Appointments
GP / Advance Nurse Practitioner appointments
We do not pre-book appointments with the doctors or advanced nurse practitioner.
Morning appointments are bookable on the day of request.
You can request an urgent appointment for today (Monday to Friday).
- phone us on 01206 382015 from 8am
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist
- use your Patient Access (through the NHS website or in the NHS App) from 8am you will be able to see all appointments that are available for that day
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable clinician to help you.
There is no advantage to waiting outside the surgery for an appointment in the morning. Bookings for appointments are started as soon as the phones become live at 8am and this is also the time that the receptionists book appointments for those patients that choose to come in person.
Non GP or Advance Nurse Practitioner appointments
You can request a routine appointment in advance.
- phone us on 01206 382015 from 8am
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or in the NHS App) or Patient Access to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers 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
Appointments by phone can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
As we are a teaching and training practice you may be offered an appointment with a GP registrar. All of the GP registrars are qualified doctor’s under-going specialist GP training.
All GP appointments are scheduled for 10 minutes and it is best to concentrate on one health problem during each consultation. This ensures the clinician has adequate time to safely and effectively address your health concerns. If you want to consult your GP about a family member too, if you have the appropriate consent, please ensure you book a separate appointment rather than trying to cover it during your own consultation.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through your NHS App)
- use the GP online system: Patient Access
- log in to Anima to view your appointments
- phone us on 01206 382015 during opening times
- 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.
About pharmacists
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff.
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 or face-to-face
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
Patients are only eligible for home visits if they are housebound.
If you require a home visit, please telephone before 11am unless it is an emergency and please give some indication of the reason, this will help the clinician priorities your clinical needs.
You will be assessed on the phone by a clinician prior to a home visit being confirmed. Therefore please ensure the phone line is kept free whilst you are waiting for a call back. Sometimes a visit is not indicated and problems can be dealt with over the phone.
A doctor or nurse will phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.
An individual will not be eligible for a home visit if they are able to leave their home on their own or with minimal assistance to visit public or social/recreational services or can go shopping or go to the hairdressers etc.
If you are unable to get to the surgery because you have a serious illness, you can call the surgery to request a home visit. However, please note, home visits are for medical reasons, not social or personal. To assist in determining if you will be considered housebound you will be expected to meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Has a physical or psychological condition with documented evidence which states that it would be detrimental to the patient’s condition or recovery to travel OR
- Requires assistance from more than one person to get in and of a vehicle OR
- Needs medical/clinical support during the journey OR
- Is wheelchair bound and has no carer available to assist them
- Is bedbound
You will not be eligible for a home visit for any of the following reasons:
- If you can get to your GP/ Hospital or community clinics
- If family members or carers take you out or you visit them
- If you drive or use taxi services
- If you are able to get in a vehicle independently or use public transport services e.g. bus, train
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the health centre.
View our home visiting policy (PDF) for more information.