Appointments

Contact and appointments during Coronavirus:

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, how you contact us will be different at the moment.  This is to limit face-to-face contact whenever possible and help stop the spread of coronavirus.

Your GP practice is open and if you need to see your GP, please ring us on 01327 359953 – our opening ours are Mon-Fri 08:00-18:30 (every second Wed of the month we close after 12:30 for training).

You can also call NHS 111. Please do not come to the surgery unless you have an appointment.

If you are waiting for a check-up, please be assured we will be in touch.

Appointments are initially over the telephone, the GP can make a face-to-face appointment that same day if necessary.

You can also complete an online consultation through the website (click here for more information on doing that).

If you are asked to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment, please remember to wear a face covering and please use the hand sanitiser when you enter the building.  Our waiting room is open for those patients who already have a face to face appointment and you are welcome to come in or wait in your car if you prefer – please tell the receptionist your preference.

Measures are in place to keep you safe from infection during your visit to the surgery, including asking you to hand sanitise on entry and the clinician will take your temperature when they call you through.

During the Coronavirus – we thought it might be helpful to outline in general what can be discussed with a GP, Nurse or other practitioner (including blood tests) and what we think can wait until after the pandemic:

During COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak – when and what should you call a GP for?

Please do NOT come to or phone the surgery for advice on Coronavirus symptoms – go to the NHS website or gov.uk

Please be aware that if you think your issue can wait – PLEASE WAIT

What CAN be discussed with a GP:            Note that discussions will initially take place by phone:

  • If you become unwell and feel you require urgent medical attention – unrelated to Coronavirus
  • Shortness of breath – unrelated to Coronavirus
  • Chest pain
  • Acute pain
  • Symptoms consistent with possibility of cancer
  • Palliative care and end of life care conversations
  • Significant mental health concerns
  • Postnatal checks
  • Fit note – NOT related to Coronavirus and isolation periods

What CAN be discussed with a Nurse:        Note that initially discussions will take place by phone:

  • Childhood immunisations
  • Exacerbations of existing long term conditions such as Asthma/COPD
  • Symptoms consistent with high blood sugar/Diabetes
  • Essential injections eg testosterone (although B12 injections may be able to be taught to be self-administered)
  • Mild illnesses and worries
  • Cervical smears are now available
  • Coil checks and changes
  • Wound management/dressings
  • Contraceptive services

What CAN be discussed with a Pharmacist (relating to pharmacist attached to our surgery):  Note that these will take place by phone:

  • Medication reviews
  • Medication queries

What is NOT being done at the moment – What the surgery is NOT doing at the present time:

  • Fit notes related to Coronavirus (note no fit note will be provided for 7 day isolation – go to https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note for more information)
  • Minor surgery
  • Ring pessary changes
  • Travel vaccinations
  • Insurance reports and medical examinations (including DVLA medical exams) (some reports are now being done but please be prepared to wait)
  • Ear syringing (available privately elsewhere)
  • Stop smoking clinics
  • Routine spirometry and routine ECGs

Blood Tests

YES:  Blood tests requested by the GP can go ahead and you can book in with our phlebotomists as normal.

YES:  Routine, annual, medication related blood tests are not going ahead until further notice.

Our staff and patients are our highest priority – we are outlining the above so you can help us cope with our workload during staff shortages because of Coronavirus self-isolation.

Please bear with us during a difficult and challenging time.

We thank you for your co-operation and patience.

During normal practice outside of pandemic the following is our normal advice regarding booking appointments:

We are a group practice so it is not necessary to see the doctor with whom you are registered.  Your preferred doctor may not always be available but all our clinical staff have access to your full records and medical history.  We appreciate that during an ongoing illness you may like to see the same doctor and we will always try to accommodate this if possible.

The first thing to consider is do you actually need an appointment with a GP?  Could your local pharmacist help?

We have a range of different appointments available to patients – see linked pages:

Recalls for Long Term Conditions – click on this heading for more information on long term conditions such as respiratory, diabetes and vascular diseases.

Routine Appointments can be booked up to four weeks in advance.  Appointments can be booked on-line via Patient Access

Emergencies and anything urgent will be dealt with on the day by the Duty Doctor – see Emergency Appointments.

Cancelling an Appointment

Every day several appointments are wasted by people not turning up or by patients cancelling at very short notice. If you let us know in advance that you are unable to make your appointment we can offer it to someone else. Remember if you can’t come PLEASE cancel your appointment.

Preparing for an Appointment

  1. Unless it is a personal matter, explain to the person you speak to why you need to make a visit when you book. This will help us identify the most appropriate member of staff for you to see, and will smooth your consultation. If it is a private matter it is fine just to say this.
  2. Make a list of what is wrong. If you have several symptoms, begin with the most important first. What is the story of the problem? How long have you had it? Does anything make it better or worse? Have you tried any self-care or over the counter medicines already?.
  3. Ask for a double appointment if you have more than one health problem you want to talk about. This will give you and your GP more time.
  4. If you think you may find it hard to remember everything the doctor says to you, take a notepad and make notes during your visit. Or take a friend so that between you, you’ll remember all the important bits.
  5. Be honest. Tell your GP if you feel embarrassed talking about your problem and they’ll make you feel at ease. Ask questions. For example, if your doctor suggests you have a certain test, ask what it is and why you need it. What do procedures involve? When will you get your results?
  6. Give your opinion. An appointment is about working together with your GP to decide what’s best for you.
  7. If you are concerned about something or worried it is a serious health issue tell your doctor about your fears
  8. If you and your doctor agree on a certain treatment, make sure you are clear about what its effects are and how quickly it will work. Ask about possible side effects, and whether it will interact with other medicines you’re already taking. If you have a question about prescribed medicine after the appointment, ask your pharmacist for advice.
  9. Don’t be scared to say if there’s anything the doctor is telling you that you don’t understand, or if you need reassurance.
  10. Your doctor may tell you signs to look out for. If these occur, or if the problem gets worse or does not improve when you would have expected it to, please make an appointment to come back and see us. We would much rather you came back than you suffered in silence.