Appointments

We are able to see you by appointment only. Please telephone us on (01245) 347539 or call into the surgery personally between 8.00am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday.We also have an online appointment booking service. Please ask at reception for details. A normal appointment is 10 minutes and is intended for one person. Please make a separate appointment for each person to be seen. If you feel you need more time then please ask for a double appointment.

There is no restriction as to whom you see in the practice as the doctors provide cover for each other in their absence.

In the event that you need to be seen by a doctor the same day, our receptionist will arrange for you to be seen but not necessarily by the doctor of your choice. Please telephone before 10.00am where possible.

The doctors and nurses will do their best to keep to time but illness is not always predictable and unforeseen events may cause us to run late, in which case we apologise. Our receptionists will keep you informed of any delays.

The surgery offers a chaperoning service. Please make your GP, nurse or receptionist aware if you would like a chaperone present at your consultation.

Telephone Advice

Telephone advice is available from our doctors and nurses. Please ask our reception staff if you require a telephone call and they will be happy to advise on our procedure for this service.

Hearing Disabilities

Our surgery reception is fitted with an induction hearing loop. Please switch your hearing aid to the ‘T’ position and advise reception. Help with booking appointments over the telephone is available from RAD (Royal Association for the Deaf). Please advise reception if you wish to use this facility.

Language Translation

If you need an interpreter for your appointment with a doctor or nurse this can be arranged with Language Line. Please inform reception of your requirement.

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 or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

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)