Get help for a medical issue
We prefer to deal with our patients directly, either by telephone or in person.
Providing high quality of care that is personalised to each patient and their individual needs and preferences is of utmost important to us.
We can get a much better idea of what your symptoms are, how you are feeling, and what the best course of action might be for you as individual if we can speak with you directly.
Get help via telephone or in person
Call us on 01452 728882 between the hours of 8am-1pm and 2pm-6pm Monday to Friday.
Drop into the reception desk between the hours of 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday*.
*Please note that the Practice doors are closed 1pm-2pm on Thursdays for staff training.
Step 1: Information gathering
When you call us or come into the Practice, our team of trained reception staff will ask you a series of questions in order to get as much detail as possible.
They will ask you things like:
- What your symptoms are
- How long you have been experiencing the symptoms
- If you have already tried any treatment or medication to manage the symptoms
- If there is anything that makes the symptoms better or worse
- If you have an idea of what has caused the symptoms
- What outcome you would ideally like
Direct interaction with patients helps to paint the picture. Staff are trained to look/listen for signs that you may not communicate to us verbally. For example, they may notice if you look pale, sound confused, or your breathing seems abnormal.
Step 2: Signposting (if appropriate)
There are some medical issues or conditions that can be assessed and treated by other services either within or outside of the Practice. We may therefore signpost you if we feel it is appropriate. For example:
- Our in-house FCP physiotherapist can assess and advise treatment for issues/injuries with muscles, joints and bones.
- Our in-house mental health practitioner can support complex mental health needs.
- Community pharmacies are now able to assess and treat a range of clinical conditions.
Step 3: Clinical assessment
If it is not appropriate to signpost you elsewhere, the reception team will pass all of the detail over to one of our clinicians who will assess the information and review your medical history.
The clinician will determine the most appropriate course of action at that time. This may include one or more of the following:
- Offer a routine appointment
- Offer an urgent appointment
- Issue medication
- Give advice on how to manage the symptoms
- Signpost or refer to another service
The devil is in the detail! Having our reception team gather lots of detail from you at the first contact means our clinicians can carry out a more thorough assessment and come to a decision on the best next step more quickly.
Step 4: Response
Once the clinicians has assessed your case and determined the appropriate next steps, they will either respond to you directly or ask the reception team to relay the information to you.
Get help online
If you would prefer to contact us for support with a medical matter online, you can do so by completing the relevant online form below:
Get help for a health problem online
Use this form for new or ongoing medical problems / conditions.