We are back to seeing patient for face to face appointments, as well as still offering telephone appointments - this is up to you.
Please inform reception when booking your appointment how you would like to be seen by the doctor, or if you are booking this online, please state in the description.
Don't waste your appointment! If you do not need your appointment please cancel it.
How to book an appointment
At Central Surgery we offer a few ways to book your appointments which are:
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Calling us from 8.00am to get a same day appointment or next available routine appointment - released 1 week in advance.
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Using the online services where appointments become available at 6.30pm for the next working day, these are also released up to 2 weeks in advance.
We may also send you a link via text to book an appointment when you are due a yearly review.
The Appointment System
The appointment system operates both for your convenience and to aid the doctor, and should be one patient to one appointment. If you wish to discuss two problems with the doctor, please book a double appointment.
Remember phones are very busy in the morning so when you want to book a non-urgent appointment, please try to phone in the afternoon. Please try to give as much notice as possible.
Please do not blame the receptionist if the doctor is running late for your appointment, or if they are unable to offer you just what you want. They are operating the system according to the doctors' instructions.
Remember they are trying to do a very difficult and demanding job and are often working under extreme pressure.
Urgent Appointments
If you feel your problem is urgent and cannot wait for a routine appointment you will be seen the same day. However, if the doctor considers the problem can wait then they may ask you to make a routine appointment.
Appointments Online
Remember they are trying to do a very difficult and demanding job and are often working under extreme pressure.
This feature allows our patients to book their appointments online; please request in person your personalised username and password from our reception team to enable access to the link. Please keep your password secure as it is confidential. Please note, nurse appointments are not bookable online.
If your appointment is related to an ongoing problem, or results from tests, please book it with the doctor who dealt with it.
Access Systmonline
Cancelling Appointments
If you cannot attend for your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so that the cancellation may be offered to another patient whose need may be urgent.
- You can leave a message on the answer machine to cancel your appointment. Please call 01702 468443 and select option 1.
- You can also cancel your appointment through the online service SystmOnline.
If you need help when we are closed
- Use NHS 111 online (111.nhs.uk) or call 111. 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
- Out of hours information
- If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999.
Try the NHS App
You can now use the NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and your GP account on your smartphone or tablet.
You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record, access your Covid vaccination status and more.
If you already use online access you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp
Home Visits
Please make every effort to attend the surgery if at all possible. If you cannot do this, please telephone between 8.00am and 10.30am to request the doctor to call. Calls after this time will be dealt with by the duty doctor on a priority basis.
Remember the doctor can see approximately five patients in the surgery during the time it takes to do one home visit, and it is at the doctor's discretion as to whether a home visit is deemed necessary. Transport problems are not an acceptable reason for requesting a home visit.
Family Pets
To ensure the safety of our staff we kindly ask that any family pets are not present during a home visit.
We understand that most family pets pose no risk in normal circumstances. When an owner is unwell it can be a stressful environment and pets can react unexpectedly to new visitors or in some situations such as when a patient is examined or where emergency care is required.
In these circumstances a pet can pose a risk to our staff and it is our policy that all visiting healthcare professionals will not enter patients' premises where a pet is present.