We are aware that patients have struggled to get through on the phone to request a clinical appointment and to improve the situation we have now introduced an online consultation service. Where you are able to, please make an online request using the box to the right. By using this facility, it will free up the phone lines for those who are unable to do this.

Your request will be navigated to the most appropriate service. This may not necessarily be with a GP at the surgery, it may be to our local pharmacist, for example, who will be able to consult with you on your condition. You will receive a txt or phone call informing you of the next steps following your request.

If the most appropriate step is that you see one of our clinicians in the surgery, this may be a phone consultation or it may be a face to face appointment depending on the problem.

Please be aware that the Practice is working at maximum capcity because of our patient demand and therefore we are dealing with all requests based on clinical need.

These will take priority. Please tell the receptionist that you consider the problem to be an emergency so that the duty doctor can be informed. Occasionally it may be more appropriate for you to ring 999 for an ambulance directly (e.g. severe chest pains) and this may be advised.

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) rather than a Doctor. ANP's are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

If you require a nurse appointment such as a blood test or dressing, please contact us in plenty of time especially if it needs to be done on a specific day. Our nurse appointments are limited and can be pre-booked up to 4 weeks in advance. 

If you feel that your problem could be dealt with over the telephone rather than by attending the surgery you may request a telephone call from a Doctor or Nurse.

If you wish to have a chaperone present during an examination, let us know in advance and we will be happy to provide one.

You can book certain appointments at the surgery without the need to call us. Some Nurse appointments are available to book on Patient Access and the NHS App. You must have had a discussion with a Doctor or ANP before booking a blood test unless it is a routine test. 

To get started:

• Tell a member of staff at reception you would like to start using the online service.
• You will be required to fill out a short form and sign to confirm you agree with the information on the form.
• Show 2 forms of ID to check and confirm who you are: 1x Photo ID and 1x Proof of address dated within the last 3 months.
• A letter will be printed off with your unique username and password for you to log in and start using online services.

For more information about our online services, feel free to take a leaflet from reception or click the link below.

Patient Access online Information

For other appointments you will have to complete an Online Consultation Form or call us and speak to Reception. 

Don’t forget the many other resources available to you that may be better suited for your problem than a consultation with a GP:

• Over the counter medication
• Advice from local pharmacist
• Resources available on-line from the NHS website
• Phoning 111 and asking advice from that service
• Minor Injury Clinic
• Phoning 999 in any potential life threatening emergency

To aid patients needing a consultation, we politely ask all patients phoning with a general enquiry to do so after 11:00.  

Please see Care Navigators Role for information about how you will be navigated to the most appropriate care.

Please see Clinician Consulting Days to find out which days your GP/ANP is at the surgery.

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.

Home visits will usually take place between 12:00 and 15:00. If the problem is very urgent and cannot wait for a visit over lunch time please make the receptionist aware and provide as much information as possible about the nature of the problem.

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 are working together with other local practices to offer more appointments in the early mornings, evenings or at weekends.

Please ask a member of the practice team to find out more.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

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.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

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.

The practice is actively involved in postgraduate training of doctors wishing to become GP's. Training GPs have several years hospital experience before they join the practice team. Dr Record is a qualified GP trainer.

The practice also regularly takes groups of undergraduate medical students from the University of Bristol to familiarise them and provide them with an insight into the work of general practice.

Patients may, from time to time, be asked if they mind having another doctor present during their consultation, or if they mind their consultation being recorded for training purposes. The doctors fully understand that some patients may prefer not to have another doctor present or their consultation recorded and will always respect the wishes of the patient at these times.