Opening times, making appointments and what to do when we are closed

Noticeboard

We are undertaking a major upgrade of our Clinical computer software. Therefore our repeat prescription service will not be available from the 11th October to 1st November 2010. Please be sure to order your prescriptions well in advance to ensure you have sufficient medication to cover you over this period.

Prescriptions
As well as being able to order online, you are now able to order your repeat prescription 24 hours a day 7 days a week (including bank holidays), using our automated prescription service. Just telephone the usual prescription number and follow the prompts. You can also leave a message when the prescription line is busy instead of waiting to speak to a receptionist. You should still allow 48-hours before collection (excluding weekends and bank holidays).

NEW PARTNER

Dr Sue Fairhead will be joining the practice on the 1st July 2009. Some of our diabetic patients may well remember her from the Diabetic intermediate clinic. Dr Fairhead has special interests in Diabetes, Coronary Heart Disease, Chronic Kidney Disease, Child Health, Obesity Management and Family Planning.

Dr David Fielding

Special interests: General Medicine, Musculoskeletal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Opening Hours

Appointments

Home Visits

Telephone Triage

Telephone Recording

Surgery Opening Times:

EXTENDED HOURS: We are pleased to inform you that we are now offering extended opening hours on Monday and Tuesday evenings. A full reception service will be available and we will be open for pre-booked appointments from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

These appointments are designed to aid the working public who have difficulty attending the surgery during normal surgery opening hours. These appointments are NOT for emergencies.

Receptionists are present during the following hours:

Monday and Tuesday from 8.00am - 8.00pm

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00am - 6:30pm

Consultation Times:

Consultations are normally by appointment.

To make an appointment, either telephone or call during our office opening times. You may see the doctor of your choice, not necessarily the doctor whose name appears on your medical card. We do feel, however, that continuity of care is important and if possible you should remain with the same doctor for advice or treatment of a particular condition.

Appointments

To make an appointment, either telephone or call during our office opening times. You may see the doctor of your choice, not necessarily the doctor whose name appears on your medical card. We do feel, however, that if possible you should remain with the same doctor for advice or treatment of a particular condition

Urgent Consultations:

When you require an urgent appointment, please try to telephone before 10:00am. If there are no available appointments you will usually be asked to attend at the end of morning surgery. Though our receptionists will always try to accommodate your wishes it may not always be possible to see the doctor of your choice. In order to deal appropriately with your request for an urgent appointment, there may be occasions when the receptionist will ask you for details of your medical condition. All information disclosed to the receptionist is dealt with in the strictest confidence.

Sick Children:

They will always be seen as soon as possible if brought to the surgery. If in doubt about whether you should bring your child, please ring for advice.

Emergencies:

We provide 24 hour emergency cover at all times, by the Practice or Deputies. Outside surgery hours, please telephone either NHS Direct 0845 4646 or GP out of hours service 305895

The partners are members of the local GP out of hours co-operative, Fylde Coast Medical Services. For more information you can access their website on www.fyldemedical.com. Please use this service for Medical Emergencies only.

If you require health information or advice you can contact the NHS Direct, which is a Nurse Lead advice line on 0845 4647 or you can access their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

Home Visits Policy:

contact us Home visits are available, and where possible should be requested before 10:30am. However unnecessary visits are made which reduce the time available to see patients at the surgery.

A home visit by a GP is appropriate where a patient is either terminally ill or bed bound - when travel by car could cause a deterioration in the medical condition or unacceptable discomfort.

A visit may be made (but more usually an emergency ambulance is sent) when there is myocardial infraction (heart attack), severe shortness of breath or severe haemorrhage (bleeding).

Situation where home visits are not deemed necessary:

Symptoms of fever, cold, cough, sore throat, flu, back pain, earache, headache, diarrhoea/vomiting and most cases of abdominal pain. These patients are well enough to be brought to the surgery by car.
Children with a temperature are not at further risk from going outdoors. They may not be well enough to walk or travel by bus but car transport would be acceptable.
Common problems in the elderly such as poor mobility, joint pain and generally feeling ill would also be best treated at the surgery where we have more resources. The exception to this is if the patient is bed bound.
The doctor should not be expected to spend time on a visit due to transport difficulties. Please ask for help of friends or neighbours or consider the use of a taxi service.

Either a Nurse or Doctor may deal with telephone requests for same day appointments and some house calls on the telephone.

Telephone conversations are recorded to help ensure quality. Recordings may be used for training and monitoring. However, this will not compromise patient confidentialty.

Practice Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct