How to register
We have an open list and welcome requests for registration from patients living in or moving to the practice area.
You can register by bringing along your NHS medical card and completing the forms available from reception (if you have mislaid your card, you can still register). We recommend that all new patients undertake a health check with a practice nurse.
It is very helpful if you can bring any relevant information concerning your past health. It can be a number of weeks before we receive your full medical records via the health authority.
Appointments
We run all our surgeries by an appointment only system. Appointment times are on our home page. GP surgery times vary according to each individual doctor's clinical and teaching commitments within the practice. Appointments can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance.
Non-urgent appointments with a GP can be booked and cancelled online. If you are registered for this service, click here. For information on how to register for online services, click here.
Alternatively, If you wish to make a non-urgent appointment, please telephone or call in at the surgery between 11.00 - 1.00pm where possible or between 2.00 - 4.00pm. This helps to ease pressure on phone lines.
You can expect to see a GP within 2 working days. We always try to make sure you see the doctor of your choice, but you may have to wait longer if you wish to see a particular GP.
Urgent cases are seen on the day by whichever doctor is available. Please do not claim unjustifiably that you are an urgent case.
Please say immediately if your call is an emergency.
Please tell us if more than one person in the family needs to be seen. We can offer you a longer appointment if necessary.
Do tell us if you wish someone to accompany you during an examination or a private room to discuss any matters. Your confidentiality is of the upmost importance to us. Remember that test results and medical details can only be given to the patient.
If you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know. Your appointment slot can be used by another patient.
Home Visits
If you are too ill to come to the surgery and you require a visit at home, please call the surgery before 10.30am on the day the visit is required. Non-urgent calls received after this time may be delayed until the following day. Home visits are at the discretion of the doctor who may wish to speak to you before agreeing to visit.
Home visits take up much more of a doctor’s time than a consultation in the surgery, so please do not ask the doctor to call unless the patient is too ill or infirm to come to the practice. We can see patients much more promptly and efficiently at the surgery and better facilities for examination and treatment are available. Even if a patient has a temperature, rash , sore throat, etc, coming to the surgery will do no harm.
Clinics
| Clinic | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Family Planning | Advice on contraception including coil fitting. | Book appt with doctor or nurse |
| Antenatal Care | Routine antenatal check-ups by our qualified midwife. Booked appointments only. | Friday 9.30am - 1-00pm |
| Mother and Baby | A drop-in clinic for advice and weight checking. | Thursday 2.00pm - 3.30pm |
| Child Development Checks | Performed mainly by Health Visitor and also by doctors. Parents will be sent an appointment when these health checks are due. | Booked appointment with Health Visitor or Doctor |
|
Childhood |
We strongly recommend that pre-school children receive their full vaccinations. Appointments will usually be sent to you, but please contact us should you have any queries. |
Booked appointment with Nurse |
| Influenza Immunisations |
We run flu immunisation clinics each autumn, from October. |
Booked appointments with nurse or Saturday 'flu clinics |
| Asthma Reviews | It is important to have an annual review to ensure that you are still on optimum treatment. Our nurses can also offer advice on inhaler technique. |
Children: Book appt with a doctor. |
| Chronic Disease Management | Patients with long term conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD and hypertension are reviewed at least annually. If you have been fortunate enough not to have needed to see us and your annual review is due, we will invite you to see either the doctor or nurse for the appropriate routine checks. | Appointments with Doctor and /or Nurse |
| Heart Failure Clinic | Every Monday we host this clinic which provides echocardiography, assessment and follow up treatment for Heart Failure. This is available to our regsitered patients and patients from other local surgeries. | Booked appointments via GP Referral |
| Travel vaccinations and holiday advice | Please book an appointment to see one of our nurses 2-3 months before your trip to check which vaccines are required. Some vaccines are not available on the NHS and in these cases a fee will be charged. | Book appointment with Nurse |
| Minor Surgery | Dr Western is qualified to perform various minor operations and cryotherapy. | Book appointment with Dr Western |
| Well Person | A general health check with particular emphasis on reducing your risk of heart disease. All newly registered patients are required to have a health check. Please bring a urine sample. | Health Care Assistant or Nurse |
| Well Woman | All women over 25 will be invited for 3-yearly smears until the age of 50 and thereafter 5-yearly until age 65. All women over 50 will be invited for a mammogram every 3 years. | Health Care Assistant or Nurse |
| Well Man | As Well Person check but with the opportunity to look at men's health issues | Health Care Assistant or Nurse |
Repeat prescriptions
Please allow us 48 hours to process repeat prescription requests. Prescriptions need to be issued and then checked by a doctor. It is helpful if you can order your prescription several days before your medicines run out!
Keep the right hand side of your previous prescription, this is your request form. Please always use the most recent request form as this is up to date with your current medications and means that your request can be processed faster. Tick the items you need.
You can deliver your request to us in the following ways:
- Online. If you are registered for this service, click here. For information on how to register, click here.
- By hand. We have a box on the railings outside the surgery or post in the box at reception (slot in the reception desk).
- By post.
- By fax to 0121 486 2889.
We do not accept requests for repeat prescriptions over the telephone. This is to avoid the serious risk of prescribing errors.
Your prescription will be ready for collection 48 hours later. If you prefer, we can post it back to you (you will need to provide a stamped, addressed envelope).
We are keen to ensure that patients with ongoing medical problems are monitored regularly. If the date for your next review with a doctor or nurse has passed you may be asked to make an appointment. There is a medication review date at the bottom of your request form.
Sick certificates
You only need a doctor’s note if you are unable to work and are ill for longer than seven calendar days. Your employer has a legal obligation to accept an SC-2 self-certificate form for shorter periods of illness. You can collect thsi form either from your employer or from surgery reception.
Test results
Since our telephones are very busy in the early morning, we ask you to telephone for test results (eg blood, urine, x-ray) between 11.30am and 1.00pm and between 4.00pm and 6.30pm each day.
To ensure confidentiality, we only release results to the patient, unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.
Non-NHS services
The NHS does not pay for some of the services we provide. These include private sick notes, insurance forms, holiday cancellation forms, medical reports, fitness to travel certificates, private prescriptions, passport signing and some vaccination services. Our fees for these services, which are in line with BMA approved national guidelines, are displayed in the surgery.
