GP Appointments 

You can book routine appointments with your doctor in three ways: online, over the phone or at reception.

• Online - you can view, book and cancel routine appointments online. It is a simple and easy system to use, and especially useful during those times when the telephone lines are busy or the practice is closed. If you wish to sign up for this service please visit the surgery and ask for your online appointments login details. 

• Telephone - our doctors operate personal lists to ensure continuity and consistency of care, and each list is supported by a personal receptionist.  You can make an appointment by calling your doctor's receptionist or the general enquiries line (01271) 329004. 

Please be aware that all incoming and outgoing telephone calls at the surgery are recorded.  All recordings are stored securely and accessed only for patient care and training purposes.

Clinic Schedule

Our doctors usually hold surgeries on the following days:

Dr Deacon Tues & Fri                     Dr Chesworth Daily (excl Tues pm & Fri pm)  

Dr Waterfall Mon & Weds               Dr Stewart Daily (excl Weds pm & Fri pm)

Dr Bond Mon am, Thurs & Fri          Dr Hassall Daily (excl Tues am & Thurs pm)

Dr Smit Mon, Tues & Weds              Dr Matthews Daily (excl Tues pm & Thurs pm)

Dr Tolhurst Mon, Thurs pm & Fri     Dr Parkinson Daily (excl Weds pm & Thurs pm)   

Dr Street Tues & Weds                   Dr Marquiss Mon, Tues & Fri

Dr Duncan Weds & Thurs                         

Please note: Dr Deacon and Dr Waterfall alternate Thursday am clinics.

Appointment Duration

The duration of an appointment depends on the treatment you receive but as a rough guide, a routine appointment with the doctor is for 10 minutes and for one person.  Medical examinations and minor surgery require 20- 30 minutes.

If you know that you will require a longer appointment please tell the receptionist when booking.

Telephone Advice

If you feel the doctor can help you with advice over the telephone please speak with the receptionist who will ask for your contact number and take a brief message. The doctor will return your call at a convenient time.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible on (01271) 329004 to allow us to give the slot to someone else.

Test Results

Please ring for results after 2.30pm, as results are not received by the Medical Centre until later in the morning.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly. Our practice nurses hold surgeries every weekday morning and afternoon. They can help with immunisations, travel advice, dressings, chronic diseases, catheter care and the treatment of warts and verrucas etc.

Healthcare Assistants

Our HCAs are trained to a high standard and able to do blood tests, ear syringing, removal of sutures and clips, ECGs, dopplers, spirometry and smoking cessation.

To make an appointment with one of our practice nurses or healthcare assistants, please call 01271 314236 between 08:30 & 13:00 or 14:00 & 17:00.  

Telephone Advice

 If you feel the nurse can help you with advice over the telephone please speak with the receptionist who will ask for your contact number and take a brief message. The nurse will return your call at a convenient time.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible on (01271) 329004 to allow us to give the slot to someone else.

Test Results

Please ring for results after 11:30, as results are not received at the Medical Centre until later in the morning.

Urgent Appointments

Our Minor Illness Clinic runs daily from 9.30am-10.30am and is run by a GP, Nurse prescriber or pharmacist, with the Duty Doctor providing backup and is designed to provide a quicker response for patients. The Minor Illness clinic is not designed for ongoing problems that you have already discussed with a GP, but for minor complaints to be dealt with by the most appropriate person.

Our Rapid Access Clinic runs daily in the afternoons for medical problems that have come on suddenly and require immediate medical attention. It is run by the duty doctor and a practice nurse. 

How to sign-up

For more information, please contact reception or next time you visit the surgery, bring with you a piece of photo ID (passport, driving licence)

GP online services allow you to access a range of services via your computer, mobile or tablet. Once you have signed up, you will be able to:

• book or cancel appointments online
• renew or order repeat prescriptions online
• view parts of your GP record, including information about medication, allergies, vaccinations, previous illnesses and test results

You can still contact the practice by phone or in person, this is just another option, which other patients have found is more convenient and saves them time. 

Click the image below to take you to the SystmOnline service.

Please read before using your online access and for help and guidelines

SystmOnline Help

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:00 if you require a home visit. You can call 01271 329004 and select your doctor from the spoken menu. Please give the receptionist the full name and address of the patient.

Visits are usually made after morning surgery so if you feel the patient is too ill to wait please make it clear to the receptionist.

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.

You can 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.

Medical Training

Medical education is one of the things we believe is important and that we can do well. Medical students from different universities come to our practice to learn about medicine and primary care. We are grateful if you feel able to see students and to let them examine you when this is appropriate. Everything you tell them is entirely confidential, exactly as it is with your own doctor. You are of course free to decline to see our students and this will not affect your medical care.

Medical students never make the final decisions - they will always discuss your care with the GP who will then check that you are satisfied with the outcome of the consultation.

Qualified doctors known as Registrars may also join the practice to gain more experience before taking their post graduate MRCGP examinations. They may well be with us for 6 to 12 months, working closely with one of the partners as their trainer