 As
a practice we are continually updating our appointment system
and monitoring the demand for services as we are aware that
increasing demand causes unacceptable waiting times for patients
to see a Doctor for routine matters. Please be patient with
us while we try to improve the situation. In the meantime, we
would be grateful if patients could consider the following:-
- Each appointment with the Doctor is for 10 minutes, which
only allows a limited amount of time to discuss problems
- multiple problems may require further appointments!
- If you feel you may require more than 10 minutes please
mention this to the receptionist when making your appointment
- We encourage patients to ring on the day they wish to
be seen to make their appointment however, there is no need
to ring first thing is the morning to ensure you get an
appointment as there are usually appointments available
throughout the day. We do have a limited number of
appointments everyday which can be booked up to a week in
advance.
- Minor Illness Clinic run by our experienced and trained
Practice Nurses are available each day please ask when making
your appointment.
- Please only request a home visit if it is absolutely necessary.
If possible please ring before 10.30am.
- Please inform the practice if you are unable to keep your
appointment, so that it can be offered to other people.
- If you feel it would help please give the receptionist
as much information about your condition as possible, so
that she can help you decide the best option.
New appointment
system
Both patients and
doctors agree that previously the wait for a routine appointment
was too long. On the 2nd January 2002 we changed our appointment
system so that the majority of patients could be offered an
appointment on the day that they phone, and certainly within
one working day. Since that time we have improved the system
further by offering a limited number of appointments each
day that can be made up to a week in advance.
We hope that this
will help you, the patient, in a number of ways:
- No longer any need to have to convince the receptionist
that your problem is urgent.
- Phone on the day that you want your appointment. If your
own doctor is away or fully booked you will be offered an
appointment with another doctor.
- No need to book an appointment just in case you are not
better by the time you finally get to see the doctor, because
you know that you will be seen on the day you phone.
- If you are a shift worker or work out of town you will
be able to book an appointment in advance.
- We hope that the new system will reduce the stress for
the receptionists and doctors, which in turn should help
you.
Making an appointment
- Please call at the surgery or phone in the normal way
on 01200 421900 or 01200 421850 from 8.00 am
- Ring early in the day to ensure a better choice of appointments
although appointments are available through out the day.
- In order to know when your doctor is in surgery a timetable
of their availability is located in the surgery and [HERE].
Please remember that Doctors Huson, Bailey, McBride and
Owen are part-time.
- If you feel that your problem or medication review could
be dealt with by telephone please arrange with the receptionist
for the doctor to phone you. This will normally be at the
end of one of their surgeries.
- Afternoon surgeries will still have to have a definable
end point and patients requesting an appointment later on
in the afternoon may be asked to phone the next day unless
the problem is urgent.
In this practice,
we employ Five Practice Nurses one of whom is qualified to
prescribe medication (offering immediate advice to patients
on the telephone), a Health Care Assistant who works alongside
the Practice Nurses, a good team of District Nurses and Health
Visitors, and an excellent Treatment Room - you may get the
help and advice you need from any one of these teams.
Emergencies
Telephone:
01200 421900 or 421850. A Doctor will be available
for emergencies at all times. When the surgery is closed calls
are automatically transferred to the NHS Direct. This service
is based at Blackburn Royal Hospital
Please note that
that this is an emergency service only, and is not intended
to be used for problems which can wait until the surgery opens
the following day. Our doctors work closely with the Emergency
Paramedics of the Lancashire Ambulance Service.
Home visits
Patients are asked
to attend surgery whenever possible, however, if you are too
ill to come to the surgery and need to be seen at home, please
telephone the main reception before 10.30 am. Please give
the receptionist as much information as you can so that the
Doctor can be well advised of the illness and able to prioritise
their visits. Visits are usually done after morning surgery.
Whenever possible, please come to the surgery where there
are better facilities for your treatment.
Please let us know if you have any
good ideas that will help us to reduce waiting times - email
the practice Manager now. |
