Appointments

In order to improve our service and shorten waiting times, we are currently offering a phone first service to our patients.

This appointment system is for your convenience and to aid the doctors. 

Appointments can be made in person at reception or by telephone.

Should you require an appointment, please telephone the practice as close to 8.00am as possible Monday - Friday mornings.  Our reception team have been advised to gather as much information from each patient requesting GP contact.  This will assist the GP with prioritising their daily call lists.  We do ask that you give an updated telephone number and try to be alert to answer your phone when the GP calls you back.  We cannot repeatedly ring numbers which are engaged, on voicemail/answering machine, or not taking incoming calls.  The GP will contact you initially by telephone to assess your condition.  If the GP feels that a face to face assessment is required, then one will be booked for you.

Please call early for routine appointments, as slots are restricted to a certain capacity.

• The practice has a one appointment one patient policy. Please make separate appointments for each person who needs to see the doctor or practice nurse.
• If you are unable to keep an appointment with the doctor or practice nurse, please let our reception team know as soon as possible, so that it can be made available to another patient.
• Standard appointments are for 10 minutes. Occasionally 5 minute emergency slots may be offered.
• The clinician may refuse to see you if you are more than 20 minutes late for your appointment.

We also offer pre-booking of GP appointments for patient convenience.

We will endeavour to oblige patients who require an urgent appointment if they contact us as early as possible on the day.

We would kindly ask patients when you arrive at the surgery for a face to face appointment with any clinician, that you please use the automated check-in system to alert the GP/Practice Nurse/HCA/Pharmacist that you have arrived for your appointment.

Practices 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 conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

Treatment Room Appointments 

From time to time the doctor or nurse may request certain tests.  These tests are carried out in the Treatment room. You can book an appointment for the treatment room by speaking with the reception team.

Practice Based Pharmacists

Sometimes you may want advice on your medication. We have been provided with Federation employed practice based pharmacists (PBP).  Our pharmacists are able to bring relevant issues to the attention of the GP's,  and if required, are also able to undertake medication reviews to adjust medication.  They are available to discuss any medication queries you may have.  We do ask that you give an updated telephone number and try to be alert to answer your phone when the pharmacist calls you back.

Please tell us:

• if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
• if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call, by text or email
• if you need an interpreter
• if you have any other access or communication needs

To cancel your appointment:

If you are unable to keep an appointment with a doctor, practice nurse or treatment room, please let the reception team know as soon as possible so that your appointment can be made available to another patient. 

• phone us on 028 38 88 1225, Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.00pm
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message, if applicable

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible.  In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us where possible by calling reception before 10.30am.

You may only request a home visit if you are genuinely housebound, too ill or too frail to attend the practice.  Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed.  Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls. 

Home visits are usually completed between the hours of 1:00pm and 2:00pm. 

A doctor may phone you back to get further details and to plan your care with you prior to a visit.

You can also be visitied 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 5 years old.

Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can easily be resolved without a doctor's appointment.

It is estimated that every year 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete's foot.  By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time.

Self-care

Keeping a well stocked medicine cabinet at home can help you treat many minor ailments.  Colds, coughs, indigestion and many other minor complaints can all be treated with medicines that are available over the counter.

Your pharmacist can advise on what you might find useful to keep in your medicine cabinet.  Always follow the instructions on the medicine label and consult your doctor if the illness continues or becomes more severe.

Your Local Pharmacist

Pharmacists offer professional free health advice at any time - you don't need an appointment.  From coughs to colds to aches and pains, they can give you expert help on everyday illnesses.  They can answer questions about prescribed and over-the-counter medicines.  Your local Pharmacist can also advise on healthy eating.

Pharmacists can also advise on obesity and giving up smoking.  Some pharmacists have private areas where you can talk in confidence.  They may suggest you visit your GP for more serious symptoms.  It is possible to purchase many medicines from the chemist without a prescription.

Southern Area Urgent Care Service (SAUCS) - Out of hours

A doctor is always on call for emergencies.  If you need a doctor when the surgery is closed, emergency cover is provided by Southern Area Urgent Care Services (SAUCS).  

SAUCS provides emergency cover between 6.00pm and 8.00am.  They also cover weekends and bank holiday periods.

They can be contacted by telephoning 028 38 399 201

Please note this service is for urgent issues only and cannot be used for obtaining repeat prescriptions.  Seeing a doctor in this service is by appointment only and it is therefore necessary to telephone first.  Out of hours services are generally busy, so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

In a genuine emergency you should call 999.  Chest pains and/or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.