Information for patients - The appointments system
Introduction
This guidance is designed to assist you in booking an appointment here.
Routine/Pre-book appointments
You can book an appointment with a General Practitioner (GP) or Nurse Practitioner up to one month in advance.
"Book on the day" appointments
There are now a very small number of appointments released for booking on the day. This is in response to patient's requests to be able to book appointments in advancce at any time of the day.
Emergency appointments
As we can now offer patients an appointment within 48 hours, the need for "emergency appointments" is dwindling, however, if you are unable to access an appointment and the matter is very urgent (will not wait until the next working day), there is an emergency doctor available each day. Where it is possible, please call at 1pm for emergency appointments. We monitor emergency appointments to ensure they are not abused.
Late night appointments
On Tuesdays the surgery is open until 8pm for routine/pre-booked appointments. We do not offer an emergency service during this time
(The Emergency service is still the responsibility of the Out of Hours service who can be contacted by
telephoning 0845 603 3131)
What we will offer you
In the majority of cases, particularly new conditions, you will be asked to see a Nurse Practitioner in the first instance.What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners are senior nurses with advanced education and clinical training in providing health care. Nurse Practitioners work with people to ensure they have all necessary information to make informed decisions about their health care and lifestyle. Nurse Practitioners provide a unique approach to health care, which results in a high level of patient satisfaction. A Nurse Practitioner service is not exclusive to our surgery and they can now be found working within primary and secondary health care teams across the NHS.
Why offer a Nurse Practitioner?
- To provide individual care, focusing not only on health problems but also on the effects health problems have on people and their families.
- To explain the details of health problems, medication and other topics so that patients can understand how to take care of themselves.
- To enquire about people's worries and concerns about their health and their health care needs.
- To emphasise wellness and self care by giving the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices.
What services do Nurse Practitioners provide?
- Advice and treatment during health and illness.
- Complete health care by taking a medical history and performing physical examinations where appropriate
- Diagnose, advise and treat many health problems.
- Involved in chronic disease clinics -hypertension, elderly screening, and diabetes.
Whilst the Nurse Practitioners can prescribe independently, it is extremely important to note the Nurse Practitioners work very closely with the GPs and have immediate access to them if the need arises.
"The NHS as everyone is aware is changing fast. To meet the needs of Rapid Access targets to a health professional, Nurse Practitioners have become a vital part of our practice team helping to access cases that hitherto would have needed a doctor's appointment. Their clinical skills are constantly shared and updated with the Doctors here. Therefore the level of care you receive will be of the highest standard. The Nurse Practitioner will confer with the doctor during your visit should this be necessary"
"This Practice has given 100% support to this Government Initiative and the development of Nurse Practitioners as the benefit to all concerned are immense leading to successful and effective delivery of health care"
Dr. Davidson, GP Partner
Telephone consultation appointments
All of our Doctors, Nurse Practitioners and Practice Nurses have "telephone consultation" appointments which can be booked each day. These are often useful if you simply require some advice. Whilst we cannot guarantee the exact time of these appointments, we endeavour to call you back as soon as possible; and certainly the same day. Please make sure that you give us mobile and work telephones numbers if you are going out.
For further assistance with booking an appointment, please do not hesitate to speak to our Assistant Manager, Leanne Moscrop.
