Appointments 

Routine appointments to see or speak to a GP are bookable up to three months in advance, depending on demand. A doctor's appointment is 10 minutes and will generally cover one problem ensuring time for associated admin to be completed too. Several appointments are reserved, each day, for those patients who have an urgent same day medical need.

If a preference of GP is required we will endeavour to help, but on occasions it may be necessary to see an alternative Health Care Professional

Online booking of appointments to see a GP, are available, to register for this service, please ask at reception.

Appointments to see the practice nurse and health care assistant are only booked in advance.

Our clinicians work various days and hours throughout the week and appointments are available between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00 depending on the clinician required.  We also offer Enhanced Access appointments on Tuesday evenings from 18.30 to 20.00.  These are usually with a practice nurse or health care assistant.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Patients who persistently fail to attend for appointments without notifying the surgery will be asked to register at an alternative practice.

Home Visits

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 by calling reception before 09:30.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit 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

You can also be visited 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 five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).