HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

If you call in or telephone you will be given an appointment as soon as possible with the doctor of your choice. We recommend that you see the same doctor whenever possible; it is helpful for both you and your doctor to get to know each other well.

Please remember that an appointment is for one person only and an additional appointment should be made if more than one person is to be seen.

Appointments can be made Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm.

Urgent problems will be seen the same day by whichever doctor is available.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please cancel as soon as possible so that it may be offered to someone else. If you wish to have a chaperone present during examination, please contact reception for details.

Since our last website update, we have made significant improvements to our appointment system. We are one of a number of local practices who have signed up to the Scottish Collaborative whose aim is to improve patient access to GPs and nurses and, as a result, we have reduced our waiting time for appointments. We have reorganised our appointment system to enable patients to either forward book their appointment or be seen on the day they phone. This will be monitored on an ongoing basis and we would appreciate your support and co-operation. As a result, we are continually working to improve our appointment system and to make sure that our patients have access to the right care at the right time by the appropriately trained member of clinical staff. This does not always have to be a doctor. You will notice over the next few months that our reception staff will ask more questions - they are not being obstructive, they are merely trying to help ensure that you see the appropriate clinician for your needs. Please note that our practice nurses and podiatrist are highly skilled in their own right and do offer certain appointments which were previously dealt with by our doctors. Please enquire at reception.

We have installed touchscreen software to enable our patients to book themselves into their appointment without attending the reception desk. For further information please enquire at reception.

Telephone Consultations

Patients can speak to a doctor/nurse over the phone rather than attend the surgery. However, these consultations are appropriate only for the following: discussing test results, ongoing treatment, recurrent problems, advice from GP/practice nurse. Please note: if you need to be examined by your GP/nurse, you should arrange an ordinary appointment. For further information on this service, please contact reception staff.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?

Our doctors will normally attend for house calls at a patient's registered address if, in their judgement, a medical condition makes it necessary. Please call before 10.30am if you think you must have a house call. Please give the receptionist as much information as possible as this will help the doctor to prioritise visits. Please note: house visits are at the doctor's discretion and they may wish to call you either to ascertain the urgency of the visit, or to allocate an appointment for you to attend the surgery if possible. Each house call takes the same time as seeing four or five patients at the surgery.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?

The results of investigations (blood tests etc) can take several days to be returned to the practice. When they arrive back in the practice, the doctor has to see and action them before they are made available to reception for giving out to patients. If your doctor tells you to phone the surgery for results, please allow five working days from the date of the test.
If the result is from a hospital or clinic appointment, please allow 10 - 14 working days before enquiring. When phoning please contact reception between 1.30 - 3.30pm Monday to Friday. NB: You may be asked to make an appointment with a doctor to discuss your results.

HOW DO I...
SPEAK TO DOCTORS AND NURSES?

If you wish to speak to a doctor or nurse, please be prepared to give information to the receptionist. The receptionist will inform the patient when they might expect their call to be returned. If the message requires am immediate response, the receptionist will contact the duty doctor. District nurses can be contacted direct on (01294) 832489.