How to see a doctor or nurse

All appointments are made either by ringing 966 3587, or at our reception desk.
Please note - we do not offer any "walk in" services.
See also the "Contact" page about speaking to a doctor or nurse by telephone, and other ways of contacting us.

How to see a doctor

Routine appointments

These can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance, with the doctor of your choice. If you have to see a doctor on more than one occasion for the same problem then it is best to try and see the same doctor if possible. However, we are a group practice and you may choose to see any doctor, regardless of which doctor in the practice you originally registered with. Please remember that about half our appointments are “non-routine” and at times of high demand the waiting time for routine appointments increases above one week. If your problem is not urgent, but at the same time you feel you cannot wait until the next routine appointment, then you are entitled to use our non-routine system as explained below. Alternatively, if you are wishing to see a particular doctor and are unable to see them within a reasonable time frame, you may ask for that doctor to ring you back, as it is sometimes possible for alternative arrangements to be made. However, please bear in mind that a ring back time cannot be specified, and the doctor may take 24 hours (or longer) to ring you back, and you may be better using our non-routine system if this timescale is unacceptable.

Same Day (urgent) appointments

If you feel your problem is urgent, or that you cannot wait until the next available routine appointment, then you must ring the surgery first. The receptionist will ask for your name and contact telephone number. The triage doctor will ring you back within the hour (it may occasionally be longer if we are very busy). After discussion of the problem with the doctor you may be given a time to attend surgery that same day. Sometimes, after discussion, it may be possible for the doctor to give appropriate advice without seeing you, or it may become clear that a routine appointment at a later date is adequate.

We are happy to ring mobile phones. If you give us a landline number, please remember to give an alternative number if you are going somewhere else within the next two hours.

Please remember that all non-routine appointments are with whichever doctor happens to be on duty for this service.

If you feel that your condition, or the condition of the person you are ringing for, is very serious and urgent, PLEASE let the receptionist know (or ring 999 – see Emergencies). The doctor will then contact you as soon as possible.

Visits

Please click here for information about Home visits.

Weekends

These are covered by the out of hours service - click here for information on out of hours services.

How to see a nurse

We do not offer a walk in service - you must make an appointment. The receptionist will ask for very basic information on the reason for the appointment. This is to make sure you are given an appointment that is the correct length of time. If a doctor, nurse or other relevant authority has not instructed you to make an appointment the receptionist may ask for a telephone contact number. You will then be rung within the hour by a doctor, who will assess the problem and the urgency, and make sure you are given an appropriate appointment. The exceptions to this are appointments for dietary advice/weight reduction, and "help to stop smoking" appointments, which can be made directly.

For all other health workers see Services.