Appointments

An appointment system is in operation for the GPs and Practice Nurses. We regularly review the system and welcome feedback from patients on how they find the service. The reception staff will always try to accommodate patient requests and offer alternative arrangements if necessary. We try to adhere to appointment times.

For the benefit of all patients, please note the following points:

• Appointments are for one person only.
• Emergency appointments should not be used for social convenience or for non-urgent problems.
• As a courtesy to the patients attending after you, please arrive on time for your appointment. Late arrival may require a new appointment to be booked at a later date.
• Non-attendance for appointments is a persistent problem and increases the wait to see a doctor. If you cannot attend, please cancel your appointment within 24 hours of your appointment time. You can also cancel your appointment using the interactive form located on the Home page.

Routine Appointments

Appointments can be made at the reception desk or by telephone. Please try to give as much notice as possible. 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.

Urgent Appointments

Patients with urgent problems will be seen by a doctor the same day. To assist with the prioritisation of urgent appointments a triage system is in operation. This is a proven service, which is aimed at providing you with an opportunity to hold a confidential discussion with a either a qualified Nurse or a Doctor and from which a preliminary medical assessment can be made.

The Nurse will then be able to make an appointment for you with the appropriate healthcare professional. This may be a Doctor, Nurse or one of the other members of the Team at Ash Tree House.

Telephone Consultations

If you wish to speak to the doctor on the telephone please ring and tell the receptionist the nature of the call. The reception staff will then arrange a suitable time for you to speak to the doctor.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.

A doctor will phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Surgery.

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When is a Home Visit Appropriate?

Visit Recommended
Terminally ill patients, truly housebound patients whose condition would deteriorate if they travelled to surgery.

Visit May be Useful
Where a patient or relative has doubts – they should talk to a health professional who may agree that a visit is appropriate.

Visit Not An Appropriate Use of a GP’s Time
Common symptoms in children: fevers, cold, cough, sore throat, earache, diarrhoea, vomiting and most abdominal pain. Adults with cough, sore throat , general malaise, back pain and abdominal pain. Patients without cars should seek the help of family, friends or neighbours. 

Test Results

For tests ordered by the practice you will normally be told how to obtain the result.

In most cases we would be able to give results over the telephone – sometimes a prescription may need to be collected. Some results are better discussed or need clarification and you may be asked to see the doctor. This does not imply that there is a problem.

When telephoning for a result please call during the quieter times i.e. after 2:00pm.

Please note the following approximate timescales for results in respect of tests ordered at surgery:

Timescale for results

• X-ray - 2 weeks
• Blood test - 5 days
• Urine test - 5 days
• Biopsy - 1 week
• Smear test - 2 weeks 

Note that the practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection and we will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or they are not capable of understanding the results.