The Health Centre will be closed on Friday 28th November from 1pm.
Appointments
An appointments system operates at both morning and afternoon surgeries and appointments may be made at reception in person or by telephone. We are also running an evening surgery on night per week on a trial basis which again is by appointment only. Please make appointments as soon as possible. Do not leave it until the last minute unless it is genuinely urgent, in which case please explain to the receptionist giving as much information as possible - remember this is all treated in confidence.
If you are unable to keep your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. A separate appointment is required for each person to be seen. When you come to the Health Centre please check in at reception so that your details may be confirmed. Please remember each booked appointment is for 10 minutes only. We have tried to design the system to balance the needs for continuity, patient choice and speedy access. When making an appointment you have 3 choices :-
1. You may book an appointment with a Doctor of your choice usually 1 month in advance. Sometimes around holiday periods we restrict the numbers of booked appointment to allow more space for urgent and semi-urgent appointments. For ongoing care of a condition it is usually better to see the same doctor if possible. If you wish to see a specific doctor of your choice you may have to wait a little longer for an available slot.
2. If you need to be seen (for medical reasons not just for a repeat prescription or sick line etc) within 48 hours you will ALWAYS be able to get an appointment with a doctor but it may not be your first choice of doctor. We will always try to facilitate your choice of doctor where possible but this cannot be guaranteed within the 2 working days.
3. If you need seen on the same day for an urgent medical reason you will be offered an emergency slot that day.
Sometimes it is not necessary to see a doctor as you may want advice or have a question to ask. Alternatives to appointments are either leaving a message with a receptionist, speaking to a doctor on the phone (if a doctor cannot speak to you when you phone, if you leave contact details we will return your call when we are free but please give as much information as possible to the receptionist. or you may wish to speak to one of the practice nurses especially if it is about a chronic condition like diabetes, cardiac disease, asthma or travel vaccinations etc.
Coughs, Colds, and Sore Throats
These do not usually need antibiotics in adults or children. Children with these symptoms often get swollen glands at the same time. Treatment with paracetamol or other simple remedies is usually enough. Steaming reduces the risk of croup, sore ears etc. For Children, steaming can be done in the smallest room in the house. For Adults this can be achieved by steaming over a bowl of boiling water. If you or your child seem very unwell, or if the symptoms last more than several days, you should see a doctor.
Treatment Room Nurses are available between 9am-12.30pm and 2pm-5.30pm. The treatment room has separate times for Ear Syringing and New Patients (if you do not require to see a Doctor) but please ensure that a time has been pre-arranged with one of the Receptionists
All patients are reminded that repeat prescriptions should be ordered at least 24 hours in advance through reception. It would be helpful if patients could order all their repeat medication at one time. For urgent prescriptions contact the receptionists. Prescriptions ordered one day are normally ready the following working day after 3.00pm. Please do not order repeat prescriptions for any other person during surgery consultations.
Foreign Travel Advice
For initial enquiries and advice please contact us and give the Receptionist the details of your travel and it will be passed onto the Nurse who deals with Travel Vaccinations. Some vaccinations are covered by NHS and others are not.
If you are over 65 and require a Chiropody appointment please call at the Health Centre and obtain a form. Once you have completed the form please leave with the Receptionists and an appointment will be forwarded to you in due course. Current waiting list for New appointments is currently 6-7 weeks.
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