There are many services available to help you to stay healthy. Some of these services can be accessed directly (see below), and for others you need to be registered with a GP Practice (Surgery).
- When you wish to consult a GP about your medical condition, you need to contact the Surgery where you are registered to arrange to be seen. If you go along to the Surgery and do not have an appointment, you will not be seen.
- When you see your GP about a medical condition, she or he may arrange for further tests to be carried out. If so, they will explain the arrangements for these tests and how you will get the results. These tests may be carried out within the Practice or at another medical facility
- If your GP thinks that you need to be seen by a Specialist Doctor or other Healthcare Professional, she or he will refer you. You cannot make an appointment to see an NHS Specialist without being referred by your GP
- If you require medicine the GP will give you a prescription which you will need to take to a Pharmacy, who will supply the medicine for you
- If you have a preference for either a male or a female GP we will try to accommodate this although it may not always be possible
- The Practice use a service called ‘Language Line’ for patients who need the services of an interpreter. Please mention this when you make contact with us for an appointment. If someone else is contacting the Practice on your behalf, please remind them to ask the Receptionist to book an Interpreter
- We will try to answer the phone promptly and ensure there are sufficient staff to do this, however telephone lines are EXTREMELY busy and if you can, please go online and use askmyGP instead to contact the practice. It is open every weekday from 8.00 am until it closes, normally around 9.30 am, unless capacity has been reached.
- You will be treated with courtesy and respect
Help your Practice to help you
Practices are very busy places and staff try hard to accommodate their patients – in return you are asked to behave in a polite and considerate manner. It would be appreciated if you would help your Practice to keep surgeries running smoothly and ensure that patients are seen at the right time, by:
- When you have an appointment please attend at the time stated, and if you are not able to attend please let the Practice know in advance, so the appointment can be used by someone else who needs it. KEEP IT OR CANCEL IT!
- If you do not attend appointments, the Practice may de-register you. This means that you would stop being a patient of the Practice and you would no longer be seen by us
- If more than one member of your family needs to see the Doctor or other Healthcare Professional, please submit separate requests for each person on askmyGP or let the Medical Administrator know when you call
- Please notify the Practice if you change your address, telephone or mobile phone number
- We ask that you treat the doctors and staff with respect and courtesy
- Test results take time to reach us, so please do not contact us before you have been asked to do so – we can let you know your test results between 10.30am – 3.30pm each weekday
Other help available
- Cough or cold, or if your child has a minor ailment – your local Pharmacy may be able to help you in the first instance
- Eye problem – you should go to an optometrist – there are many to choose from on the high street
- Dental problem – you should visit your Dentist
- Foot problem – you can access our Podiatry Services by calling 01563 826361
- Specialist consultation – your GP will refer you
If you become unwell when your surgery is closed, please call NHS 24 on telephone number 111.
There are Minor Injuries Units at most hospitals where staff will assess minor injuries such as sprains, burns and simple fractures and either treat them or, if they find a more serious problem, arrange for you to be seen by the most appropriate Healthcare Professional.
For a list of Minor Injury units near you please access button below.