Your local GP surgery is your first point of contact for staying healthy. While some health services can be accessed directly, others require you to be registered with a GP practice. To ensure you receive the best possible care, please follow this guide on how our services work and how we can work together.
Appointments and Consultations
Booking Your Visit
To see a doctor, you must contact the surgery where you are registered to arrange an appointment. Please do not drop in without a booking, as we may not be able to see you. In some cases, our team may suggest you see a different healthcare professional who is better suited to your specific needs.
Special Requests and Preferences
If you have a preference for a male or female doctor, please check with the practice before you register, as some clinics may only have doctors of one gender. If you have a complex medical issue to discuss, please inform the receptionist when booking so we can allocate a suitable amount of time for your consultation.
One Appointment Per Patient
If more than one member of your family needs to see a healthcare professional, please remember to book a separate appointment for each person.
During and after your Appointment
Tests and Results
If your GP arranges further tests, they will explain where these will take place and how you will receive your results. Please note that results take time to reach us; we ask that you do not contact the surgery for your results until the timeframe your doctor advised has passed.
Referrals and Prescriptions
If you require specialist care, your GP will refer you. Please be aware that you cannot book an appointment with an NHS specialist without a formal GP referral. If you require medication, your GP will provide a prescription for you to take to a pharmacy of your choice.
Language Support
We can arrange for a face-to-face or telephone interpreter if required. Please ask the receptionist to book this when you make your appointment, as interpreters usually need to be booked in advance. If someone else is calling on your behalf, please remind them to request this service for you.
Help Your Practice Help You
Practices are busy environments, and our staff work hard to accommodate all patients. We commit to treating you with courtesy and answering your calls promptly. In return, we ask for your cooperation in keeping the surgery running smoothly:
- Keep It or Cancel It: Please attend your appointment on time. If you can no longer make it, let us know immediately so the slot can be given to someone else who needs it.
- Attendance Policy: If you repeatedly miss appointments without letting us know, the practice may be forced to de-register you, meaning you would no longer be a patient at this surgery.
- Keep Details Updated: Please notify us immediately if you change your address, home phone, or mobile number.
- Mutual Respect: We ask that you treat all doctors and staff with the same respect and courtesy that you expect to receive.
Other Sources of Help
Often, you can get the help you need faster by visiting a different healthcare provider:
- Pharmacists: Best for coughs, colds, and minor ailments.
- Optometrists: Best for eye problems.
- Dentists: Best for dental issues.
- Minor Injuries Units: Located at most hospitals, these units treat sprains, burns, and simple fractures. If they find a more serious problem, they will ensure you see the right specialist.
Out of Hours Care
If you become unwell when the surgery is closed, please call the main surgery number as usual. Your call will be automatically transferred to the Out of Hours service.