Appointments

Appointment in Advance

you can now register for Patient Access which will allow

you to book up to two routine appointments on-line

Access the online appointment system

APPOINTMENTS

DOCTORS have a number of different appointments.

ROUTINE - These are for non-urgent or on-going medical conditions. These can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance.

SAME DAY ATTENTION - We have appointments set aside each day for patients with ACUTE conditions that cannot wait for a routine appointment. Please note that the Doctor who deals with these appointments on the afternoon is also the on-call Doctor for urgent house calls and you may have to wait. These are busy surgeries and we would ask that you restrict your request to the acute issue that has brought you down.

ONE PROBLEM PER APPOINTMENT - IT IS GENERALLY ONLY POSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH ONE ISSUE IN A TEN MINUTE APPOINTMENT.

SATURDAY MORNING - One surgery per week designed for those who work and struggle to come down during the week. These appointments must be pre-booked in advance, and access to the Practice will only be given to patients with appointments as the Practice door will be closed.

We do ask people with minor illnesses such as sore throats and colds to see their pharmacist for advice rather than their GP.

On booking your appointment you will be asked to give a few details. This will help us to direct you to the most appropriate health care professional in the practice which may not be the doctor.

Lateness   Please arrive a few minutes before your appointment time, as if you are late the Doctor may be unable to see you.

Home Visits Requests

All requests within surgery hours (956 4171)

We appreciate that certain situations make it difficult to attend the surgery. However, where possible we are encouraging patients to attend the surgery as we can see 4-6 patients in the Practice in the time it takes to see one patient at home. It is therefore a more effective use of Doctor time for all patients.

If you require medical attention, we would be grateful if you would consider trying to attend the surgery if at all possible. Same day attention appointments are available each day and you will be seen.

Please remember we have disabled access to help you.

Please contact the Surgery using the above 'phone number before 10 am.  Your request will be passed to the doctor on call.  This does not guarantee the doctor will visit, as the doctor may phone you to discuss your request.  Please keep your phone line free for this purpose.

Training Practice

Medical Students

Occasionally the practice has one or more medical students attached for a short period. If the doctor you are seeing has a student with him/her, the receptionist will inform you when you attend for your appointment. If you do not wish to be seen with a student there, please tell the receptionist.

Registrars in General Practice

The practice is actively involved with postgraduate education. We have a Registrar who is a fully qualified doctor, completing a vocational training scheme. He or she is gaining experience in general practice and is to be considered a full member of the practice team.

There may be occasions where the Registrar or GP wishes to video record the consultation and we ask patients individually for their consent in this respect. It is a very useful technique allowing assessment of performance under real circumstances and we ask for your cooperation and forbearance! Your help is appreciated!

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)