Appointment system

When you book an appointment with a doctor, please be aware that there are different ways of consulting with your GP:

• Telephone consultations – a clinician will call you in a given time window
• Online consultations – a clinician can text you in response to your query
• Video consultations – a clinician will send you a link to join them for a video consultation
• Face to Face consultations – a clinician will see you at the medical centre if there is a clinical need.

There are several ways to submit medical information and request an appointment with the medical centre:

Use eConsult

We are asking, where possible, for our patients to use our online consultation system eConsult. As well as medical advice and appointment requests, you can use eConsult to request fit notes, GP letters, medical reports, medication reviews and test results.

Using eConsult is very simple: complete a form about your problem or request, your GPs decide on the best treatment for you and we will call, email, or text you with advice, a prescription or an appointment.

Go to eConsult

Use the NHS App

You can also book, view and cancel appointments with us by using the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet (or by using NHS Services on a computer). The NHS App allows you to order repeat prescriptions and check your GP medical record.

Get the NHS App

What type of appointment do you need?

Please be aware that there are different types of appointments available, depending upon the urgency of your medical need, as described below:

• Routine pre-booked appointments

  • Appointments can be booked up to one week in advance.
  • They are usually available early in the morning and towards the end of the day.
  • Booking in advance means you can contact the practice at a time that is convenient for you, rather than calling during the busiest period between 8.00am and 9.00am.
  • Appointments may also be available to book during the current week, subject to availability.
  • Slots are also made available to book in the current week, depending on availability. For example, call on Monday to book up to Friday that week.

• Same-day appointments

  • These appointments are available on the day you ring.
  • You may have to ring between 8.00am and 9.00am when lines are busy, so we recommend pre-booking an appointment wherever possible.
  • Appointments start from 9.30am.
  • A limited number of appointments are available each day.
  • You may be offered an appointment with any available GP, depending on availability.

• Emergency appointments

  These appointments are for:

  • Urgent illnesses which must be seen the same day when available slots are full
  • Children under 2 years
  • Palliative care patients

Home visits

Home visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability. Please try to telephone reception between 8.00am and 10.30am if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the medical centre.

Cancelling appointments

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment. This allows that appointment to be offered to another patient.

If you fail to notify us that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters may be removed from the list.