Patient Access
Urgent appointments
To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):
- Online
Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) - Online
Use our GP Appointment System – Patient Access - Phone
Call the surgery on 01708 629733
Non-urgent advice: Patient Notice
Appointments will not be booked at the desk from 8-10am
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Routine appointments
To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:
- Online
Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) - Online
Use our GP Appointment System – Patient Access - Phone
Call the surgery on 01708 629733 – please call between 10am – 3pm. - In Person
Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- By phone
- Face to face at the surgery
- On a video call
- By text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- Phone
Contact the surgery on 01708 629733 - Online
Use the online system which is available 24 hours. Please try to give as much notice as possible so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. - Text
To cancel your appointment via SMS text message, just reply with CANCEL within your message back to us.
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need.
Requests for home visits should be made before 11.00 a.m. where possible. Please ring 01708 629733.The receptionist will request some details of your medical problem so that the appropriate clinician can assess your need for a visit and the urgency.
The doctor will telephone you back to discuss your problem in more detail. A decision to visit remains at the doctor’s discretion and is based on medical necessity.
Nurse Appointments
How to see the Nurse Practitioner
The nurse practitioner’s can see patients with a wide range of common conditions and undertakes examinations, makes diagnoses and offers treatment. It is very appropriate for you to see the nurse practitioner with coughs, colds, sore throats, stomach upsets, rashes, asthma, hay fever, skin problems, infections and childhood infectious diseases. They have appointments available that can be booked in advance at the patients’ request for appropriate problems. These will include clinic appointments such as diabetes. Doctors and nurses work to protocols for such problems so it doesn’t matter who you see; you will get the same sort of consultation.
They also has appointments that can be accessed more quickly on the day you wish to be seen if you think the problem needs more urgent attention. If your problem requires a prescription she is able to provide one, and if the problem turns out to be more complex our NPs are well supported by all the doctors if further help is required.
Remember many minor ailments do not need a visit to the doctor and can often be self managed with help from the pharmacist.
The receptionists may guide you into booking a nurse practitioner appointment instead of always requesting to see your doctor. Susan and Judith run afternoon/ evening emergency surgeries on some days when all patients may see their first.
How to see the Practice Nurse / Healthcare Assistant
Appointments are offered throughout the day Monday to Friday.
Some appointments can be booked in advance but some appointments can be booked on the day they are needed. All the nurses can deliver a wide range of nursing care and procedures but some have extra specialist skills.
It is important that you tell the receptionist what you want the nurse to do so that an appropriately skilled nurse can be booked for you. You may be asked by the doctor or another nurse to book a nurses appointment but you can also book directly to see them for things you view as appropriate. Ask the receptionist if you are not sure.
Appointments for Young People
You can be sure that anything you discuss with any member of this practice – family doctor, nurse or receptionist – will stay confidential. This includes contraceptive and sexual health services for which you do not have to be accompanied by an adult.
All the nurses and doctors, especially Dr Richard Burack who has a special interest in young people’s health care, will willingly see under 16 year olds on their own, or with their friends or parents, often at short notice if required.
Even if you are under 16 nothing will be said to anyone – including parents, other family members, care workers or tutors – without your permission. The only reason why we might have to consider passing on confidential information without your permission, would be to protect you or someone else from serious harm. We would always discuss this with you first.
If you are being treated elsewhere – for example at a hospital or Brook Centre – it is best if you allow the doctor or nurse there to inform the practice of any treatment you are receiving. If you have any worries about confidentiality, please feel free to ask a member of staff.