Appointments

Tel: 366600

These can also be booked by on the link above. You will need a PIN number to access this facility. Please see reception about this.

Telephone advice

Tel:366600

Is available for general medical queries and medication advice between the hours of 08:00 - 11:30, you can select the doctor of your choice to discuss this with. However if you are in need of urgent medical advice we can arrange for the duty doctor to call you back as soon as they are available.

Medical Students

We participate in the training of medical students who may “sit in” with one of the doctors – your permission will always be sought.

Chaperone Policy

During your appointment a doctor or nurse may need to examine you in intimate areas. In this case you will be offered a chaperone. We will respect your privacy during the examination and will obtain permission before we carry out the examination.

Missed Appointments

If you are unable to keep an appointment please contact the surgery as soon as possible so as the space can be used for someone else.

Patients who persistently miss appointments without explanations will receive a letter from the surgery. If this continues you may find your name is removed from the practice list.

Language Line

A telephone interpreting service that connects patients to a qualified interpreter within seconds, this service can be provided in consultations with the doctor/nurse and when booking appointment at the main reception desk.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:00 if you require a home visit.

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 this will between 10-14 days after the birth of your baby.

Transport

If you are unable to attend a hospital appointment and you qualify for transport due to being unable to travel on public transport, please contact the surgery to see if we can arrange transport for you, you must provide at least one weeks notice for this service.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)