OBTAIN
A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?
All
requests for repeat prescriptions should be made in writing, preferably using
the right hand side of the prescription, either by post (enclosing a stamped
addressed envelope if you wish it to be posted back) or by leaving your request
at the reception desk.
You may
also request your repeats online but you will need to register at reception first.
Prescriptions will be ready for collection two working days after we have received your request, although sometimes the doctor will need to see you before issuing the prescription. All patients on repeat prescriptions need to be seen by the doctor or nurse from time to time.
HOW
DO I...
MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT?
Telephone or
call at either surgery to make an appointment for the doctor or practice nurse. Patients can book appointments with any doctor up to six-eight weeks in advance. You
may also book appointments online but you will need to register at reception
first. In an emergency,
if you feel, and we agree, that you need to see a doctor or
nurse at short notice, we will offer you an appointment within 24 hours. If you
wish to see a specific doctor or nurse you may have to wait longer.
To help us keep to appointment times, please book a double appointment
if you think you are going to need more than 10 minutes with the doctor or nurse.
Please do not ask the doctor to see another family member during
your appointment as this makes time-keeping very difficult and leads to complaints
from the other patients who may be waiting.
There is always a heavy demand for appointments. As soon as you
realise you cannot keep an appointment, even at short notice, please inform the
surgery, so that it can be offered to someone else.
Unfortunately, due to patients' varying needs, it is sometimes difficult to keep the appointment system running to time.
We offer a choice of appointments to patients for either booking in advance or on the day. The same-day appointments are released as the surgery opens at 8.00am each day. We would advise any patients who
wish to make same-day appointments to ring as early as possible.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?
If you are concerned that you need to be seen urgently or need a home visit, please tell the receptionist who may ask you to speak to a triage nurse (Please try to ring before 11.00am if possible). A triage
nurse is an experienced nurse who will take some brief details over the telephone. This will help her decide and arrange the right type of appointment for you. If you feel you need to be seen urgently, we will
try to fit you in with a nurse or doctor, however busy we are.
Please do not ask for a home visit unless you (or the patient, if you are ringing on their behalf) are so ill that you are unable to come out of the house. We can usually see three or four patients in
surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
Patients may contact the practice by telephone for medical advice and for results of tests. (Please do not telephone before 11.00am for the results of tests. This helps to keep the lines free for patients
who need appointments.). This helps to keep the lines free for patients who need appointments.) For reasons of confidentiality, we can only give test results to the person concerned.
Reception staff are able to provide information regarding practice procedure and the results of tests, but are not able to offer medical opinions.
It is possible to speak to a clinician for advice. Please be prepared to leave a contact number unless the call is urgent and requires immediate attention.
HOW DO I...
SPEAK TO A DOCTOR OR NURSE?
It is possible to speak to a clinician for advice. Please be prepared to leave a contact number unless the call is urgent and requires immediate attention.
HOW DO I...
CHANGE MY DETAILS?
Address:
If you are about to change address, please let the surgery know. It is very important for us to keep your address up to date in case you need a home visit. If the new address is not within our area, it will
unfortunately be necessary for us to ask you to transfer to a more local doctor.
Telephone Numbers
We occasionally need to contact patients urgently, so please ensure that we have your current telephone number. This is particularly important for those patients who are ex-directory.
