APPOINTMENTS

DOCTORS

ADVANCED NURSE PRACTITIONERS

PRACTICE NURSES

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANTS

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse or Health Care Assistant rather than a doctor. Practice nurses and Health Care Assistants are qualified to deal with many minor ailments and you may be seen more quickly. Details of nurse clinics can be found in the “clinics & services” section of the website.

If you wish to book a smear appointment please do not book using the online system, all appointments must be booked through reception as this is a 20 minute appointment with the nurse.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Chaperones

If you would like to have a chaperone during an intimate examination, please feel free to ask the doctor.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

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. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.

You can also 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.

We work closely with the Rapid Response and Assessment Service (RRAS) who are nurses who can manage simple medical conditions. If they are unable to help you then they will contact the surgery for the GP to come and review you at home. You can directly contact them on 01375 896037.

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).

If you wish to talk to a doctor or nurse regarding results or health problems it is best to telephone in the morning.

Please speak with the receptionists who will be able to book you a slot. The doctor/nurse will call back within their working day. Unfortunately, we will not be able to give you a specific time to when the clinician will contact you.

If the matter is urgent please say so and we will try to help.