Your Appointment Queries
Click on the questions below to view the answers.
Why is the surgery offering telephone appointments?
What do I do if I need an emergency appointment?
Can I still telephone to make an appointment for a home visit?
Are telephone appointments safe?
What happens if I have trouble using the telephone?
Will I be seen quicker if I come into the surgery?
Can I still book an appointment for next week or next month?
Are the telephone calls recorded?
I’m not comfortable telling the receptionist what is wrong, do I have to?
Why is the surgery offering telephone appointments?
You have told us that sometimes you find it frustrating and difficult to get the appointment you need, when you need it. By offering telephone appointments and giving advice this way we can make sure that everyone is able to speak to, or see, their doctor on the day that they call or on the day that they choose.
Many people don’t need to come into the surgery to be seen at all; their problem can be dealt with by telephone. This gives your doctor more time to see those people that need appointments in the surgery. And, because your doctor is the one making the appointments, he or she can judge how much time you might need and give you a long or short appointment. This helps appointments to run to time and means you’re more likely to be seen on time. We also know that when people make an appointment close to the date that they call, they are more likely to keep the appointment.
What do I do if I need an emergency appointment?
Telephone the practice on 01642 242192 and tell the receptionist that your health problem is urgent. He or she will put you straight through to a doctor if one is free. If all of the doctors are busy, the receptionist will make sure that a doctor calls you back as soon as they can.
Can I still telephone to make an appointment for a home visit?
When you speak to the doctor ask for a home visit. If your doctor thinks you need to be seen at home, he or she will arrange this when you speak to them.
Are telephone appointments safe?
During your call with the doctor, he or she will ask questions to help them make a decision about whether you need to be seen in person or not. For example, if your doctor needs to look at something or examine you, you will be asked to come into the surgery for the appointment. If your doctor thinks you need to be seen he or she will always ask you to come in to the surgery.
What happens if I have trouble using the telephone?
If you have difficulty using a telephone you can still come in to the surgery to book an appointment. You will be added to the doctors list and they will book your appointment or advise you in the same way.
Will I be seen quicker if I come into the surgery?
Unless your problem is an emergency, you won’t be seen more quickly if you come into the surgery to make an appointment. You may have to wait at the surgery, so if you can telephone for an appointment it’s usually more convenient for you.
Can I still book an appointment for next week or next month?
You can still book some appointments in advance. However, because you can get an appointment on any day that you call, you shouldn’t need to book ahead.
Are the telephone calls recorded?
Yes, the calls are recorded for training & monitoring purposes. The telephone appointments are as confidential as the appointments in the surgery.
I’m not comfortable telling the receptionist what is wrong, do I have to?
Knowing what your health problem is generally helps the staff at the surgery to make sure those people with more urgent problems are seen quickly. However, you don’t have to tell the receptionist what is wrong. If you’re not comfortable talking about your health problem, simply say you would rather not and the receptionist will respect your wishes.