Appointments

We operate a 48 hour appointment system Monday to Friday for the doctors in our practice. Depending on our resources, you should be offered an appointment within 48 hours, but this may not always be with the doctor of your choice. It is advisable to call us as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Appointments can be made by telephoning from 08:30 or alternatively we do have some appointments that are available to be booked up to 1 month in advance, but it would help our reception team if you rang after 09:30 to book these forward appointments.

Practice Nurses

Nurses appointments can be booked up to 2 months in advance and can be made at anytime during the day.

Telephone Advice

The doctors and nurses are happy to give advice over the phone for problems which do not require an appointment or visit. You will need to provide the receptionist with your details so that the relevant records can be made available. We also offer telephone consultations when your doctor or a nurse will ring you back at a set time to deal with your problem. This time varies but is usually mid-morning.

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 10:00.

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)