Appointments can be either Face to Face, Video or Telephone – ideally if virtual video it mean that you can see the clinician and the clinician can see you. Please ensure that you advise the practice of your up to date contact details.

To book appointments online you will need to be registered with the app provider (myGP or EMIS Patient Access). Alternatively if you have registered with the NHS app you can use those details to sign in. Please see below for details on how to  sign up for Patient Access via computer or MyGp app via smartphone or tablet.

To book an appointment by phone ring our main switchboard number on 01254 964640 and select the option you require. We recommend ringing later in the day if your request is not urgent.

Please note if booking by telephone our reception staff will ask you a series of questions to ensure you see the person most appropriate for your condition, For more information click on the Care Navigation Link below: 

• Urgent cases are consulted with on the day
• If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to consult with your usual/named GP within 10 working days, though you may have to wait a little longer if  your GP is on leave.
• In order to manage demand effectively  and assess capacity needed appointments are added to the clinical screen two weeks in advance however if a clinician wants you to attend a review appointment outside of this they will advise staff internally
• Expect to consult with a member of our nursing team within 5 days

Appointment Information

Medical or Admin Query:

Online appointments do get filled very quickly and are always triaged. To assist the growing demand for online appointments the practice has enabled within myGP App an option for you to contact us via the online request options for Medical and Admin Issues. The practice will respond to these requests generally within 2 working days. If you are requesting information relating to a Medical query please provide as much detail as possible and provide preferred days/times when you can attend an appointment should you need to be seen. The benefit of this option is that the request is clinically triaged first and therefore any additional information required or any pre-appointment tests such as bloods, blood pressure check that are needed can be arranged first prior to the GP Appointment booking. This new option is proving to be very popular and an effective communication tool for both the clinicians and patients. I would encourage you to try it when you next have a non-urgent medical or admin query

CANCELLING AN APPOINTMENT

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you no longer need your virtual or face to face appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unavailable for your booked appointment, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

IF YOU NEED A HOME VISIT

A small number of our patients are housebound (unable to leave their home) or those deemed too ill to attend surgery. For genuinely housebound patients we offer a Home Visit service.  If you require a home visit we would ask that you contact the surgery  before 12:00 pm so that your visit request can be allocated to an available clinician.  Please telephone 01254 964640 option 4

PLEASE NOTE THAT :A  member of the practice clinical team will contact you by video or telephone to access the medical problem. Many visits can be addressed without the need to visit however if a visit is required arrangements will be made. Please note the visiting clinician will be wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

After 12:00 pm requests for home visits will still be taken and assessed as above.

Important Information

VIRTUAL APOINTMENT

Please be available for your allocated appointment , if the clinician is unable to make contact with you on the telephone number provided they will send you a text message.

IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE UNAVAILABLE AT THAT TIME DUE TO UNFORSEEN ISSUES  PLEASE LET RECEPTION KNOW SO THAT THEY CAN INFORM THE CLINICIAN

 IF YOU NEED AN INTERPRETER

If English is not your primary language and you require an interpreter please let the receptionist know so that language line can be arranged.

IF YOU ARE LATE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen

If you are less than 15 minutes late you will be still be seen although there may be a short delay. If you are more than 15 minutes late the receptionist will check if the clinician can still see you if your appointment is non-urgent and they are unable to see you the receptionist can reschedule the appointment for you. IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO BE LATE DUE TO TRAFFIC ETC PLEASE LET RECEPTION KNOW SO THAT THEY CAN INFORM THE CLINICIAN

CARE NAVIGATION – RECEPTION WILL ASK YOU QUESTIONS TO ASCERTAIN THE RIGHT PERSON TO HELP YOU

The Practice allow patients to pre-book appointments for GP's and Clincal  Practitioners online. This can either be done on a computer through the Patient Access  website  or  on tablets or phones using the  myGP app which can be downloaded  through the Google or Apple stores. For further information on the  myGP app click the  image to the right

An application form  for access on a PC can be donloaded  by clicking on the link below

In both cases verifcation will be required from the practice before you can access the appointments or your medical and prescription dedtails'

 Adoption/fostering medicals, HGV and taxi driver medical examinations

Please speak to our reception team who will advise you of any fee payable in advance and will book you for the appropriate appointment. At times, there may be a wait for these appointments. For HGV/ taxi medicals please ensure you have had the eyesight section signed BEFORE seeing the GP.

Travelling/flying with medication

All injectable medications in hand luggage will require a certificate. This applies to carrying certain other medication, even tablets, when travelling to certain countries. If in doubt consult your airline, travel agent or the embassy of the country you intend to visit.

Medical examinations for leisure activities

We MAY be able to complete medicals for activities such as flying/sailing but NOT for diving or dangerous sports. An appropriate appointment will be booked for you only when the GP has confirmed they are willing to complete the form and payment has been made.

Private sick notes

If your employer requires a sick note BEFORE 7 days of absence, we can supply one with your written permission.

Shotgun and Firearms License Applications

The decision about fitness to own, hold or renew a firearms licence rests with the police. However you are obliged to cooperate with the police by checking your medical records at the start and renewal of your license and a code added to your notes that you hold a firearms license. 

Fit to fly (air travel as passenger)

We MAY be able to provide a letter to confirm a medical condition/pregnancy for the purposes of travel. This is in the form of a statement of fact rather than a statement of “Fit to Fly”.

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. To see a list of BMA recommended rices click on the link below