Please Remember
If you make an appointment then please make sure that you let us
know if you can’t attend as we can then offer this appointment to
another patient.
Appointments
How to Make an Appointment
Appointments can be made with a doctor at Measham or Appleby by telephoning the appointments line between 8.30 am to 1pm (12.30pm on a Thursday) and 2.30 pm to 6pm or by calling into the surgery.
We can offer several types of appointments:
Telephone triage: You can be offered an appointment where the doctor will telephone you back, providing you feel the matter is suitable for discussing over the telephone.
If the doctor feels you should be seen, an appointment will be made by the doctor for you to be seen at the surgery.
A 5 minute Express appointment for one straight forward problem that you believe can be dealt with quickly.
A routine 10 minute appointment, whereby you will be offered an appointment that day or the following working day. although if you wish to see a particular doctor you may have to wait longer.
Wasted Appointments due to Non Attendance
Over the past year we have noticed a large number of appointments
have not been kept, approximately 140 per month, which equals 1680
wasted appointments a year. This amount of wasted appointments means
that we are sometimes unable to offer appointments to those patients
that really need them. We appreciate that there are sometimes valid
reasons for a patient not to attend an appointment that they have
booked. However, it would help us greatly if you would ring and cancel
your booked appointment in advance, in order that it may be re-used.
We have decided to introduce a more stringent policy to deal with the
amount of appointments wasted. For those patients who persistently miss
their appointments, we will be considering removal from our list.
Emergency Care
In an emergency phone (01530) 270667.
This will give you rapid access to a doctor for advice or a visit if necessary. Between 6.30pm and 8.00am the same number will put you in touch with the PCT centres emergency Doctor.
Doctors and Nurse Practitioner
You will be offered an appointment that day or the following working
day, though if you wish to see a particular doctor you may have to wait
longer. If you make an appointment then please make sure that you let us
know if you can’t attend as we can then offer this appointment to
another patient.
If you consider it medically necessary you can be seen on the same day.
In cases of real emergency, which will not wait until an appointment,
please bring the patient to the surgery, telephoning beforehand to warn
us. For matters that you believe can be dealt with quickly, we offer
express surgeries. These are five-minute appointments for dealing with
just one straightforward problem.
Getting the best from your doctor -
Before the Consultation
It is usually best to concentrate on one problem during consultation. If you want to discuss several problems or family members, please ask the receptionist for a separate appointment.
- Think – When did the problem start?
- Does anything make the problem better or worse?
- How can you describe it?
- What worries you more, the discomfort or what might be causing it?
- How are you hoping the doctor might be able to help you?
- The doctor can help you more if you can explain the problem.
- If you think you (or your child) may have to be examined, wear clothes that are easily removed.
During the Consultation
If you have an underlying problem, for example feeling depressed – say so. Make sure you tell the doctor all you want them to know and also, that you understand all they have told you. If you are given a prescription, you should be told why and what effects the medicine may have. If you are not given a prescription, you may wonder why. Do ask and, if you are not happy, let the doctor know why.
Chaperones
You are always welcome to bring a family member or a friend with you into any consultation at our premises. If you are alone, but wish to have a chaperone present, please discuss this with the doctor or nurse.
Helping to Choose your Treatment
There are often different ways to treat a medical condition. Your GP should explain the options, so that you can discuss them and choose which you prefer. You can play an important part in how you are treated. However, in an emergency, it is usually best to rely on the doctor’s advice.
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