Accessing GP Services

Patients requiring GP services should contact the Surgery by telephoning 01773 304700. 

The receptionist will ask the patient to provide a few basic details regarding the nature of the call and, if appropriate, put the patient on a GP’s triage list. This information is to help the GP prioritise the patients’ needs. 

The GP will telephone the patient, usually the same day, depending on the urgency and timing of the request. Please note if you have full online access, this will show you a specific time slot, please ignore this as it is for booking purposes only. The GP may call at any time and up to 2 telephone attempts will be made. Patients should have their telephone close by so as to avoid missing the call. The caller ID will be from a private/unknown caller.

The GP will ask the patient questions and determine the course of treatment. This may be the GP booking a face-to-face appointment with a GP, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, a Practice Pharmacist, a Nurse or another clinician. It could also be providing advice over the phone, issuing a prescription, or making a referral to another service for tests and/or investigations.

Chaperone Requests

If you would like a chaperone for your appointment please ask the receptionist when you book in preferably, or on arrival for your appointment.

Cancelling Appointments

Please cancel any unwanted appointments.

If you are unable to keep your planned nurse appointment or blood test please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient. This can be done very quickly and easily by texting the word CANCEL to the number given on your text appointment confirmation. If you have an online login you can can cancel pre-booked doctors appointments there. 

Patient Online Access - Keeping your Online Records Secure

Having access to your records online is a great way to get involved in looking after your health. Your records contain personal information, so it is important to keep them safe. You should take the same care with your health and social care records as you do if you use online banking.

Here are some tips on how to keep your records safe:

• If your record provider created a password for you as part of your log-in details, you should change it as soon as possible.
• Use a strong and memorable password that is at least 8 characters long.
• Do not write your password down or share it.
• Do not use words in your password which may be easy for others to guess, such as the names of your relatives or pets.
• Always log out of your records when you have finished using them.
• It is best to view your records when you are somewhere private, and on your own computer or mobile device.
• If you print information from your records make sure it is stored securely.

  Further information and advice about keeping your online health and social care record safe and secure is available here.  

Evening and Weekend Appointments

You can now book routine GP and Nurse appointments in the evening, at weekends and over bank holidays in your local area.

Pre-bookable appointments are available Monday-Friday, 6.30pm-8pm, plus weekends and bank holidays and you can be seen by a GP, Nurse or Healthcare Assistant.

To book your appointment, contact the surgery during normal opening hours. Please be aware that the appointment may take place at another GP Practice in the area.

If you need urgent medical advice when the surgery is closed, you should continue to call NHS 111.

Home Visits

We would ask if possible that patients do attend the surgery and that the home visiting service is reserved for those who are terminally ill or are completely house bound.

Home visits do take a long time and limit the number of patients we can see so do try to get to the surgery if you can. In general home visits are not as satisfactory as visits to the surgery given that the doctors do not have your full records available and only limited clinical equipment.

If transport is an issue there is usually somebody (a friend, a neighbour, a relative) who can give you a lift down in a car. Home visits are intended for those with a medical need, ie for those who are too ill to come to the surgery, not for those for whom it is inconvenient or who do not wish to use transport.

For those patients who struggle with their mobility we are happy for them to exit the car or taxi right at the main entrance although we ask not to park there or block access to the site for others.

Remember that we can see several people at the surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit. If you are too unwell to come to the surgery, it is helpful if you can phone for a visit before 10.00am so that the doctors can visit between surgeries.

1 Home visit =

4 lost face to face appointments

Please ensure a home visit is necessary.

Patient Guide: Getting started with GP online services

Patient Guide: Giving another person access to your GP online services

Patient Guide: Giving employed carers access to your GP online services

Patient Guide: GP online services for carers including young carers

Patient Guide: Protecting your GP online records

Patient Guide: What you need to know about your GP online records

Patient Guide: Young people's access to GP online services

Patient Guide: Your GP record

Easy Read: Get the NHS App 

Easy Read Patient Guide: What you need to know about your GP online records

Easy Read Patient Guide: Protecting your GP online records

Easy Read Patient Guide: GP online services for carers

Easy Read Patient Guide: Giving employed carers access to your GP online services

Easy Read Patient Guide: Giving another person access to your GP online services

Self-certification Form

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting 7 days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than 7 days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, eg a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)