HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE ?
Please ask a receptionist if you
would like a telephone consultation with a doctor or nurse.
NHS DIRECT
NHS Direct is a 24 hour, nurse-led
telephone health promotion and advice system that can be reached by phoning 0845
4647. If you choose to call this number you will be advised about the best way
to deal with your problem.
HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ?
You may consult any of the doctors who will see you in surgery by
appointment. Appointments can be made by calling into the centre or by telephoning (01634) 291266 between 8.30am
and 6.00pm. However, we do have a duty doctor on call between the hours of 8.00 and 8.30am and 6.00 and 6.30pm. Routine work such as repeat prescriptions and certificates cannot be dealt with. If you cannot keep your appointment please let us know. This is important because your appointment time can be given to another patient, thus reducing the waiting time for appointments. There are appointments available on Saturday mornings between 8.00am and 11.30am. No other services are provided and the telephones are not on at this session.
Arrangements For Urgent Illness
Urgent cases can be seen the same day, otherwise you will be offered
the first appointment available. These appointments are shorter than routine appointments and therefore only one
problem (the urgent one) will be dealt with. Routine work such as repeat prescriptions cannot be dealt with . NB: we do ask you to consider carefully your need to be seen urgently. Government guidelines stipulate that we should see urgent appointments within a five to ten day period. However, we endevour to offer you an appointment within this timeframe whenever possible.
Nurse Triage
We operate a nurse triage service Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 12.30pm for those
patients requesting an "on the day" appointment. All telephone requests for advice and/or a same-day
appointment to see the doctor or nurse practitioner will be triaged initially by the triage nurse. Please contact
the surgery in the normal way giving our receptionist an idea of your medical problem. Your details will be passed
on to the triage nurse who will contact you by telephone and offer you the correct level of service for
your particular problem:
- Advice only
- A prescription
- An appointment with a doctor or nurse
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN HOME VISITS?
Your doctor may visit you at home
if it is felt that you are too ill to come in to the surgery. If you require a
home visit please telephone (01634) 291299 before 10.00am. If the phone is not
answered immediately, please do not hang up - you are held in a queue and your
call will be answered as soon as a line is free.
Your doctor will usually first phone
back to discuss the problem or assess if a visit is needed. Most cases may best
be seen in the medical centre where we have equipment for tests and special treatment.
Reasons other than ill health (ie no transport) are not generally considered when
deciding whether a visit is needed.
For emergencies during the working
day there is always a doctor on call.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS ?
For results of investigations or other similar enquiries, please
phone the receptionists on (01634) 291299 or call into the centre.
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