Appointments

To make an appointment in normal surgery hours, please:

– Phone 01590 672953

– Book an appointment at reception

– Book an appointment online (available if you are registered for Online services)

– Consider consulting online from home using WebGP

Before making an appointment, consider whether you need to see a doctor, whether an appointment with a nurse may be  suitable, or whether your problem may be dealt with via a telephone consultation.

Appointments Times

For more detail about availability of individual doctors: CHS GP Rota May 18

Options available to book an appointment outside normal surgery hours 

Please note that the telephone is always busy in the morning – so if possible contact us in the afternoon.

Continuity of care is a very important part of general practice so you will normally see the same GP at each visit. However, this may not always be possible, due to availability of appointments, which is why you can see anyone in the practice. All clinicians have access to your clinical notes via the computer, but we do try to facilitate you seeing the doctor of your choice whenever possible.

Types of appointment:

1. Routine Appointments

Most of our appointments are routine and they can be booked up to 6 weeks in advance. The more notice you give, the more likely you are to get the time and date of your choice. A routine appointment is for one person and lasts for 10 minutes. Please ask for a longer appointment if the problem is complex or multiple. A few appointments are allocated for more pressing medical problems and can be booked up to 3 days in advance.

2. Urgent Appointments

We also have appointments available each day for urgent medical problems, which cannot wait. Please note these appointments cannot be booked in advance. If you request to see a doctor urgently, you may be asked for some information about your problem. If you do not wish to give any information then please inform the receptionist, however the extra information will help the receptionists to make the most appropriate appointment with either a doctor or nurse.

3. Telephone Appointments

You can book to have a telephone consultation with a doctor if you wish.  Each GP will take a number of telephone calls at the end of their morning surgery. Please ring and arrange a telephone consultation if you think this is appropriate. If you are only available on a mobile phone, you may be expected to ring the practice at the agreed time.

4. WebGP

Increasingly our patients are finding WebGP  an effective way to consult online.

Why Might It Be Difficult To Get An Appointment?

Last month 71 patients failed to attend their appointments with either a GP or a nurse. If you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can then make it available for another patient. Patients who do not attend 3 or more appointments in any 6 month period will be contacted and the Practice will consider removing them from the Surgery list.