Appointments

In response from feedback from patients we have revised our appointments system.

Appointments can be made by calling at the surgery or telephoning the receptionist on 01923 845 945.

The surgery will to the best of their ability provide patients who require an emergency appointment on the same day. Please telephone for an emergency appointment for the morning as early as possible or after 14:30. All other appointments can be made up to 2 weeks in advance.

The practice runs an emergency clinic Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 12:00 and 16:00 - 18:00. Please discuss your symptoms briefly with the receptionist who with the help of the Duty Doctor will try and allocate you the most appropriate appointment. Remember that when people are genuinely ill and in need of urgent attention, we will always see them on the same day.

Saturday surgeries are held twice a month in the morning for routine booked appointments only, all emergencies will be dealt with via our emergency service and access to this is via our main surgery number.

The Partners would appreciate it if patients could refrain from requesting urgent appointments inappropriately. Colds, coughs, sore throats etc. can in the early stages be adequately addressed by your Pharmacist.

Our phone lines tend to be very busy first thing in the morning. It would be helpful to you and us if you could telephone for routine appointments after 10:00.

Golden Rules for Appointments

If you decide that your appointment is no longer needed, please ring up and cancel so that someone else can have the appointment instead. Does more than one family member need to see the doctor? If so, please make a separate appointment for each person. If you have several different problems to discuss, you may need to book two separate appointments. Your doctor has only 10 minutes for each routine consultation, if you feel your appointment will require longer than 10 minutes please advise the receptionist at the time of making your appointment and you will need to be allocated a double appointment.

Missed Appointments

If you do not attend an appointment you may receive a letter from the surgery in regard to your attendance.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).

Teaching and Training

The Practice is a training practice and our patients will be expected to see GP Registrars as well as Partners. Please feel reassured that these young doctors are highly competent and work under the supervision of the trainers.

At times during consultations one of our training doctors will be present, if you have any concerns with this please speak to your doctor.

From time to time senior medical students will accompany doctors and nurses during their work. If you do not wish to be seen with a medical student please let the receptionist or the doctors know.