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HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE?
Telephone appointments are available for both Nurses and Doctors and we will also try to help with advice at other times when surgeries are not running.
In addition, patients are reminded that NHS DIRECT, a Nurse-led advice service, is available by
telephoning 0845 4647 at any time.
HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
The
surgery operates an appointments system for both doctor and nurse consultations
on weekdays. Appointments may be booked by phone (0844 477 8706) or directly
at the appointments desk any time during the surgery normal opening hours.
Telephone appointments are also available if a face-to-face consultation is not required. Extended hours appointments are face-to-face consultation only and are bookable up to seven days in advance.
Patients have a right to request an appointment with a specific
Doctor. However, experience has shown if you wish to see a specific Doctor this
may involve a delay. Patients should note we have a mix of full time and
part time GPs. Patients requesting a same-day appointment, which should be for
urgent medical problems only, will be allocated to the Duty Doctor. On
days when there is a high demand for this type of consultation there may be a
considerable wait, which is unavoidable. For this reason we ask you to consider
carefully before using this option.
Please note that an appointment allows
sufficient time to deal with one health issue only and that it may be necessary to ask you to book another
appointment if the time needs to be extended.
Please inform Reception if you are unable to keep an
appointment.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?
Requests for a home visit should be made before 10.00am unless an emergency arises later in the day. Please also remember that they will not be carried out during Extended Hours periods.
Home visits cannot be pre-booked and, since they are shared between the available Doctors, it is not possible for you to choose the Doctor who will undertake a visit.
The Receptionist will need as much information as possible to enable the Doctor to prioritise requests. A decision to visit remains at the Doctor's discretion and is based on their assessment of medical necessity. On some occasions we may provide a telephone consultation/advice as an alternative.
A patient without his or her own means of transport should nonetheless make every effort to attend the surgery by whatever means.
We understand that it is not always easy to decide whether it is
appropriate to ask for a Doctor to visit at home or whether the consultation should take place at the surgery -
the following guidelines may be of assistance:
GP visit recommended
• The terminally ill • Truly bed-bound patients.
GP to be immediately informed, a visit considered, and/or an emergency ambulance called
• Severe chest pain • Severe shortage of breath • Severe haemorrhage
GP visit not usual
• Common symptoms of childhood - fevers, cold, cough,
earache, headache, diarrhoea and most cases of abdominal pain
• Adults
with common problems - influenza, back pain, abdominal pain etc.
• Common
problems in the elderly - poor mobility, joint pain, general malaise etc.
Please remember that home visits are not available during
EXTENDED HOURS.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
(Blood, Urine, X-rays, Cervical Smears etc,)
PATIENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO
CHECK THE OUTCOME OF ANY TESTS OR OTHER INVESTIGATIONS
Please telephone 0844 477 8706 between 11.00am and 12.45pm and 5.00 and 6.30pm.
Results will only be given to the patient (or to the parent or guardian of a child) provided we are satisfied that
proper identity of the patient can be established.
Urgent results requiring immediate treatment will normally be subject to contact from the Surgery by telephone.
Letters may communicate other routine results, which require a follow-up. Patients should not be alarmed by this approach and, wherever possible, an appointment should be made with the GP arranging the test so that there is continuity of treatment/care.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?
Requests for repeat prescriptions should be written and either placed in the box in the entrance lobby or posted to the surgery. We DO NOT accept telephone requests. We will, however, accept a faxed request to 0870 890 2491.
Most repeat prescription requests should be by the computer-printed form, detached from the previous prescription, which only requires the appropriate item to be ticked.
Please allow TWO FULL WORKING DAYS BEFORE COLLECTION. This allows time for the prescriptions to be printed, checked and signed by a Doctor before collection, or provide a stamped self-addressed envelope. Requests for other prescription items will also be subject to this timetable.
Repeat prescriptions should not be collected until after 3.00pm each day from Reception.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ARE REQUESTED IN GOOD TIME AND ALWAYS WELL BEFORE THE MEDICATION HAS RUN OUT.
IF, IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE AGREE TO ISSUE A PRESCRIPTION ON THE SAME DAY, THIS WILL NOT BE READY FOR COLLECTION UNTIL AFTER 5.00PM.
HOW DO I...
CHANGE MY DETAILS?
It is important that you notify us of any change of details so that
we can keep your medical records up to date. If you leave our practice area it
will be necessary for you to register with another Doctor.
HOW DO I...
REGISTER?
Registration forms are available from Reception and new patients should, wherever possible, also provide their existing medical.
The Practice area is defined as Hutton and Shenfield only; a more definitive map is on display in reception. New patients will only be accepted if they currently reside at an address within that zone. (The area is subject to review from time to time.) Patients moving outside this area will be required to seek a new Practice.
Please note that Registration is with the Practice and not a specific doctor.
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