Appointments

Making an Appointment

All surgery consultations are by appointment, which can be made either by:

• Use our web based booking Online Service
• Telephone the Surgery on 01494 526840 (automated telephone booking available)
• Coming into the Surgery in person during opening hours

Please give the receptionist brief details of your condition so that she can direct you to the most appropriate member of our team.

You may see any Doctor in the practice, but are encouraged to see the same Doctor for a particular condition in order to achieve continuity of care.

Ensure that you arrive on time for your appointment. If you are late, you may be asked to re-book your appointment.

An appointment is for one person only. If another member of your family needs to be seen or discussed, more time will be required and a separate appointment should be made.

It is difficult for doctors to run to time if you bring too many problems to a single appointment.

A normal appointment with your doctor is for ten minutes. This is usually sufficient to deal with one medical problem.

To discuss several problems, or if you feel that you are likely to need longer for other reasons, please ask for a double appointment (20 mins).

We recommend every adult patient has their blood pressure checked every 3 years. 

Pre-bookable Appointments

We offer a balance of on the day appointments and appointments bookable up to one month in advance. On the day appointments are always available during morning and afternoon surgeries.

For on the day morning appointments contact us as soon as possible in the morning.

For on the day appointments in the afternoon contact us as soon as possible after 2pm.

Cancelling an Appointment

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. We can make you another appointment if required and fit someone else into your cancellation. If you are cancelling a minimum of 2 working days in advance, you can cancel online, or by using the telephone automated service when the surgery is closed During surgery opening hours you can cancel appointments by telephone.

It is the policy of this practice to de-register patients who persistently do not turn up for their appointments.

Chaperones

If you are attending the surgery for an intimate examination and require a Chaperone please tell the receptionist when you book your appointment in order that we can arrange for a trained staff member to be available.

The clinician conducting your consultation will ask you if you require a chaperone during your appointment if an  examination becomes necessary. Your response will be recorded in your notes.

If you wish to bring a family member / friend or carer with you to an appointment you may do so, but we do advise you bring an adult.

Home Visits

We encourage patients to come to the surgery wherever possible because better facilities are available and Doctors time spent travelling means less time for other patients. Please only ask to be visited at home if you are too ill to be brought to the surgery or are housebound. Home visits are not for patients who do not have transport.

For a home visit please contact us by 10.30 am where possible. You may be asked for some details to help the Doctors to prioritise their visits, and the Doctor may telephone you prior to visiting.

Telephone Advice

A telephone call to the Doctor or Nurse can often resolve an issue and save you a visit to the surgery. Please call during morning surgery and give brief details to the receptionist, who will arrange for a member of the clinical staff to call you back. Call backs are usually done at the end of morning surgery - normally after 12 noon.

Please only request a call back in the evenings if it is an urgent issue which cannot wait until the following lunchtime.  

Future Closing Dates for Protected Learning Times

Tower House Surgery will be closed from 1pm on the following dates:

• Thursday 11th February 2020 from 1pm - 7.20am (phone lines open at 8am)
• Thursday 19th March 2020 from 2pm - 8am (phone lines open at 8am)
• Thursday 23rd April 2020 from 1pm - 8am (phone lines open at 8am)
• Tuesday 19th May 2020 from 1pm - 7.20am (phone lines open at 8am)
• Thursday 18th June 2020 from 1pm - 8am (phone lines open at 8am)
• Wednesday 15th July 2020 from 1pm - 8am (phone lines open at 8am)

* Please note that where these dates fall on a Wednesday there will be a late night surgery from 6.30pm for pre-booked appointments only

This is to enable us to meet together and work on the areas that will develop the care that the team provides for you. We hope that you will support the Practice teams in undertaking this work.

Arrangements have been put in place to ensure that in an emergency you will be able to contact a Doctor and receive the appropriate care.

If you require a Doctor during these times please telephone NHS 111 service by dialling 111.

Appointment Reminders by Text Message

Improved Access to GP Appointments

Card Payments

Dated: 7-Aug-19