HOW DO I...
TELEPHONE THE SURGERY?
All general calls and appointment requests during opening hours should be made to:
0844 477 8670

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

For your convenience all consultations with doctors and nurses are by appointment, except for the family planning and baby clinics, which are "drop in" services. Please telephone the surgery or call in person during opening times to make any appointments. A separate appointment is needed for EACH person seeing the doctor or nurse. Try not to bring lots of problems to one appointment. If you are more than 15 minutes late for an appointment it is possible you will not be seen.
If you cannot attend for an appointment or no longer need to be seen please telephone the surgery to cancel so we can offer that appointment to another patient.

You are free to consult with any doctor/nurse within the practice regardless of which one you may have registered with. It is a good idea to stay with a particular doctor for a particular problem. You may express a preference to receive services from a particular doctor/nurse. We will endeavour to comply with reasonable requests, but it might not always be possible to see the doctor/nurse of your choice. Under these circumstances the reasons would be explained to you.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN HOME VISITS?

Home visits are at the discretion of the doctor and should ONLY be made when it is impossible for the patient to get to the surgery. In particular, most children can be brought safely to the surgery. Cold or wet weather is not a justifiable reason to request a home visit. Please remember the doctor can see five patients at the surgery in the time it takes to do one home visit. When the condition of the patient does require a home visit please telephone the surgery before 10.00am where possible. Home visits normally take place after morning surgery from 11.30am onwards. If you think the condition is an emergency such as that involving chest pain, severe difficulty in breathing or excessive bleeding/collapse YOU MUST CALL 999.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS (BLOOD TESTS AND SPECIMENS)?

We ask all our patients where possible to attend the CORNERSTONES CENTRE, across the way from the surgery, for blood tests. Clinics operate every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning 8.30-11.30am and Monday afternoon 2.00-4.00pm. Please take your blood form with you. If the doctor or nurse requesting the blood test has asked you to starve please do so for 12 hours before the test, taking only water and any regular medication.

WE DO NOT EXPECT DIABETICS ON INSULIN TO STARVE.

All specimens such as urine samples should be handed into the reception before 12.30pm. The collection service will then take the samples to the hospital laboratory. Specimens arriving after this time will sit in the fridge all night and the results could be affected.

Getting Your Test Results

Most results return in about a week. Doctors read the test results as they come in and make recommendations, which the receptionist can pass on to you. Call in or phone when lines are less busy between 11.00am-12.30pm.

We can only discuss results with patients so please do not ring up on behalf of someone else unless you are a main carer and consent in writing has been agreed beforehand. If you receive a letter to come in and discuss your results please do not be alarmed: it is a system we use to ensure certain results are discussed face to face. It may be that we need more information or need to alter medication.