HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE?

When ringing the surgery for any reason please telephone 320 3131

We operate an automatic answering system at the practice. If you have a push-button telephone you can use this to get through to the extension you require. Patients without a push-button phone will be transferred to the switchboard where one of the receptionists will deal with your call.

Obviously the telephones are generally very busy so please try to ring for routine matters after 11.00am in the morning or after 3.00pm in the afternoon.

If you wish to speak to your doctor it is best to ring during the early morning or early afternoon. The receptionist will add your details to the doctor's list for a telephone consultation. When enquiring about test results please speak to the receptionist - if your tests are back the doctor should have already seen them and the results should be in your records.

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

Please telephone 320 3131 for appointments at either surgery during normal surgery hours.

Surgeries take place throughout the day and are by appointment only.

You can book a routine appointment any time up to four weeks in advance.

To try and balance the need for appointments for acute problems, we keep a number of appointments back that can be booked on the day.

We will also have an emergency surgery each morning and afternoon, but this is STRICTLY for emergencies only.

Medically urgent cases will be seen the same day, though you may not be able to specify which doctor you see. This does not include issuing sick notes or other non-medical matters. Please be prepared to explain the problem to the receptionist so that she can give you priority when making your appointment.

Routine smear tests, blood pressure checks, smoking cessation advice, contraceptive pill checks and emergency contraception DO NOT need an appointment with the doctor - all our nurses are fully trained to provide these services.

If you require an urgent appointment for emergency contraception please notify the receptionist and you will be fitted in with one of the practice nurses.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN HOME VISITS?

Please telephone 320 3131 for all visit requests.

Routine Visits

We make home visits to patients who are too ill to attend the surgery or patients who are housebound. The doctor or a nurse may phone you to assess your condition before deciding whether to do a home visit. We do ask you to come to the surgery if at all possible as this makes more efficient use of the doctor's time and we also have better facilities at the practice to examine and treat patients. Please help us by requesting home visits before 10.30am if possible and be prepared to give the receptionist a brief description of your illness. Please note that you may not get the specific doctor you request for a home visit due to holidays and other workload.

We will NOT visit on the grounds of patient convenience, eg if you do not have transport to the surgery.

Emergency Visits

If you need an urgent visit ANY TIME BETWEEN 8.30AM AND 6.00PM please ring 320 3131. There is always a doctor available for urgent advice and treatment.

During the evening and at weekends please ring GoToDoc, our out of hours visiting service, 0161 336 3252. Please remember that this service is there to provide urgent medical attention for ill patients. If this service is abused by calling the doctor for minor illnesses then other patients could be put at risk.

Alternatively, you can call NHS Direct, a 24-hour nurse-led helpline, on 0845 4647 for health information and advice. You can also find information at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

When your usual doctor is on holiday or otherwise absent, cover for appointments and home visits is usually provided by one of the other partners in the practice. However, on occasion you may be required to see a locum doctor in the surgery, or you may receive a home visit from a deputising doctor who is employed by the Primary Care Trust to do visits on their behalf.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?

PLEASE RING FOR TEST RESULTS AFTER 1.15pm, as we often do not receive results from the laboratory until lunchtime. Please ask to speak to the health care assistant for your results.