Please be aware that our appointment system is changing from 4 February 2013.
We have listened to your comments and feedback regarding the current appointment system and as a result we are changing the system from 4 February 2013 to create a more efficient appointment system with same-day access to a doctor, therefore ensuring that you receive the most appropriate care as soon as possible.
If you have an urgent or non-urgent health problem you can contact the surgery and have an initial appointment by telephone, to speak to your doctor on the day you call. Your doctor can then arrange a mutually convenient appointment time, if necessary. It would be most useful if you are able to contact the surgery before 3pm on the day you require advice.
How will this work?
- Call us on the normal main telephone number: 01642 045830 and ask to make an appointment.
- Our Receptionists will ask you for your name and your contact number. If you need to speak to the Doctor urgently because it’s an emergency, please state this straight away.
- You will be asked by our Receptionists to give a brief description of what your health problem is; you don’t have to give this information if you prefer not to, but if you do it will help the Doctor to prioritise calls and decide in which order you will be called back.
- If your condition can be dealt with by our Nurse Practitioner then you will be given an appointment with Sister Rutherford if appropriate. Sister Rutherford can diagnose, treat and prescribe as necessary for minor illness and injuries.
- If you want to speak to a specific Doctor, please tell our Receptionist and wherever possible they will arrange this for you.
- The Doctor will call you back as soon as they can and you can talk to that Doctor about your health problem in the same way you would do if you came to the surgery for a face-to-face consultation. If you want the Doctor to phone you back between a certain time, tell us and where possible we will arrange that.
- If the Doctor thinks that you need to come into the surgery to be seen, or if you would still like to come in, the Doctor will make an appointment for you.
- Appointments for the Practice Nurses, Health Care Assistant, Phlebotomist, Midwife etc. can all be made in the usual way, it’s the appointments for the GPs and Nurse Practitioner that we are changing.
Why are we changing our Appointment System?
You have told us, through various methods of feedback that sometimes you find it frustrating and difficult to get an appointment you need, when you need it. By offering telephone appointments in the first instance and giving advice this way, we can make sure that everyone is able to speak or see a Doctor on the day that you call or on the day you choose.
Many people don’t need to come into the surgery to be seen at all; their problem can be dealt with over the telephone. This gives the Doctor more time to see those people that need appointments in the surgery. Because your Doctor is the one making the appointments, they can judge how much time you might need and give you a long or a short appointment. This also helps appointments to run to time and means you’re more likely to be seen on time. We also know that when people make an appointment close to the date that they call, they are more likely to keep the appointment.
If you have any further queries or concerns about the system change, please speak to Lindsay, Reception Manager or Sue, Practice Manager.
