Appointments

To make an appointment please telephone the surgery on 01244 324136 during opening hours (8.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday). We have a range of appointments, some of which are bookable up to 3 months in advance and others, for urgent or acute problems, "on the day" so, if you need an appointment, there should be one available for you.

Book a Nurse Appointment for: ·         Chronic disease monitoring and management (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure) ·         Minor illness diagnosing and prescribing e.g. coughs, colds, sore throats, chest infections, urine infections and earache. ·         Cervical Smears (offered every 3 years for patients aged 25 to 64 years in line with national policy) ·         Family planning services (including emergency contraception up to 72 hours after unprotected sex) ·         Baby/childhood immunisations (it’s important your child is fully vaccinated) ·         Dressings ·         ECG’s ·         Ear syringing ·         Flu vaccinations for the over 65’s and all those in flu “at risk” categories ·         Travel Advice and vaccinations* (*Many travel vaccinations are not provided free on the NHS, so charges may apply) ·         Smoking cessation support If you have a question about your medication or treatment, or need health advice, (for example on minor illness), please ask to speak to a nurse.

Our Healthcare Assistants Are available to see patients for: ·         Blood tests and blood pressure recording ·         ECG’s ·         Dressings (after referral by the Nurse) ·         Flu Vaccinations for the over 65’s and all those in flu “at risk” categories ·         New Patient Health Checks

Book a GP Appointment for: ·         Diagnosis and advice about most medical conditions (but please consult the nurse where you have a minor illness – see above) ·         Appointments for minor surgery (after GP consultation)   Our GPs also offer telephone appointments; instead of coming to the surgery, the doctor will phone you at a pre-arranged time. If the doctor decides that you need to be examined s/he will arrange this with you.

We will do our best to find an appointment that is convenient for you and, for this reason, the receptionist may ask a few questions to enable her to give you an appointment with the right person. As mentioned above, our nurses are able to see patients for a wide range of minor illnesses and can prescribe a range of medicines so, if you're willing to be flexible about who you see, we can usually find a convenient appointment. If, however, you wish to see a particular clinician, your choice of appointments may be more limited.

Follow up Appointments

Sometimes the doctor or nurse may book a follow up appointment for you. Alternatively s/he may give you a card to let you know when you need to come back. Keep the card with your diary or calendar as a reminder to ring for your appointment on the day you need it.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Make your appointment with the most appropriate person

Be flexible about whom you see. You can express a preference to see an individual clinician and we will try, as far as possible, to accommodate your request. However, all our clinicians are highly trained and have access to your medical records, so should be able to help you. If you are flexible about whom you see we should be able to provide you with more choice of appointments.

Monday is the busiest day of the week. If your problem is not urgent please choose another day to phone.

Make sure you always keep appointments or cancel them in time for us to offer them to another patient.

Many minor ailments (colds and flu) are caused by a virus and will not be helped by taking antibiotics. Take the recommended dose of paracetamol (ask your chemist for advice) and give the condition time to clear up.

Ask for an appointment only if you’re concerned that there may be a more serious problem. Ask your chemist or NHS Direct (0845 4647) for advice on minor illnesses.

Restrict calls about prescriptions and results to after 11.30am.

Home Visits

If you are too ill to attend surgery, please telephone before 10.00am to request a home visit. This enables our doctors to plan their visits so that patients can be seen as soon as possible. Requests received after mid-day will normally be visited the following day unless medically urgent.

When telephoning to request a home visit, please give an outline of the problem to the receptionist who answers your call. This will help the doctor assess your problem and decide if s/he needs to speak to you to gather further information.

Occasionally the doctor may decide that a home visit is inappropriate and agree some other course of action with you. Please request home visits only when it is really necessary.

Chaperones

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. Sometimes you may wish to be accompanied by a family member of friend. At other times you may wish to have a formal chaperone present i.e. a trained member of staff.

Wherever possible please make this request at the time of booking your appointment, so that we can make the necessary arrangements. Whilst we will always do our best to provide a chaperone, if requested, this may necessitate us re-scheduling your appointment for a time when a chaperone can be present.

Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present, for certain consultations, in accordance with our chaperone policy.

When We Are Closed

If you need to see a doctor outside of normal surgery hours, there are several options available:

GP EXTENDED HOURS SERVICE

All patients registered with GPs in Western Cheshire now have the opportunity to book a routine appointment outside of the usual GP practice opening hours. This is particularly suitable for patients who work outside of the area or who have other commitments that prevent them from booking a routine appointment during normal surgery hours.

Appointments won't be with your own GP, but WILL be with a suitably qualified health professional such as a doctor or practice nurse.

Appointments can be booked, up to two weeks in advance, by ringing 01244 385422 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, visit http://www.wcheshirepct.nhs.uk/

GP OUT OF HOURS SERVICE

If you require urgent medical advice when the surgery is closed (overnight, at weekends or during Bank Holidays) you can get advice from, or a consultation with, the Western Cheshire Out of Hours service.

You may be given telephone advice, invited to attend one of the treatment centres operated by the service, or (if you are not well enough to attend a centre) you may be given a home visit.

NHS Direct

Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency