Appointments

The majority of our appointments are available to book via Online Services. This includes: all face-to-face doctors appointments, evening appointments, telephone consultations, asthma annual reviews, cervical screening, childhood immunisations, blood pressure checks, midwife appointments, seasonal influenza vaccinations and Saturday appointments when available. For all other nurse's appointments and on-the-day appointments with a GP, please contact your doctor's secretary to book in.

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Each appointment lasts for 10 minutes and is for one person only. If you have a number of problems to discuss ask your doctor's secretary for a double appointment allowing plenty of time with the doctor. If someone else needs to be seen a separate appointment should be made.

We always try to run to time but unfortunately delays are sometimes unavoidable. To help us as much as possible we ask that you always arrive on time. Patients who arrive 10 or more minutes late may be asked to re-book their appointment. If you do not think you will be able to attend a pre-booked appointment, please cancel it at your earliest convenience by online access, text or through your doctor's secretary.

If you require an urgent appointment, you may be asked to provide brief details of your problem. This helps to ensure that you receive the most appropriate treatment as quickly as possible.

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Chaperones

We appreciate that some patients may feel more comfortable having a chaperone present during an examination by a doctor or nurse. If you would like to have someone else with you during an examination, please tell the secretary when you arrange the appointment, reception when you check in or ask your doctor at any point during your consultation.

Home Visits

Home Visits are available to those patients who are housebound or too ill to visit the practice. If you do require a home visit, please arrange one through your doctor's secretary before 10:30am. When you request a home visit a reason will be asked for to allow the doctor to schedule home visits appropriately.

Sickness Certificates

If you have had an illness which has lasted seven days or less you do not require a doctor's sickness certificate. 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).