Appointments

To make an appointment you can:

• Telephone (01983) 294902 between 8.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday
• Visit Reception

Our Patient Advisers (previously Reception) will guide you to the best resource for your particular enquiry.  This will mean that they will ask you a little about the nature of your enquiry.

Consultations are for 10 minutes, for one person and one problem.

Advance Appointments (up to 4 weeks in advance):   Routine appointments for Nurses may be booked up to 4 weeks in advance. 

Same-Day Appointments (booked on the day):   If you, or your Doctor feel your problem is urgent, you will be offered a same-day appointment.  On busy days, you may be offered a telephone call with a Doctor or Advanced Nurse Practitioner to establish the urgency of your medical need.

Evening Appointments:  We offer late evening appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays - these are pre-booked appointments only.

Telephone Consultation (up to 4 weeks in advance):  You can book a telephone consultation.  The Doctor will ring you on the telephone number you have given.  If you are only available o a mobile phone, please remember to have it switched on and ensure you are in a location with good reception.

Please inform the surgery if you cannot keep an appointment – so that somebody else can be seen instead.

Home Visits (Telephone 295251 during surgery hours)

Requests for non-urgent visits should be received at the surgery before 11.00am. 

The receptionist will ask the reason for the visit so that your GP may decide the appropriate action. 

If at all possible try to attend the surgery - as you will be seen more quickly than if the GP visits your home.  Non-urgent visits requested after 11.00am will be appointed for the following day.

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)

Telephone Consultation

You can book a telephone consultation with a doctor if you wish.  He or she will ring you on the telephone number you have given.  If you are only available on a mobile phone, please remember to have it switched on and ensure you are in a location with good reception.