Appointments

Demand for appointments and home visits vary daily.  We endeavour to offer same day access and would appreciate if you telephone between 8am and 10am on the main surgery telephone number 01642 245069.

Appointments beyond this time will be offered based on the clinical need of the patient and available capacity in the practice, to ensure we provide safe care.

You can book a telephone consultation with a GP / ANP or a face to face appointment with our Nursing Team for a Blood Pressure or Blood test (GP must have authorised) out of practice hours by accessing the online booking system, please ask a receptionist how to register for this service.

Please be aware from 1st July 2019 there are extended hours appointments available on Monday evenings in the practice after 6.30pm, these can be booked in the usual way by contacting the practice as stated above.  

There are also extended hours appointments available with our Out of Hours STAR service if you need to see or speak to a GP or nurse after 6pm on a weekday, or on a weekend or Bank Holiday, you can access our local extended GP hours service follow the link below.  These appointments are provided at different sites and not at the Discovery Practice.

http://www.starappointment.co.uk/booking/

When call the practice for an appointment the receptionist will ask you for your name and your telephone number. If you need to speak to a doctor urgently, because it’s an emergency, tell the receptionist straightaway.

The receptionist will ask you generally for information about your health problem. This will help the doctor(s) prioritise the call back based on patient need. It does not have to be detailed information just general guidance such as Chest Pain, Sticky Eye or dizzyness.  The receptionist is not prioritising your call the GP will be from the information the receptionist is able to add to the request.  If you do not wish to discuss your symptoms or health problem with the receptionist then please state this to the receptionist.

If you want to talk to a specific doctor tell the receptionist and wherever possible they will arrange this.

If your doctor thinks you need to come into the surgery to be seen, or if you would still like to come in, he or she will make an appointment for you.

When you call the surgery if the doctor is busy he or she will call you back as soon as possible. We aim to return all calls within 1 hour. 
 

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Doctors Consulting Times

Monday to Friday 8.30am to 11.30am  and  3.00pm to 5.30pm

Extended Hours Mondays from 6.30pm (Starting 1 July 2019)

GP’s are also available for telephone consultations if you wish to consult with a GP over the telephone.

Nurse Consulting Times

Extended Hours STAR SERVICE appointments:

There are extended hours appointment for routine care only the appointments will be at different site locations. 

Please click on the link below to book an appointment.

http://www.starappointment.co.uk/booking/

Home Visits

If your illness prevents you from attending the surgery, you can request a home visit by telephoning 245069. Please try to telephone before 10am. Obviously, we will take calls for an emergency visit at any time. Our reception staff will ask for you telephone number and other details, to enable to doctor to assess the urgency of the call. Please remember:- 3 or 4 patients may be seen in the surgery in the time that it takes to visit 1 patient at home.

The facilities for investigation and treatment are much better at the surgery and we therefore ask all patients to attend if possible.

Telephone Advice

Our doctors are available to give you advice over the telephone. It may be necessary to take your number and a brief message to enable them to return your call when they are free. Please call the practice as early as possible, preferably between 8am and 10am to log a request for routine telephone advice. 

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).