Appointments


Routine Appointments

You can request a routine appointment in the next 7 days by:

  • Completing an online request
    We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Phone 01502 517346
    Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • Using the 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.

The practice provides appointments with the GPs, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health or social care professionals. Routine appointments are for 10 minutes and are bookable on the basis of one patient one problem per appointment. Multiple problems may require more time.

You may not always see your usual doctor and it would be helpful to give some idea of your symptoms, particularly if you are experiencing breathing problems or having chest pains. When your doctor is on holiday, or study leave, or sick, you may see another doctor from the surgery or a locum doctor.

Urgent Appointments

Urgent, book on the day appointments are for one problem only.
You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) by:
We will respond within 48 hours when we are open. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm.

  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. 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 the doctor or nurse can help you sooner.

We usually provide a telephone appointment and then offer a face-to-face appointment if needed. However, if you prefer a face-to-face appointment, please tell us. 

If you need help with your appointment, please tell us:

  • If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or another 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.

Chaperones 

We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required. 

This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained receptionist who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time. 

You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined. 

 The role of a chaperone: 

  • Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations. 
  • Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability. 
  • Provides emotional comfort and reassurance. 
  • Assists in the examination. 
  • Assists with undressing patients, if required. 

Home Visits

Please make requests for routine home visits before 11.00am. However, if an emergency arises we must be contacted immediately.

  • Please only ask for a visit if the patient is too ill to attend the surgery.
  • Lack of transport is not a suitable reason for a visit.
  • We do not normally visit children with minor illnesses.
  • The vast majority of ill children and adults are not harmed by car travel and facilities for a proper assessment may not be available at home.
  • Adults with common symptoms such as back or stomach pain, sore throat, cough etc are best treated using the facilities at the surgery.

In some circumstances, the request for a home visit may be so serious that initial assessment over the phone indicates that the prime responsibility of the doctor would be to arrange emergency transport to the hospital. In this instance, the doctor would only visit if they could do so before the ambulance would be expected to arrive.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

The practice continues to have an exceptionally high number of missed appointments. It is essential that if you do not require your appointment, you cancel it. Failure to do so may result in being removed from the practice list.

If you are cancelling an appointment for the same day, please let us know as soon as possible.

If you are cancelling an appointment for another day, please cancel your appointment by:

  • Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
    – We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm

When we are closed

NHS 111

If you are very unwell and you cannot wait until the surgery has opened, please call NHS 111 by dialling 111, and they will be able to advise on the care that you need. They can organise emergency services or an ambulance if needed. The NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisers supported by experienced nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. The NHS 111 service is available if you require urgent medical help, but it is not a life-threatening situation.

Late Night Pharmacies

As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website. Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.

Extended Access Service

Appointments with GPs and the nursing team are bookable on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Phone backs from a GP are available on Monday and Tuesday or Wednesday evenings.

There are also some Monday to Friday evening and Sunday appointments available at another local surgery.