HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE?
We are always pleased to speak to you on the phone to give advice or discuss results. In fairness to other patients, we would prefer not to be interrupted during surgery time unless it is an acute medical emergency. We are
happy to speak to you on the telephone in the morning. You will need to give us a telephone number (landline preferably) where you can be contacted.
Please inform us of any change in your telephone number so that we can contact you for resolving any urgent issue regarding your healthcare. We will also need to amend your details in our roll out text messaging service.
HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Appointments may be made by telephoning or by calling in at the surgery. When you arrive for your appointment, book in with reception or use the touch screen on the left hand side of the waiting are. If you cannot keep an appointment please inform us as soon as possible as this will assist others waiting for appointments.
EMERGENCY CONSULTATION
These should ONLY be requested for conditions requiring urgent medical attention. You would be asked to make a routine appointment to address any other issues. Please be prompt for your appointment and please
be patient. Most delays will be due to an emergency or the necessity of longer consultation for certain patients. If you need to be seen urgently for a medical emergency then you will be offered an emergency consultation
with one of the doctors (who may not necessarily be your usual doctor). Please ring prior to coming to the surgery so we can arrange an appropriate time to come in for an emergency consultation.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?
Patients will be visited at home if housebound or suffering from a serious medical problem that makes travelling difficult. Remember: it is better to be seen at the surgery where we have facilities for examination and
treatment and it makes the best use of time. A doctor can see up to five patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit. Please phone before 10.00am so that the doctors can prioritse. We expect
children to be brought to the surgery except in exceptional circumstances and we will, if necessary, see them urgently. It is not harmful to bring a child out when they have a temperature. Please give the receptionist
as much information as possible, including the ‘phone number and the address from where you are calling.
Emergency visits can be arranged by contacting the surgery during surgery opening hours.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
It usually takes about two weeks for the results of tests to be ready. After this time routine enquiries about results are welcome (but please only contact reception between 2.00 - 4.00pm when it is less busy). The
receptionist may be able to give you the result under the doctor’s instruction but CANNOT make any comment. Also, for reasons of confidentiality, results will only be given to the patient concerned.
In the event of an abnormal result, it is our policy that the practice will contact the patient to arrange an appointment face to face or telephone to discuss the result.
HOW DO I...
CHANGE MY DETAILS?
If you change your name, address or telephone number, please give full written details, including your new postcode, to reception.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A SICK CERTIFICATE?
A doctor's certificate is not required to cover the first seven days of an illness involving time off work. Completion of a self-certificate is all that is needed. This form is usually presented to you by your
employer upon return to work and is also available from your local DSS office. Periods of illness exceeding seven days do require a doctor’s certificate. If, for whatever reason, you require a doctor’s
certificate to cover sickness for less than seven days, this can be provided but a charge will be made as displayed at the reception desk.
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