Appointments
Urgent Appointments
We have introduced changes to our booking system to make the best use of the appointments available and to meet your needs as closely as possible.
Urgent Appointments
Appointments are bookable by telephone from 08.30am. Urgent appointments are available to patients in need of medical attention the same day. If required you will be seen by the appropriate practitioner on the same day.
Routine Appointments
Appointments are bookable by telephone from 08.30am. When you contact us, you will be asked some questions by our Patient Advisors’ in order for us to match you to the right outcome for your needs. This could include a face to face or telephone appointment with a GP or nurse, or you might be better looked after by our Physiotherapists or Pharmacists. You may be appropriately directed to Community Pharmacists or A&E. We offer an option of face to face or telephone appointments. We offer routine appointments 72 hours in advance and up to 3 weeks in advance.
You can also make an e-consult request, which can lead to an appointment by clicking on the image opposite. E-consults are available from 10am to 1pm Monday to Friday. Please do not use e-consult for same day urgent appointments, you need to telephone reception (01707 269091) for this.
Extended Hours
We offer extended hours appointments on alternate Saturday Mornings - Please check with the surgery to confirm which days a Saturday surgery will be available for you. These surgeries are not available for same day emergency problems.
Enhanced Access – evening and weekend appointments
Patients can access GP services between 6.30-8.00pm Mondays to Fridays, and between 8.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and from 8.00am to 2.00pm on Sundays.
These extra appointments are at Spring House Medical Centre (across the road from the QEII Hospital - Ascots Lane AL7 4HL). To find out more or to book an appointment, please speak to one of our reception team or visit the following website:
Ephedra Healthcare Ltd - www.ephedrahealthcare.co.uk
It is likely that you will not see/speak to a GP or nurse from this practice at one of these appointments but the clinician you see will have full access to your records and can complete tasks as if working from our practice. Do ask our reception team when you call if you would like one of these Enhanced Access appointments.
When booking your appointment, you will need to give permission for your medical records to be accessed and updated.
There are also a few same day appointments on Saturday and Sunday at the Enhanced Access hub - please call 01707 294358 to book these.
If you need to cancel and re-book an Enhanced Access appointment, please contact our reception team. When our practice is closed you can call 01707 294358 to leave a message.
Home Vists
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 11:00.
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.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
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.
You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.
If you need help when we are closed
Click here for available out of hours arrangements.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need a chaperone
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs
Text Reminder Service
We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments and to be able to cancel your appointment.
To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.
Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.