When you ring for an appointment with a doctor, our reception staff will take your name and make sure we have your correct contact telephone number. They will ask you if you can give some details about the nature of your problem. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence. You do not have to tell the receptionist, but it is very helpful to the doctor if you do.

The doctor will call you back and discuss the problem with you. You may want advice, or a prescription or you may need to come in. The doctor will arrange an appointment with you if you need to be seen. Usually this will be the same day.

Most calls are returned within the hour, and we ask you to stay close to your phone until the doctor calls you back. If you are in work or need a call at a specific time, please tell the receptionist this so the doctor can try their best to accommodate your request.

You do not need to call early, this service is available all through the working day. Early morning can be quite busy, so you may find a quicker response later on.

There is a 'self check in screen' in the waiting room for patients to check themselves in for their booked appointment. Clear step by step on screen instructions will guide you. A receptionist will be happy to give you further information / demonstration. Please note if you are late for your booked appointment you may have to be seen by another Doctor or be asked to book another appointment.

We have recently installed a new telephone system and hope this will make contacting the surgery easier for patients. With effect from late 2011 all calls made to and from the surgery are recorded. to improve our service and to assist in staff training calls may be monitored.

We are currently using a text messaging appointment reminder service in, if you would like to be part of this service please ensure we have your current and correct mobile number documented in your records.

Home Visit Requests

If you are too ill to attend the surgery and require a home visit please ring before 10.00am, remember to give your name, address, contact telephone number and brief description of your problem. The GP will normally visit you after morning surgery. Please let the receptionist know if you need a visit sooner.