Our computerised appointment system enables us to offer you an appointment quickly and accurately.

Often your query can be dealt with without you having to attend surgery and our Doctors have regular telephone consultation sessions. When you ring for an appointment you may be asked if you would be happy with a telephone consultation - if so a Doctor will ring you back at a certain time. Otherwise it is our policy to offer a routine appointment within one week and within 24 hours for patients who feel they have an urgent problem. Due to fluctuating demands it is not always possible to offer an appointment with your usual doctor, however, you will be offered an alternative doctor.

It is a great help in scheduling our Nurse appointments if you can give us your estimate of the length of consultation you feel you require.

Please let us know if you wish to cancel an appointment . The weekly number of non notified non-attendance's often mounts up to 10 or more wasted appointments!

If you feel an appointment may not be necessary but you require professional advice the NHS Direct 24 hours Nurse led helpline is well worth an initial call where they can advise whether you need to attend surgery or not.

Routine or Urgent Appointment?

The doctor allocates some appointment slots for patients who have an urgent problem that cannot wait longer than 24 hours. Such problems may include moderate to severe pain, ear, chest or urinary infections or deterioration of previously established conditions e.g.: asthma.

A routine appointment is usually necessary for other problems such as review of ongoing conditions, stress related and emotional problems, H.R.T. and discussion of test results, as the doctor will require more time for discussion of these.

Emergencies

We are not an emergency service but we do have a daily doctor-on-call who responds to life-threatening emergencies. However, if it is difficult to contact the surgery immediately, we recommend 999 is dialled.