In addition to telephone and face-to-face consultations, we are offering consultations online. This can be a convenient and flexible way to receive healthcare. For more information on what an online consultation is, follow the link below.
Can another Healthcare Professional help?
Sometimes the GP is not the most appropriate Healthcare Professional to deal with your ailment. Please see the information on see a Doctor or Healthcare Professional, which might help you decide whether a GP appointment is truly necessary or whether it might be better for you to see a Pharmacist, Optician, Dentist or other Healthcare Professional. You can even self-refer for some services without seeing your GP.
For real life-threatening emergencies such as those below – RING 999
For immediately serious conditions such as the following, GO TO Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY
Book/Cancel your Appointment
You can book and cancel appointments by phone, by calling our main number and pressing option 1, then keying in your date of birth and phone number for verification purposes.
Appointments
Please note that we will still be operating the same system for pre-bookable routine telephone appointments and these can be available up to two weeks in advance.
In addition to our main appointments we offer a telephone triage system which operates all day.
The Receptionist will answer your call and once it has been clarified that you are requesting an urgent appointment, your call will be put on to the Duty Doctors call list. You will be given an approximate time the doctor will ring you – so please keep your phone line free around this time.
If you book a telephone consultation for the morning you will be called between 09:00-12:00.
If you book a telephone consultation for the afternoon you will be called between 15:00-18:00.
There may be occasions where an emergency has taken priority. Your patience is therefore appreciated, especially during the peak times of the day.
The GP will assess your complaint over the telephone and will either provide advice or book an appointment for you with an appropriate clinician.
What is telephone triage?
Telephone triage is a useful method of determining urgent and not so urgent cases so that appointments can be allocated according to patient need. The system works by allowing the GPs to triage all requests for urgent care by telephone.
The Receptionist will answer your call and once it has been clarified that you are requesting an urgent appointment, your call will be put on to the Duty Doctors call list. You will be advised when to expect the GP to call you back. There may be occasions where an emergency has taken priority. Your patience is therefore appreciated, especially during the peak times of the day.
The GP will assess your complaint over the telephone and will either provide advice or book an appointment for you with an appropriate Clinician – you will not be referred back to the Receptionist for this.
Benefits to Patients
Benefits to GPs
Our aim is to provide
The telephone triage system will operate all day. If you are feeling unwell, please do not leave it until late afternoon to telephone the practice. Similarly if you are housebound and think you might need to see a GP, please telephone in the morning (before 11am). Out of hours, patients who feel unwell can telephone 111 or 999 if there is an emergency.
Please note that we will still be operating the same system for pre-bookable routine appointments and these can be available up to two weeks in advance. We continue to encourage patients to register to use our on-line services for booking appointments and requesting repeat prescriptions and to view your medical records.
Please ensure you advise our Receptionists of your current contact details, especially your mobile telephone numbers which will enable the Practice to send you appointment reminders.
Additional information
Sometimes patients’ problems take longer to sort out than expected and a doctor may run late or may be called out on an emergency. We will make every effort to keep you informed of delays and we appreciate your patience and understanding as this situation can be stressful for all concerned.
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.
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.
If you arrive late for an appointment the receptionists will ask the reason and let the doctor know. You may be seen, asked to wait until the end of surgery or to re-book your appointment as requested by your doctor. If you are later than 15 minutes the clinician will not be able to see you and you will need to rebook your appointment.