Appointment Information

Same Day Access Appointments are available to anyone who needs to be seen on the day they contact the surgery. Appointments will be offered with our Duty Team (Doctor and Nurse Practitioners). You can also request a telephone consultation with a member of the Duty Team. He or she will ring you within a specified time on the telephone number you have given.

If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP.

If you don't need an appointment within two working days, you also have the option to book a routine appointment up to 4 weeks in advance with a Doctor of your choice if this is more convenient for you.

Nurses based in our practice treat patients for a wide range of common conditions. You can expect to see a nurse within one working day and all of them are qualified to prescribe from a range of medicines.

Let us know if more than one person in the family needs to be seen. We can give you a longer appointment if necessary.

Tell us if you want someone to accompany you during an examination or a private room to discuss any matters. Remember that the results of tests can only be given to the patient.

How do I make an appointment?

When making an appointment please give the receptionist your name, address and any details that are relevant for the appointment. The receptionist might ask some general details about the problem. This is in order to give you the best kind of appointment with the right person.

If blood or other samples are needed, please tell the receptionist as we need these samples in the morning to enable them to go to the hospital.

Thank you

Please note the following test/checks require 20 minute appointment slots:

• Smear Test
• Asthma Check
• Diabetes Check
• Doppler Test
• ECG Test
• IUD Check

Video-Taping of Consultations

As we are a Training Practice for Registrars we sometimes would like to take video recordings of patient's consultations. We would of course, ask your permission well in advance and if you would prefer not to have your particular consultation on video we are more than happy to oblige and switch off the video. This will be used to help teach the registrar how to improve such consultations. If you agree to be recorded you will be asked to sign a consent form. No intimate examinations will be recorded and the camera can be switched off on request.

All video recordings are made under the rules laid down by the National Training committee. The video tape is as confidential as your medical records and will be kept with the same security used for educational purposes and then erased. If you do not want the video-camera to record your consultation, then all you have to do is tell the receptionist. This will not affect your consultation or treatment in any way.

Locum Doctors

Locum Doctors are appointed if a Doctor is on holiday or ill. When making an appointment we always advise if a locum has been appointed to cover planned Doctors leave. In the event of illness you will be advised that a locum is running a certain surgery session.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and if patients prefer to wait and see the doctor of their choice rather than the locum we are happy to oblige by making appointment with the doctor on their return.

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

The morning after pill has to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse. Because of our daily and weekend surgeries, you should never have difficulties in obtaining the morning after pill at Redgate. You only have to tell the Receptionist that it is essential that you see the doctor today, you do not have to tell her why.

Obtaining Your Test Results

We ask patients to telephone after 3.00 pm for their results. The surgery tends to be slightly less busy and additionally many of our results are not returned until lunchtime.

In order to maintain confidentiality, results can only be given to the patient concerned or parents of children under 16. Do remember only broad details can be given over the telephone eg, normal, test needs repeating, please see the doctor. The receptionists are not trained to interpret the result. If you do not understand a comment or are worried, please speak to the doctor concerned.

Telephone Advice

If you wish to speak to a doctor, it is best to contact the surgery before surgery commences. Interruptions during surgery are upsetting for the doctor and patient. You may be asked to ring back or leave a contactable telephone number, so the doctor can contact