How do I...
Obtain Telephone Advice?

If you would like to speak to a doctor or nurse by telephone, please phone (01273) 466044 between 8.00 and 8.30am or after 11.00am. If you would like to speak to a nurse by telephone please phone between 12 noon and 12.30pm. If your doctor or nurse is unable to speak to you when you telephone, the receptionist will advise you of a time to ring back when they are free.

The health centre is not open on a Saturday and there is no Saturday surgery.

How do I...
Make An Appointment?

Please call at reception or telephone (01273) 466043 during surgery opening hours to make an appointment. For routine appointments please telephone between 11.00am and 3.30pm if at all possible, as the surgery is quieter then and it is easier for the receptionist to deal with your call.

The phones can get very busy in the mornings so please be patient if you are having difficulty in getting through.

We operate the 'Advanced Access' booking system. This means we offer both on-the-day appointments and the opportunity to book ahead. It helps if whenever possible you book your appointment in advance. However, if you feel that you need to see someone on the same day, then the receptionist may ask you whether you could see a nurse or if the nurse could discuss your condition on the phone with you. If you know that you need to see a doctor then explain that to the receptionist. The appointment may be with the GP registrar, a locum doctor or your own GP.

Blood tests need to be done before 11.30am as the blood samples are collected at that time.

If you are unable to keep your appointment please let us know in good time so that it may be offered to someone else.

Please bear in mind that surgeries are booked for an average 10 minutes' consultation and, while we may sometimes take longer than the average, we try to keep to time and may have to ask you to book another appointment if you have more than one problem to discuss.

Triage

Our practice nurses are trained in triage (assessing how best to help a patient). There are some conditions, for example cystitis, sore throats, earache, sprains and strains, where it may be suitable to either see a nurse or speak to her on the telephone rather than a doctor. The nurse will be able to arrange a prescription or call the doctor through to see you if it is appropriate. Please ring between 8.00 and 10.00am for a triage appointment.

How do I...
Obtain A Home Visit?

Home visits are for those who are housebound or are too ill to come to the surgery. If you need a home visit please try to phone the health centre before 10.00am. If your child has a temperature you can still bring them to the surgery and we will try to ensure they are seen quickly to avoid a wait.

How do I...
Obtain Test Results ?

These may be obtained by telephoning the surgery between 11.00am and 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. Please telephone yourself rather than asking someone else to ring as we cannot give your medical information to a third party. You will be contacted directly about any abnormal result which requires action.