional communication needs and are unable to use our online service please speak to a member of our team and they will complete the request form for you. A carer or family member can also submit a GP appointment request on your behalf.

Your request will then be triaged by the duty doctor and assigned the most appropriate appointment based on the information provided. This may be a Same day appointment or an appointment within the next 1-2 weeks etc. You may also be referred to one of our associated team member e.g Physio, Health and Wellbeing Coach.

Nurse and HCA appointments must still be booked by telephone.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible on our online cancellation form, by visiting the surgery or calling 01582 722143.

Medical Emergencies

For real life-threatening emergencies such as those below – RING 999

  • Chest pain (suspected heart attack)
  • Suspected stroke
  • Suspected meningitis
  • Anaphylactic shock (severe allergy)
  • Heavy bleeding or deep lacerations
  • Fluctuating levels of consciousness or completely unconscious
  • Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing with a change in colour
  • New seizure, fit or uncontrollable shaking

For immediately serious conditions such as the following, GO TO Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY:

  • A fever and lethargic (drowsy) child
  • A feverish and floppy (unresponsive) infant
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Sudden, severe abdominal pain
  • Accidental or intentional overdose of medication
  • Trauma (including falls) and possible broken bones or road traffic accident.

If your GP is  the first person you see after a Road Traffic Accident a fee will be incurred.

Your appointment at the Practice

  • Please make one appointment for each member of the family who needs to be seen.
  • We try to keep to time but please be patient if someone before you takes longer than planned
  • Appointments are normally ten-minute slots, so if you have a complicated problem, or more than one problem, please ask for a longer appointment.
  • It is Practice Policy to allow patients to choose whichever Doctor they wish to attend in the Practice.

Please help us

If you are not able to attend your appointment, please let us know in time so that the time can be used for someone else. If you are late for an appointment, you may be asked to re-book.

Additional information

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.

Urgent and emergency care services

Services the NHS provides if you need urgent or emergency medical help:

Evening and Weekend appointments

Evening and Weekend appointments

We recognise that sometimes it is not easy to see us during working hours.

Additional appointments are available in the evening and at weekends. To book one of these appointments you should contact the Practice. However, these appointments will not necessarily be at your usual GP practice, but the health professionals treating you will be able to see your full medical record, with your consent.

Help with your GP Appointment

Here are some tips to make the most of your appointment.

  • One problem per visit – The Doctor may not be able to deal with lots of problems in one visit.
  • Please make a separate appointment for each family member – A maximum of three appointments is permitted at any one time, including for yourself. If you require additional appointments for family members these must be arranged at another time.
  • Talk about the most important thing first – It is best to talk about the most important problem first, even if it is the most embarrassing or worrying, Write everything down beforehand if necessary.
  • Is this your first visit to the Practice? – Please bring a list of medication you are currently taking.
  • If you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask again – The Doctor can explain what has been said or any words you did not understand.
  • Ask a friend or family member to come with you – only if you would like.
  • Make sure you know what happens next – You may be asked to book a follow up appointment, be referred to a consultant or require attending for further tests.  Make sure you know if you need to do anything and write it down if necessary.
  • If you are late – you may not been seen. Please allow plenty of time when travelling to the Practice, and if driving for parking your car.
  • Zero tolerance – Please be respectful to other patients and staff when attending the Practice. Disruptive or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.

Please note, 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 – 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 – 999/ direct patient straight to A&E

Child – any sucking under ribcage when breathing / very fast breathing – 999/ direct patient straight to A&E

Heart/Chest Pain Any fast heartbeat that is making the patient feel unwell – 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 – 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 – 999 / direct patient straight to A&E

NB: 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 / 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. The guide can be accessed using the following link. We recommend that parents and carers keep a copy handy with their first aid box.