Appointments

Consultations are by appointment and available between 09:00 - 17:00 Monday to Friday.

Our priority is to ensure that patients with urgent problems are managed safely and quickly; and that patients with routine problems are dealt with in the most efficient and helpful way.

We expect that patients will understand that appointments are for one person only.  Additional appointments should be made for more than one person.

Please note:

Each GP appointment slot is 10 minutes. Managing only one problem in a 10 minute consultation ensures patient safety. If you have more than one issue you’d like to discuss please advise the doctor, who will help prioritise the other issues. You may be asked to return for another appointment to address less urgent issues.

If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, then you have missed your appointment and will need to rebook.

Requests for help and advice for non-urgent matters should be made during surgery hours only.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly. They are available Monday - Friday 09:00 - 13:15 by appointment.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Patients who fail to attend three appointments in a 12 month period may be removed from the practice list.

Communication Support

You have the right to an interpreter if you need one. Please ask the receptionist to organise this. For a face to face consultation you will need to give at least one week's notice. 

Sign language interpreters (BSL & ISL) can be provided for patients with hearing loss.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00, be prepared to give staff some idea of your symptoms to help us plan our visits.

Please do not ask for a doctor to call unless the patient is really too ill or infirm to come to the surgery.  Remember that the doctor can see four patients in the time it takes to make one visit and there are better facilities for examination and treatment in the surgery. 

If the patient has a temperature or a rash, coming to the surgery will do no harm – if there is the possibility that the patient has an infectious illness the receptionist can arrange for a safe waiting area.  Please notify the reception staff immediately upon arrival.

The doctor may ring you if it seems that an alternative to a visit might be appropriate.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven 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 seven 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, e.g. 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)