Appointments

Doctor Appointments (for today or tomorrow)

Routine appointments are offered throughout the day from 08:00 – 18:30 at 10 minute intervals. Patients can expect to see a doctor within 48 hours but we cannot guarantee that this will be the GP that you are registered with. Should you require an emergency/same day appointment please make this very clear when speaking to the receptionist - there will always be a doctor available for an emergency appointment. The Out of Hours service will assist you over the weekend and when we are closed.

GP Extra is a new service, appointments are available out of normal practice hours - please ask the receptionist about this service.

Book in Advance Appointments

Please note that booking in advance is allowed. If you do need (or wish) to book in advance please make this very clear when speaking to the receptionist.

Training

For training and development reasons we sometimes video record consultations. We will always check whether you agree to your consultation being recorded and recordings will not, under any circumstances, be undertaken without your consent.  Even after obtaining consent the video camera can be switched off at any time. Intimate physical examinations will never be recorded. 

Telephone Consultations

For your convenience it is also possible for you to book a telephone appointment with your doctor, either for advice about a new problem or to follow-up an existing problem. In this respect it is important that you advise us of any change of telephone numbers. 

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

If you need to see a doctor but are too ill to come in to the health centre please contact us as early as possible and give the receptionist brief details of your illness. This information enables the doctor to schedule his or her visits according to their urgency. Home visits requested in the morning are carried out after morning surgery between 12:00 – 15:00. Home visits requested later are carried out between 17:00 – 18:30.  Please note that a later visit will be carried out by the duty doctor, which may not be your usual GP.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)