Routine Appointments & Requests
You can contact us using the following methods below for routine issues
- Use PATCHS, Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm. We have a daily limit to allow for timely processing and once reached this will close and you can complete the next day. These are for non-urgent enquires. If your request is urgent please phone the practice on 01244 385553.
- Register on the GP on-line system Patient Access or the NHS App to book an appointment or order your repeat medication. You can also visit the reception desk and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. Our doors open at 8am.
- Phone us on 01244 385553 , Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm. Our new phone system will offer you a call-back once you reach position 6 – listen careful to the options. Do not press the call-back option until you are offered it.
- PATIENT CONSENT
- If you are phoning on behalf of someone else they will need to have given their consent to us to add to your medical records in order for us to discuss your care. This could include such things as appointments to be booked, prescription queries and results.
ARRS Roles
The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) provides additional roles to PCNs to create bespoke multi-disciplinary teams. Here are a list of who we have working with us:
- Dave Donlevy – Wellbeing Co-ordinator
- Muhammad Ayaz – Physio
- Susan Gallagher – Dietician
- Mental Health Practitioner
- Pharmacy Team – Clinical Pharmacists and Pharmacy Techs
- Health and Wellbeing Coaches
- Low level Counselling Service
- Paramedics
Fit Notes
If you have been off sick for more than seven days. To request a sick note:
Fill out a sick note request form
phone or visit the surgery from 10am-6pm
If you’ve been off work for seven days or less
If you’re off work sick for seven days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence that you’ve been ill. Instead, they can ask you to confirm that you’ve been ill. You can do this by filling in a form yourself when you return to work. We call this self-certification.
Find out more information about sick notes here on the NHS website:
Urgent Appointments
We have a Duty Doctor every day who is available for emergency appointments only.
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or other health professional to help you.
- Phone us on 01244 385553 Monday to Friday from 8am, our new phone system will offer you a call back once you reach position 6 – listen carefully to the options. Do not press the call-back option until you are offered it.
- You can visit the reception desk and speak with a Receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm.
There is an urgent Duty Doctor session available every morning and every afternoon until 6pm. Urgent Duty Doctor sessions are for emergency appointments only.
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Patient Access
Enhanced Access Service
If you work full time are you aware you can book an appointment at our Enhanced Access service.
Mon-Friday evenings 6.30pm-8.30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm at Garden Lane
To cancel Mon-Thurs appts – ring 01244 385553 and Fri & Saturday appts ring 01244 385553. This line will only take messages and will be checked throughout the sessions.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- by text or email if using Patchs
Appointments by phone, by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system Patient Access
- phone us on 01244 385553, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
- Call in to the practice reception desk and cancel with our Reception Team
If you need help when we are CLOSED
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
If you are too ill to attend surgery, please telephone before 10.45am to speak with the Duty Doctor.
The doctor will phone you back at the end of morning surgery to assess the problem and decide if a home visit is necessary. Requests received after midday will normally be visited the following day unless medically urgent.
Emergencies will be attended to immediately.
Lack of personal transport is not a valid reason for a home visit.
Paramedics Mike and Tim support the practice with our home visit requests.
Telephone Consultations
If you wish to speak to a GP/Nurse, the receptionist can put you down for a Telephone Consultation and the doctor or nurse will phone you some time after morning surgery. If you are given a telephone slot time this cannot be guaranteed and the doctor will try and ring you as close to the appointment time as possible, but will depends on any emergencies that come in.
Medical Training
As the practice is a Training Practice, occasionally medical students or student nurses may sit in on consultations, but only with your prior permission.