HOW DO I?

How do I register with the practice?

Any resident living in our practice area may apply to become a patient. You must fill out an application form giving us as much information as possible. We will also need proof of identity and address. You can provide us with a passport, medical card, drivers licence and a recent utility bill.

How do I make an appointment?

You can attend the surgery from 08.15 a.m. and book in at reception. You may also telephone the surgery from 08.30 a.m. You can either book in advance or on the day. Please remember the telephone lines are very busy between 08.30 and 09.00 each day.

What if all of the appointments have been taken and I feel I need to be seen as an emergency the same day?

The doctors not only see booked in patients but they will also see extra patients according to demand. Please do not ask to be fitted in as an extra unless you have a genuine medical emergency which cannot wait until the following day.

Can I book in advance?

Yes you may book as far in advance as you wish, however, please make note of your appointment as we do find the further in advance the booking the more patients forget to attend for their appointments.

Can I speak with a GP for advice?

Yes you can. Please telephone in the morning and request a telephone consultation. The Receptionist will need as much information from you as possible so the GP has the relevant information to hand in order to give you advice. You will also need to confirm your contact telephone number with Reception. If you request a telephone consultation we will expect you to remain on your contact number!

What if I cannot get to the surgery and I need to a home visit?

If you have a genuine need to be visited at home, you will need to telephone the practice in the morning as soon as possible. The Receptionist will ask you what the problem is so the doctor can assess which equipment or medication he may need to bring to the visit with him. We are happy to visit any patient who has a genuine need to be seen at home. However, it is not acceptable to ask for home visits if you do not have transport to the surgery or because of inclement weather. We also expect you to remain at home to wait for the doctor to visit once you have requested this!! Patients who repeatedly abuse the home visiting service may be asked to register with another Doctor.

What if I commute to work, work shifts or am a carer and cannot attend the surgery in normal opening hours?

Please tell the Receptionist if you work away, are a shift worker or a carer. The practice will try and fit you in either first thing in the morning, last thing at night or offer you a Saturday appointment. In some circumstances if you work away, it is better for you to visit a local walk in centre for urgent medical needs and to ask us for a review if you wish to do so afterwards.

What should I do when I need to see a doctor in an emergency when the surgery is closed?

Firstly ring NHS direct for advice they can be contacted on 0845 4647

If you feel you need to be seen and you have a genuine medical emergency you will need to ring South East Health, you can do this by ringing 01424 853888, you will automatically be redirected to their number.

You may also visit the Station Plaza Walk in Centre, however, this is only to be used out of hours, ie: after 6 p.m. and weekends. You should not attend the Walk in Centre during our normal opening times which are 08.15 to 6.00 p.m. and 08.15 to 5.30 p.m. Fridays

If you have sustained an acute injury you should visit the local A&E Department.

Please only use the out of hours services if you have a genuine medical emergency. These services are very costly to run. All out of hours services inform us if you have attended and for what reason. Where you have attended an out of hours service without a genuine medical reason the practice will write to you. Where patients repeatedly attend the out of hours services for non- urgent reasons the practice may ask them to register with another GP.

How do I obtain blood test results?

Please telephone the surgery after 1.30 p.m. for any results. All results are read by the GP’s daily. If there is a problem with your results, the GP will either ask the Receptionists to make a follow up appointment, repeat the blood tests or may write to you with advice or referral to a specialist. In some circumstances the Receptionists will not give out results over the telephone, they are not medically qualified to do so. If you want to discuss a result with your doctor, you can request a telephone consultation.

How do I get a repeat prescription?

You will need to either submit the repeat slip of paper attached to your last prescription, ticking the boxes of the items you want, fax us on 01424 850190 or put the request in writing. We do not accept medication requests over the telephone as this is open to mistakes. Please allow 2 working days for us to process your prescription. If you forget to re-order your prescription and you have run out of medications we will do our best to get this done quickly for you, however, we will not interrupt a doctors clinic for an urgent prescription signature, so please do not ask us to!

Can I see any doctor?

Yes you can. However, if you have been seeing one doctor for a specific problem it is best to stick with the same doctor. However, this may not always be possible when a doctor is on annual leave.

Can I book in advance with a specific doctor?

Yes you can. Please ask Reception to arrange this for you

Do the doctors run on time?

Not always. You may check when you arrive as to how far the doctor is running behind. Please do not blame the Receptionists for this, the doctors cannot predict how poorly a patient will be and some patients will need more time than others.

What happens if I am late arriving for my appointment?

If you are under 5 minutes late the doctor will probably wait for you. If you are between 5 – 10 minutes late the doctor will try and fit you in between other patients, in certain circumstances the doctor may only be able to see you right at the end of his / her surgery to avoid making other patients who were on time, having to wait.