How Do I?

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE?

We offer telephone consultations for problems that you feel the doctor or nurse can help you with by giving advice over the telephone. Please request a telephone consultation when speaking to the receptionist and leave your contact number and a brief message. The doctor will return your call when convenient during surgery. Much advice can be given over the phone; this includes advice for minor illnesses, feedback from routine tests and advice on any travel immunisations required.

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

We operate an appointment scheme for nurses and doctors. We aim to provide a range of appointment times throughout the day. An appointment is for one person only.

We make available 20% of appointments up to 14 days in advance and 20% of the appointments are available 7 days in advance. The remaining 60% of appointmets will be booked on the day. In the event of all routine appointments being booked patients will be invited to attend and wait until a doctor is able to see you. All nurse appointments can be booked in advance.

Reception will try to provide you an appointment with a doctor of your choice; however, this is not always possible and you will be offered an appointment with another doctor. All doctors have access to the full medical records and will be able to see your detailed medical history.

Appointments are for 10 minutes only; however, complex problems can take more time, resulting in surgery running late. Patients arriving on time will be seen in order of appointment time; but patients arriving late may have to wait a little longer.

If you are unable to attend an appointment please cancel it as soon as possible so that your appointment may be offered to another patient.

Our policy for dealing with patients that Do Not Attend (DNA) Appointments is to remove them from the practice list after the third DNA. Warning letters are sent after each DNA.

Patients can access the appointment scheme and book appointments online. Access is available through this website in a similar way as the repeat prescriptions.

Patients will only be able to book appointments through this system for themselves. Unlike repeat prescriptions, access is controlled by passwords. Parents and carers will not be able to book appointments for those in their care.

To make an appointment please click here

Face-to-Face Appointments

We are constantly monitoring the demand for face-to-face appointments. We aim to provide these at most times of the day. Our first appointment every day is at 8.00am, the last at 6.20pm (7.50pm on Mondays). Although we are able to offer an appointment on the same day, we cannot always guarantee a time or a doctor of your choice.

Most problems are best dealt with at the surgery. This includes cases involving children with temperatures and rashes who are best examined at the surgery where we have the necessary equipment. If you think you require a home visit please telephone before 10.30am.

Please allow 8-10 working days before telephoning for test results.

Please do not telephone for test results before 10.30am.

A receptionist will inform you of your results and the appropriate course of action to take. Please note that different test results may arrive at different times.

HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE SURGERY?

To register with the surgery please leave your name, telephone number, current address and address of your previous GP at reception. We will also need to see proof of your current address, for example on a utility bill. If you have just come into the country a passport/visa will also need to be shown. The doctors have a weekly meeting to decide on acceptance of new patients and you will be informed of their decision the following week.

Streatfield Health Centre