We have introduced an online system to help patients with non urgent requests.
Please click on the image opposite to access the system
When you call for a doctor’s appointment, you will be asked whether your need is:
“URGENT, ACUTE OR ROUTINE”
An Urgent Appointment is something that really must be dealt with the same day because of its severity or risk to the patient.
An Acute Appointment is for a new problem or deterioration in an existing problem that really needs to be assessed and managed within 1-3 working days.
A Routine Appointment is for something where timescale is less important such as a medication review or review of a long term condition.
Home visits are also available for patients who are housebound. Please request these before 11am whenever possible and bear in mind the doctor may phone before visiting to determine whether a home visit is the best option.
In order to help categorise your appointment, and ensure you see the most appropriate person, the receptionist may ask you if you can share the nature of the problem or issue. Please be assured that this information will be treated confidentially.
All consultations with a doctor are by appointment which can be made in advance. The time allotted for a consultation is 15 minutes. We aim to provide an appointment with a GP within two workings days although this clearly may be prolonged if the appointment needs to be with a specific doctor. If you consider you need an urgent appointment, please make this clear to the receptionist who will, subject to the advice of the doctors, arrange an early appointment for you.
You will understand the difficult position reception staff may be placed in when surgeries are already heavily booked, so please help them to help you and all our patients.
When you arrive for your appointment you will see that the practice has introduced a touch screen which enables patients to book themselves in for their appointment. This saves you from queuing at reception but you may still book in with the receptionist in the traditional way if you prefer.
It is our aim not to keep you waiting for your appointment but on occasions, this may not be the case as the doctor may have to deal with an emergency. We hope you understand that we must give these patients priority and the reception staff will keep you informed of any delays.
This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area. Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the 'phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. For further information please click on the link below.
If you wish to speak to a doctor by telephone or via our secure video consulation system, please inform reception of this when you are booking your appointment and we will make arrangements for this.
We are pleased to announce that we are now able to provide on-line appointment booking for our patients. Patients can book any of the routine appointments for all doctors (maximum of two appointments can be booked at any one time). Due to the complexity of nursing appointments, it is not possible to book all nurse appointments on-line or appointments for minor operations.
The online booking system also allows you to order your repeat prescriptions online.
If you wish to book appointments on-line, you will first need to register to access this service.
Please complete the form below and bring this with you to the practice along with two forms of ID, a drivers licence or passport, together with a utility bill, bank statement or other official proof of residence (less than three months old). The receptionist will register you onto the on-line booking system and provide you with a PIN number. Once you have this information you will have access to on-line booking from home.
Appointments can also be cancelled using this facility.
