On this page:
- Getting a GP appointment
- Same-day triage
- Why does the doctor not call back directly?
- Why do we signpost to Pharmacy?
- Why has the wait time for a routine appointment gone up?
- Why will the doctor only deal with one issue?
Getting a GP appointment
Your first point of contact with our Practice is with our reception team. They have been trained to ask questions and gather information about the reason for your call and the details of your symptoms/concerns.
This helps them to signpost you to the most appropriate person/place, according to the urgency of your situation.
One of the questions you will be asked is whether you consider your situation to be urgent or routine.
Same day triage
If you or the receptionist considers your situation to be urgent, it will be passed across to the Duty Doctor. This is a GP allocated to dealing with all urgent matters on that day.
The Duty Doctor will assess the situation and determine the next best steps. You will then be contacted via telephone, SMS or email (according to your preferences) either by the Duty Doctor directly, or by the reception team on their behalf.
Why does the doctor not call back directly?
The Duty Doctor will review all medical matters passed over to them and make clinical decisions on the best course of action. To support the Duty Doctor in being able to deal with the large number of on-the-day issues, the reception team play a vital part in passing on messages.
Where it is appropriate and necessary, the doctor will contact you directly.
Why do we signpost to Pharmacy?
Community Pharmacies are commissioned by the NHS to deliver more minor-illness treatment services, in order to support GP Practices to prioritise more complex health needs that require in depth assessment, testing and treatment. We do not signpost you to a Pharmacy to avoid having to deal with you; we signpost you because that is the most appropriate service to deal with your medical complaint and often means much quicker access for you.
You do not have to go to your normal Pharmacy; you can choose to go to any Pharmacy that offers the relevant service. You can find pharmacies here.
Why has the wait time for a routine appointment gone up?
Our goal is to be able to offer patients an appointment within two weeks; however, that is becoming more and more difficult as demand increases and political, financial and environmental factors change.
Please know that we are trying really hard to create more capacity.
Why will the doctor only deal with one issue?
We would love to be able to offer patients more time to discuss their health in a detail, holistic way. Unfortunately, the current imbalance between demand and capacity means we have to limit each appointment to 10 minutes.
