How to arrange a consultation with a Doctor
We are now offering a variety of appointments in the practice. Telephone appointments, online consultations, video consultations, and face-to-face appointments. We always ask patients for their preference on how they would like to be seen.
1. Patchs (Online Consultation) – please use this on-line service via our website to request advice and treatment. Patchs is for non-urgent, routine enquiries. Any enquiry will be responded to within 2 working days. For all urgent enquiries, patients should call reception during the surgery opening hours.
2. Telephone appointments – Used mainly for appointments to discuss recent results with patients.
3. Home visit requests – Please phone to request a home visit. This service is only for housebound patients or those too unwell to attend the surgery. The doctor will phone you back to assess whether a home visit is required. Please make these requests as early as possible – ideally before 11 am.
One appointment, One problem
We kindly ask that all patients try and stick to our ‘One Appointment ,One Problem’ policy.
The main reason for this request is for clinical safety.
We know that getting an appointment with the doctor is sometimes difficult and that some patients ‘save’ their problems and present them to the doctor at the same time, with or without a list. We also know that the clinician may run late. All of this increases the tendency for patients to present multiple problems to their doctor/ANP at one consultation.
Each appointment is only 10 -15minutes long. Ten minutes is not a lot of time, even for just one problem, There is no time left in the ten minutes to write up notes, fill out forms, complete referrals or speak to other team members for advice.
Presenting the clinician with multiple problems means that there is a real increased risk that mistakes will be made and things to be missed as the clinician may be inclined to rush, particularly if other patients are waiting. One of Primary Care’s main purposes is to detect serious diseases early.
Presenting multiple problems to the clinician, not all of which may be serious increases the difficulty of this task.
Doctors cannot see huge numbers of patients with multiple problems and continue to practice safely and effectively. A stressed doctor will struggle to be a good and safe doctor.
We do consider that GP appointments are a limited resource and we would kindly ask that such a service be used with care and consideration.
Therefore, please do not be offended if the doctor asks you to rebook for your other problems.
We are working in your best interests to keep you safe. Help us to help you!
Out Of Hours
Weekends and Bank Holidays – 24 hours.
- If it is not an immediate emergency dial NHS111 – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- In the case of an emergency dial 999.
- You can also visit the Minor Injuries Unit – please see below – Please note some of these services have changed do to Covid-19 please phone them in advance to check opening times
- nhs.uk will also give available services near you.
Mount Vernon Minor Injuries Unit
Rickmansworth Road
Northwood
HA6 2RN
Please note that this is not a walk-in service anymore. Please see below how you can access their services:
Book an appointment
NHS 111
Book an appointment via NHS 111 online or by calling 111. Appointments can be made for a telephone consultation from 8am to 7pm, and until 8pm for face-to-face appointments.
Direct telephone booking
You can book an appointment by telephoning the unit directly on 01923 844263, and lines are open 8am-7pm, seven days a week.
What can you book an appointment for?
The service treats minor injuries and illnesses that require urgent treatment.
- Minor illnesses
- Cuts and grazes
- Minor scalds and burns
- Strains and sprains
- Bites and stings
- Minor head injuries
- Ear and throat infections
- Minor skin infections / rashes
- Minor eye conditions / infections
- Suspected fractures.
Lateness Policy
If you are late for your appointment, you will be asked to re-book. This is to ensure that other patients are not delayed and because most problems cannot be adequately managed in anything less than the already restricted consultation time.
Cancellation Policy
Please cancel any unrequired appointments so other patients can be seen.
As a practice we have a large number of missed appointments each year. This has an impact on how the practice runs, as it prevents other patients from seeing a doctor or other health care professional on the day they need to be seen.
DNA’s are monitored and frequent offenders may be removed from the practice list.
