CHANGE
MY DETAILS?
Please inform us as soon as possible if you have changed your name or address.
This will help to ensure that our records are kept up-to-date. This is particularly
important in the event of an emergency. In the event of you moving to an address
outside of our practice boundary, please register with a doctor nearer your residence
as soon as possible. Please also inform us of telephone number changes, especially
if you have recently moved to a cable company.
HOW
DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Before you make an appointment we would ask you to take a moment to ask yourself
whether you really need to see a doctor. Many illnesses are short lived and self
limiting, and only require commonsense remedies to relieve symptoms. Advice is
readily available from your local chemist or NHS Direct 0845 46 47.
We do not book appointments in advance. We would ask you to ring before 12.45pm
on the day you want an appointment. You should be given an appointment on the
same or next working day.
Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Please remember the following points:
1. Please try to arrive on time for your appointment.
2. Please let us know if you are unable to attend.
3. Please try not to save up multiple problems for one appointment. If you require
a longer appointment please ask when booking.
4. Please remember to make a separate appointment for each person needing to see
the doctor: one appointment = one person.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE
ADVICE?
Remember you can also ring and leave a message for the doctor or nurse on the
telephone if a face-to-face consultation is not necessary eg for results, medication
queries or advice. You may be given a specific time when a doctor will ring you.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?
Please try to come to the surgery whenever possible as facilities here
are far better for examination and treatment. If you feel that you are too ill
to attend the surgery, please telephone before 10.00am to allow the doctors to
plan their visits in order of priority. Requests after this time are for EMERGENCIES
only. The receptionists will ask you for a few details about your symptoms to
allow the doctor to assess the urgency of the call. Please remember that on
average we can see five patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do one
home visit. We are under no obligation to visit you because of “lack of transport”.
It is your responsibility to arrange transport to the surgery whenever possible.
Emergency Visits
If you require an emergency visit during the day (Monday - Friday), please telephone
the surgery and your call will be dealt with by one of the receptionists. At night
or at weekends you will hear a recorded message when you telephone the surgery.
This will give details of how to contact the doctor on call in the event of an
emergency. Please show consideration to your doctor when requesting out of hours
calls by limiting them to true emergencies. Remember, the doctor who visits you
at night has worked all day and has to work the following day also. Please make
every effort to contact the surgery during normal surgery hours.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?
We operate a computerised
system for repeat prescriptions. Please ask your doctor about this service. Once
authorised, these may be obtained by sending a stamped, addressed envelope to
the surgery with your request. You may also telephone the surgery on 0844 477
8758 Monday - Friday between 1.45 and 4.30pm only. Please allow two working days
for your request to be processed.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
Results of blood tests, x-rays, cervical smears and other investigations are available
by contacting reception. Your doctor will advise you whether or not you need to
be seen again.
HOW
DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE
PRACTICE?
To register with this practice, please speak to the receptionist who will discuss
your registration with the partners. If accepted you will also be asked to attend
for a “new patient medical”.
