Appointments

In order to ensure our primary healthcare team provides an effective and efficient service, all requests for semi-urgent appointments (i.e. within two working days and  house visits) are assessed by a member of our nursing team. Requests made for an appointment within two working days will be passed to the nursing team who will contact you to discuss your request and arrange an appropriate appointment.

If you have any difficulties using a telephone, you may e-mail us with a request for an urgent appointment giving details of your symptoms. One of our nurses or doctors will then e-mail you with advice or details of an appointment. E-mail to

GG-UHB.GP85403dutyadmin@nhs.net

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Urgent/emergency cases will always be seen on the same day. Requests for less urgent appointments can be made with the receptionist between 08:00 - 18:00.

Where possible, return appointments should be arranged with the receptionist before leaving the surgery.

Please note we operate a 15 minute appointment system for both doctors and nurses. A longer appointment time is given to more complex procedures and chronic disease management.

Online Booking of Appointments

You can book your own routine appointment online on a day and at a time that suits you. If you would like to use this service, ask our reception team for a form to give you access to this service.

Extended Hours

An extended hours service is currently provided on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 18:00 - 18:30. This service is for pre-booked appointments only.

Reviews

The practice operates a recall programme for patients with ongoing chronic illness and we will contact patients by telephone or letter to advise when a review appointment is due.

Telephone Consultations

Our doctors and nurses also provide a number of telephone consultations in their surgeries. These are 5 minute appointments and the doctor or nurse will call you back on the number you provide at an agreed time. It is important that you are available at the agreed time: if not you will be required to make another appointment.

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.

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 10:30.

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 they 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)