Appointments

In an Emergency dial 999

Including the following:

• Anaphylaxis or you you have taken your epipen and the symptoms are not resolving
• Breathing difficulties (severe, difficulty completing sentences)
• Chest pain (Severe, across chest, continuous)
• Chest/Breathing Pain (known heart disease, not resolving with GTN)
• Collapse with continued loss of consciousness
• Fall and unable to weight bear
• Floppy/Unresponsive Child
• Head injury with loss of consciousness
• INR patient (if bleeding profusely)
• Seizure (first or not stopping with medication)
• Sudden loss of vision
• Suspected Stroke / FAST positive (F = Facial Weakness, A = Arm Weakness, S = Speech Problems, T = Time to call 999)

Urgent Appointments

If you require same day attention please call as early as possible, preferably between 08:30 and 09:00, as the earlier you make your request, the easier it is to fit you in. You should briefly explain the circumstances to the receptionist who will arrange an appointment for that day, although it may not be with your usual doctor.

Examples include:

• Burns and scalds
• Collapse with recovery
• Croup
• Diarrhoea and vomiting (over 5 days duration or unwell)
• Dislocated Finger
• Fainting
• Falls
• Flu-like symptoms (aged over 65, pregnant, long-term health conditions, chest pain, coughing up blood, short of breath, no improvement in a week)
• Head injury with no loss of consciousness
• Jaw pain (acute with chest pain and breathlessness – if related to teeth, dentist)
• Leg pain (unable to walk)
• Nosebleed lasting over 20 minutes
• Scarlet Fever
• Sciatica
• Suicidal or self harm
• Suspected fracture
• Unable to urinate
• Wheezing (new)

Requesting a Routine Appointment

To book an appointment please call us between 8.30am and 5pm.

From 8 – 8.30am and 5 – 6pm we try to keep the lines clear for emergencies.

Appointments with doctors and nurses are available from 09:00 until 17:00. We operate a flexible system which means that if you cannot obtain an appointment with the doctor of your choice, you will be offered an appointment with another doctor. 

The reception staff have been asked by the GP team to gather as much information as possible in order that you receive the most appropriate medical care, from the most appropriate health professional, at the most appropriate time. For example this information is used to help doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls, to ensure that all patients receive the appropriate level of care and to direct patients to see our Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse or other health professional rather than a doctor where appropriate.

Reception staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules:

• Any information given by you is treated strictly confidentially and the Practice would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with accordingly.
• You can ask to speak to a receptionist in private away from reception.  However if you feel an issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is then this will be respected.

Thank you for your support.

Telephone Advice

Doctors and nurses can offer advice by telephone, where appropriate. Please contact reception to book a telephone consultation and the receptionist will tell you the approximate time that your call will be returned.

Nurse Practitioner Appointments

Nurse practitioners provide a broad range of healthcare services. Aside from the usual roles of taking patient medical history, ordering laboratory tests and performing a physical exam, a nurse practitioner is allowed to write prescriptions and coordinate referrals. Nurse practitioners are trained and skilled in diagnosis and management of complex medical conditions. They can function with or without doctor supervision or collaboration depending on their knowledge in the medical field.

Our Nurse Practitioner can help you with:

Abscess, Boil or Wound Infections
Accidental and Minor Injuries
Cellulites
Chest Reviews (Cough, Chest Infections, Breathlessness, Asthma Exacerbation, COPD Exacerbation
Chest Pain
Ear Pain or Discharge
Eye Accidental Injury
Hypertension
Joint Injury (not Chronic Pain)
Throat Pain
Swollen Glands
Constipation or Diarrhoea
UTI Symptoms
Thrush

Practice Nurse Appointments

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly.

Our nurses can help you with:

Acute and Chronic Wound Care/Infections
Blood Pressure Checks and 24 Hour Monitoring
BMI Measurements
Cytology
Chronic Diseases – including Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Hypertension, Rheumatology, Warfarin Monitoring
Diabetic Foot Checks
ECGs
Ear wax and syringing
Healthy Lifestyle Advice
Lumps, Bumps & Skincare
Pre-arranged Blood Samples
Removal of Sutures
Review Spirometry
Routine Injections
Smoking Cessation Advice
Swabs & STIs
Vaginal Swabs
Warfarin Monitoring
Weight Loss Advice
Wound Dressing

Have you received a request to attend for an appointment?

Our doctors and nurses may wish to monitor certain conditions through a regular appointment. You may receive a phone call, letter or text message requesting that you attend the practice. Please contact us as soon as possible if the date and time are not convenient for you.

Can’t make your appointment?

We ask that you call and let us know in advance.  In that way, we can release the appointment for someone else. The Practice has the authority to remove patients who constantly abuse the appointments system.