Appointments

All of our doctors will help you deal with acute and long-term health problems and illnesses. This will always involve advice on how you can help yourself, sometimes it will involve treatment in the surgery or medication, and at others referral to local hospitals may be necessary.

Patients can see the doctor of their choice and for ongoing and long-term health problems it is usually best to see the same doctor. However, when you need to see a doctor urgently it may not always be possible to see your usual doctor.

To book an appointment, please either:

Call our main switchboard number
Visit our Reception Desk in person
Use the NHS App page to book online (this will a available in future).

We make every effort to keep appointment times but there may be occasions when they overrun.

Enhanced access appointments information here

Helping the appointment system run smoothly:

If you are unable to keep your appointment please notify the surgery as soon as possible, either by using the online cancellation form (at least 24 hours in advance), or by telephoning reception.
One appointment is for one person. If you want another member of your family to see the doctor or nurse, please book a further appointment.
When arriving at the surgery for your appointment, always inform reception.
Sometimes people can forget to tell the doctor all the important information about their problem. It may help to write their symptoms down.
If you don’t understand what the doctor or nurse says to you, please don’t be afraid to ask for a further explanation.
It can sometimes help to have a partner or friend with you.
If you are seeing the doctor to discuss the result of an investigation or a recent hospital treatment, check with reception first that any important results or letters have been received.
Appointments may not be required to have insurance forms completed or renewal of sickness certificates. Please ask at reception.
If you would like a chaperone please speak to the Doctor.

Telephone Consultations

To request a telephone consultation with a doctor, please telephone the surgery and a receptionist will arrange for a doctor or nurse to call you back. Please ensure we have your up to date contact number.

If for any reason you become unable to take the call, please notify the surgery as soon as possible.

Nurse appointments

Our practice nurses are usually available to deal with the following:

Sore throats, coughs and colds, rashes and earache.
Cystitis and Urinary problems.
Heart, Diabetes, Asthma and Epilepsy reviews.
Immunisation and Travel vaccinations.
Ear syringing.
Oral contraception, Smear tests, “morning-after” pill, coil checks.
Women's Health/Men's Health issues.
Dietary advice and “Stop Smoking” advice.

Times & Out Of Hours

Cancelling or changing an appointment

If you can not make your appointment let us know as soon as you can so another patient can book the appointment time. You can cancel or change your appointment:

Use the NHS App page to cancel or change your appointment online.
If you receive a text reminder about the appointment you can reply with CANCEL to cancel the appointment
Phone us. Check our opening times
Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist. Check our opening times

Try the NHS App

You will able to use the NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and your GP account on your smartphone or tablet.

You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

If you already use online access you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.

For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp

Home Visits

We prefer our patients to visit the surgery if at all possible as our doctors can see several patients at the practice in the time it takes to make a single home visit. Home visits are only offered to patients who are housebound/ frail and elderly who are more vulnerable.

We ask you to call before 10.00am to arrange a home visit so that we can assess the need for a visit the same day. Home visits are at the discretion of the doctor and they may wish to assess your situation over the telephone and advise you appropriately. It is always better for the doctor assess you in the surgery, where your full medical records and diagnostic equipment are available, which leads to a better service to yourself.

Babies and children can usually be brought to the surgery even when ill and will always be fitted in quickly if necessary. Home visits are not emergency services and it should not be a regular occurrence that a visit is requested the same day.

To request a home visit, please:

Call the surgery on (0333) 332 3888 (Longford) or (024) 7668 9310 (Bell Green) before 10.00am
Be prepared to tell the receptionist about your condition so the doctor can prioritise the most urgent cases and arrange the most appropriate course of action
Ensure the surgery has up to date details of your address and telephone number