NHS services are very busy at the moment. It's important to come forward with any health concerns but you can help ease the pressure by choosing the right service. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SERVICE

We know that getting an appointment with the doctor is sometimes difficult and that some patients ‘save’ their problems and present them to the doctor at the same time, with or without a list. We also know that the clinician may run late. All of this increases the tendency for patients to present multiple problems to their doctor/ANP (advanced nurse practitioner) at one consultation.

Each appointment is 10 minutes long. Ten minutes really is not a lot of time, even for just one problem. E.g. 1 minute to get to the doctor’s room and sit down, 3 minutes to tell a history, 3-4 minutes to perform targeted examination, 2 minutes to explain, advise and treat. There is no time left of the ten minutes to write up notes, fill out forms, dictate referrals or speak to other team members for advice.

Presenting the clinician with multiple problems means that there is a real increased risk that mistakes will be made and things may be missed as the clinician may be inclined to rush, particularly if other patients are waiting.

One of Primary Care’s main purposes is to detect serious disease early. Presenting multiple problems to the clinician, not all of which may be serious, increases the difficulty of this task – it is like finding the ‘needle in a haystack’.

Doctors cannot see huge numbers of patients with multiple problems and continue to practise safely and effectively. A stressed doctor will struggle to be a good safe doctor.

We do consider that GP appointments are a limited resource and we would kindly ask that such a service be used with care and consideration.

Therefore please do not be offended if the doctor asks you to re-book for your other problems. We are working in your best interests in order to keep you safe.

We do offer double appointments – please ask receptionist or GP, if this is possible

How To Book

• Find out more about Patient Access
• Download the The NHS App
• Phone: 01795 585 255

Working together allows us all to get the best out of our health service

• Please switch off your mobile phone or text whilst in consultation
• Remember that you may be examined and make sure you wear clothes that can be easily removed. eg. don’t wear corsets if you have tummy pain
• Please take outer coat off before going into the consultation. Take children’s outer clothes off before coming into doctor’s room. Please try to re-dress children when you return to the waiting room, where possible.
• If you are asked by the doctor to return, please do so and don’t assume that your test is normal if you do not get recalled – the doctor may be expecting you to come back as instructed
• If you wish to make an appointment to speed up a hospital appointment, telephone the hospital in first instance or our practice secretary.
• If you have a list of things to discuss with the GP please mention the most important one first, as a further appointment may be necessary
• Remember – some doctors are not natural typists! so please be aware that the doctor may need to concentrate on ensuring information on your medical record during your consultation.
• Your appointment is only for the person whose name is on the appointment book
• Finally, try telling the doctor what is really worrying you at the beginning of the consultation

 In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10.30am.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Please request this at the time of booking, or speak to your GP or Nurse.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible so that your appointment can be offered to someone else.

If you are cancelling please telephone us on 01795 585 255 as soon as possible, and at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. This will enable us to offer your appointment to someone else.

Alternatively you can cancel your appointment online using Patient Access or The NHS App if you are signed up to the service.

Please remember that there may be a shortage of appointments and when you fail to attend you have prevented someone else from being seen in your place. On average about 230 appointments are missed each month

Cancellations notified less than 30 minutes before the appointment time will be recorded as failure to attend (DNA).

Repeated failure to attend booked appointments is a significant waste of NHS resources

In an EMERGENCY call 999.
Emergencies are situations that cannot be managed at home and may be life threatening