New Appointments System

Following feedback received from you, we reviewed our appointment booking system.

You told us that you find our current system unsatisfactory due to the length of time it takes to book an appointment. Our aim is to make access to our appointments safe, fair and based on clinical priority. We agree that long telephone waits are unsatisfactory. We also agree that you do not have to contact us to request a form which you then need to complete and return to us in order to book an appointment.

We want all patients to have the same opportunity to access our services whilst preserving the ability to prioritise clinical need. To this end, with effect from Monday 26 February 2024, you will no longer need to phone us to book an appointment and you will no longer need to contact us to request a booking form.

All requests for appointments will be processed online via our website. Everyone contacting the surgery will be asked to go through the online process. The form will be triaged by our trained navigation team and you will be contacted with the outcome which could be a link sent to your phone to book an appointment, a direct telephone call, self-care advice, or navigation to a service that is more appropriate to help and support you.

By using the online service, you save time waiting on the queue, and leave the phone lines free for those patients who are not able to access the internet.

If your request is deemed clinically appropriate for a GP appointment this will be categorised under three levels of urgency:

1. Same day
2. Within 3 working days
3. Within 10 working days

To preserve telephone access for those who are not able to use the online service, we ask that you please avoid calling the practice, but instead to complete the online form. Requests for appointments will now only be managed using the online form.

Our email inbox will no longer be monitored. Therefore please send all your requests for appointments, prescriptions, fit notes or any admin related query using the online form only.

The process is simple, safe and easy to navigate.

The online service to request an appointment is available during surgery opening hours, Monday to Friday 8:00am to 6.30pm. If you require appointment outside the surgeries opening hours please contact 111 or visit NHS 111 online

Published: Feb 21, 2024