HOW DO I...
SPEAK TO A DOCTOR?

If you wish to speak to your doctor on the telephone for a routine query, please call before 10.00am if possible and the receptionist will take a message. She will ask for your name, phone number and brief outline of the problem. The doctor or another healthcare professional will endeavour to call you back after morning surgery. If you call later in the day, you may have to wait until the following day for a response.

The telephone lines are busy during morning surgery, so telephone enquiries other than requests for appointments, visits or messages for a doctor are better made as follows:

• Test Results: Between 11.00am and 1.00pm
• General Enquiries: After 11.00am

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

We run an appointment system. Appointments can be made by phone or in person (Tel: 761120 between 8.00am and 6.30pm (closed 1.00 - 2.00pm). Where possible, you will be seen by the doctor with whom you are registered. If you feel you need to be seen urgently please let the receptionist know as we run a triage surgery every morning where you will be advised and seen if necessary by the most appropriate healthcare professional.

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR?

Sometimes alternatives to actually seeing your doctor may be more beneficial, more convenient and faster, and would save both you and the doctor time. Here are some examples: feel free to ask the receptionists about alternatives.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN HOME VISITS?

If the patient is housebound or too ill to leave the home and requires a home visit please telephone 761120 - before 10.30am. If the request is made later in the day it should be for urgent illness only and may be passed to the duty doctor or nurse.

Please remember that house calls are very time-consuming and the doctor can see three patients in the surgery within the time taken by one house call. The doctor will endeavour to attend between 12.00pm and 3.00pm.