Appointments

Important - Please note that at all times during the working day, emergencies always take priority over fixed appointments.  

Ethics

Telephone Advice

Home Visits

Generally 10 minutes is allocated at each appointment period.  For the mutual benefit of patients and doctors every effort is made to run to the appointed times.  However, should you require a longer appointment please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.  Sometimes, and for reasons beyond our control, we cannot absolutely guarantee  punctuality.  We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. 

Please note that an allocated appointment is for one patient only.  Do not be offended if your request to address another person's problems is refused.  Further to this, if you find you are unable to keep an appointment please let reception know in good time to allow best use of the clinician's time and availability to other patients. 

Whilst mindful of your wishes to see a particular clinician, this may not always be possible at a time convenient both to patient and the clinician, and unless you are prepared to accept an alternative arrangement some delay may occur.  

If you have problems with our appointment system please contact the Practice Manager. 

Again we wish to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Follow Up Appointments

Patients who suffer from chronic or a longer term illness are encouraged to attend the surgery on a regular basis. We recommend intervals of at least 6 or 12 months depending on your illness and its severity. The Health Professional in charge of your case will advise you by specifying intervals for you. If problems arise between specific visits please contact the surgery as soon as possible.

Missed Appointments

If you are unable to keep a pre-booked appointment please ensure that you phone the Practice well in advance to cancel your appointment. The Practice is experiencing a rise in the number of patients who do not attend for their pre-booked appointments. In these circumstances those patients who do not contact the surgery to cancel an appointment and do not attend for their appointments, three times in any year, may be removed from the Practice list. It is with regret that this action needs to be taken but it is in the interests of all patients who require appointments.