Same Day Service
from 7th February 2012

Telephone 01425 653430
Lines will be open from 8am

Why change the appointment system?

In the past most patients with problems needing attention on the same day were offered an appointment with a doctor or a nurse. This led to increased waiting times for routine appointments as many slots were saved for urgent problems. Some of these could have been dealt with over the telephone.

By managing the urgent problems more effectively we will be able to  increase the number of routine appointments and reduce waiting times.

When you initially speak to a nurse practioner or doctor on the telephone, you  will  be offered  either an appointment with the person who can most  effectively deal  with your problem, or an alternative option. This will provide you with more choices of how your problem may best be dealt with.

What if I have a problem that needs dealing with today?

Please call 01425 653430 as early in the day as possible.
Lines are open from 8am

When you call the surgery with an urgent medical or same day problem, the receptionist will offer you a telephone call-back and ask you for your preferred contact telephone number.  Please give the receptionist a brief description of your problem so that the nurse practioner or doctor can give your problem the right attention.

A nurse practioner or doctor will return your call within one hour, or at a mutually convenient time to discuss your problem.

There will be a number of options as a result of the call-back:

• Advice or treatment without visiting the surgery
• An appointment that day to see a nurse practioner or doctor
• If required, an investigation such as a blood test or an x-ray, may be arranged before you are seen
• A home visit

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse will phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Surgery.

Routine appointments 

We recognise that if you suffer with long term or complex conditions, you may wish to make a routine appointment with your usual doctor or practice nurse. You may continue to do so.

How do I arrange a telephone appointment?
All doctors and nurses have telephone appointments available if you wish to discuss a problem or test result without a visit to the surgery.

Your call request will be added to their designated telephone clinic, which usually runs at the end of morning and afternoon surgeries. Our reception team can advise you further.

How do I find out about my test results?        
Please  call after  2pm  for  your  test results, as they are more readily available in the afternoon.

Repeat prescriptions                                               
Repeat prescriptions will be ready to collect on the third working day after being  requested  (i.e. requested Monday, collect Thursday). For other prescription enquiries please call after 2pm.

Please note that requests for repeat prescriptions are accepted in writing, by fax, e-mail or SystmOnline, but not over the telephone.