Appointments

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):

  • phone us on 01606 544850, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8:25 am to 6:30 pm

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

  • phone us on 01606 544850, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8:25 am to 6:30 pm
  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system – Patient Access
  • phone us on 01606 544850, Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

These are for patients who are housebound or too ill to come to the surgery. Requests for visits should be made before 10.30am when possible.

Please give a clear description of the problem.

If the patient has a temperature or a rash, coming to the surgery will do no harm and will not endanger others but please inform the receptionist on arrival.

Many patents believe there is an automatic right to a home visit from a GP between 8am and 6.30pm but this is not the case.

For the avoidance of doubt it is the GP who decides if a home visit is warranted and not the patient nor an Allied Health Professional (Schedule 6, Regulation 26 Part 1 of GMS Contract Regulations 2004).

There is nothing in the Regulation to prevent the GP from overriding the request for a home visit and advise the patient to attend A&E, without first seeing them. This is providing the medical condition of the patient makes the course of action appropriate.

It is not the role of 111 to decide whether a GP visit is required, but to recommend that the patient contacts their own GP services.

Doctors will always encourage people to come into the surgery because this is where the best care can be provided. Specialist equipment is there, tests can be carried out more easily and drugs issued if necessary.

It is not the job of the doctor or the surgery to arrange transport to the practice. This is in line with local and national guidance from various health care providers and GP professional bodies.

Nationally and in line with guidance endorsed by the Royal College of GPs, a home visit occurs for the following three reasons:

  • The patient is terminally ill
  • The patient is housebound
  • The patient has a severe learning or physical disability