Out of hours emergencies
We will do everything possible to ensure that our system for contacting a duty doctor or out of hours service is easy to follow, reliable and effective.
Waiting times
- GP clinics will normally start on time. The wait time for a routine appointment is currently between 3 – 4 weeks.
- We expect patients to be seen within 20 minutes of their appointment time, and in the event of a delay we will offer an explanation
- When a doctor is called away on an emergency, we will inform the patients and give them an opportunity to book an alternative appointment, or if preferred, to be seen by another doctor.
With these rights come responsibilities. For patients this means,
- showing courtesy to the staff at all times – remember they are working under doctors’ orders.
- responding in a positive way to questions asked by reception staff.
- attending appointments on time or giving the practice adequate notice that they wish to cancel. Someone else could use your appointment!
- an appointment is for one person only – where another member of the family needs to be seen or discussed, another appointment should be made and the medical record be made available.
- patients should make every effort when consulting the surgery to make best use of nursing and medical time – home visits should be medically justifiable and not requested for social convenience.
- when patients are asked to give 48 hours’ notice for repeat prescriptions, please give us this time, as it is to allow for accurate prescribing.
- out-of-hours calls (e.g. evening, nights and weekends) should only be requested if they are felt to be truly necessary.
- social media use – whilst we acknowledge that use of social media can be a positive communication tool, patients should not use any public forum to post derogatory remarks or complain about any aspect of the Surgery or its staff. Patients are asked to use the complaints procedure should they feel this is necessary.
All members of the surgery primary care team are dedicated to a quality policy to achieve health services that meet the patient’s requirements.
Practice leaflet
We are currently updating our practice leaflet (October 2024).
Surgery premises
Our surgery building will be welcoming, easy for patients to find their way around and appropriate to the needs of users, including the disabled.
Patients rights to general medical services
Patients have the right to:
- Be registered with a General Practitioner (GP)
- Change their GP if desired
- Be offered a health check on joining the practice
- Receive urgent care in hours from the practice
- Receive appropriate drugs and medicines
- Be referred for specialist or second opinion if they and their GP agree
- View their medical records, subject to the Acts and associated procedure, and to know all NHS employees are legally obliged to keep the contents confidential
Changes to procedures
When changes are introduced to practice procedures that affect patients, we will ensure that these are clearly explained, by means of a brochure, waiting room noticeboard or individual leaflets, giving as much notice as practicable.
Repeat prescriptions
To ensure the best possible knowledge of your personal health, these will be signed by your usual GP wherever possible.
Referrals
Urgent referrals to other health and social care agencies will be made within one working day of the patient consultation. Where requested, our GPs will refer you to a private health provider.
We will normally process non-urgent referrals within five working days of the patient consultation or the doctor’s decision to refer.
Test results
When a doctor or nurse arranges for a test to be taken the patient will be informed how to obtain the result. Results are normally available after 2pm the following day depending on the type of blood test; some may take longer.
Transfer of medical records
The practice will endeavour to dispatch any medical record required by the Health Authority within seven working days, or on the same day if the request is urgent and will use the electronic GP2GP service where available.
We will respect patients’ privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.
Appointments
With a doctor
Routine appointments can be booked up to 2 months in advance. For medically urgent requests, we will offer an appointment on the same day.
With a practice nurse
For routine appointments, we will offer an appointment within 10 working days. If there is a delay in the appointment wait (when you arrive) of more than 20 minutes, we will let you know. We are happy to update you on any delay situation if you feel that you have been waiting too long.
Home visits
We are unable to guarantee a specific doctor will visit you, as this depends on availability and other factors. The decision to home visit will be at the doctors’ discretion and dependent on clinical urgency.