Appointments
We run a computerised appointment system. Appointments can be made no more than two weeks in advance by telephoning or calling at the reception desk. We offer a range of appointments released every day and bookable for two weeks ahead, one week ahead, for the same day, the next day and 2 days ahead. Please ask for an appointment appropriate to your clinical need at the time and the receptionist will make every effort to accommodate you.
We appreciate that patients often wish to see the same doctor but if you have an urgent condition and request to be seen the same day, you should be prepared to see any of our doctors who are on duty that day. If you are requesting an appointment with a specific doctor at a specific time then this may not be possible.
Extended Hours
We offer early morning and evening appointments for patients who are unable to attend during normal working hours; Monday evenings 17.30 – 19:30 and Friday mornings 07:00 – 08:00. You can book these appointments up to 4 weeks in advance. Please note that the practice is only open during these hours to patients who have pre-booked appointments.
Telephone Triage for Same Day Appointments
Triage is a process of prioritising patients based on the severity of their condition. If you are requesting a same day appointment and there are none available you will be offered triage. The receptionist will take your name, date of birth and telephone number where you can be contacted. You will be called back by a Medical Professional.
Nurse Minor Illness Clinic
Sister Conway has undergone special training to allow her to treat and advise on some minor conditions such as coughs, colds, flu, sore throat, cold sores, sinusitis, earache, eye infections, urine infections, thrush, cystitis, skin conditions, diarrhoea and vomiting. There is a minor illness clinic every day for patients who have conditions which require to be seen the same day or the next day. You can book a minor illness appointment at reception for any patient over five years of age. Sister Conway is also able to prescribe some medications.
Telephone Appointments
Some issues can be resolved without the need for the patient to be seen at the practice. You can speak to the GP or practice nurses by telephone rather than face to face e.g. for a medication query or follow-up to a previous appointment. Telephone appointments are available daily. The receptionists will advise you of the next available phone appointment.
Interpreters
The language spoken by all the members of the practice team is English. If you do not speak English or have difficulty please inform one of our receptionists and we can arrange for an interpreter for you in advance of your appointment We can also arrange for sign language interpreters for anyone with speech difficulty.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. If you call the practice on 622854 and choose option 2 you can leave a message on our cancellation answering machine. Even with 20 minutes' notice, appointments can be offered to other patients. Patients who continually book appointments and fail to attend will be sent one letter reminding them that if this persists they may be removed from the practice list.