Noticeboard

JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES: 3rd January 2024 - 9th January 2024

Local health services

If you need help from your GP or another member of the practice team over the above period, we are open every weekday from 8am until 6.30pm, except for bank holidays when we are closed. Please contact us if you have a health condition that needs checking or an illness that won't go away.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This means that all NHS services, particularly hospitals, will be under severe strain. But please don’t put off seeking medical help if you need it. Here is a reminder of what local services are available:

  • The NHS websitenhs.uk has lots of advice to help you to look after yourself when you have minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency.

  • If your child is feeling unwell, the Healthier Together website has advice about some common symptoms, how to look after your child at home and when to get further help.

  • Drop in to a pharmacy for health advice or information about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you to deal with a cough, cold and lots of other winter illnesses.
  • If you need help urgently, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice or an appointment to see a doctor or nurse if this is needed. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services like urgent treatment centres. Using 111 online means you won’t have to wait on the phone.  

  • If you are in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and get straight through to mental health help by selecting option 2.

  • You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

  • Do not visit anyone in a hospital or care home if you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting. Stomach bugs are easily spread, make already ill people very seriously unwell, and can lead to whole hospital wards being closed. Please wait 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea before visiting anyone who is vulnerable.  

More information on these services and self-help advice can be found at: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/help-us-help 

Appointments

Routine Appointments

Routine appointments can be up to a three week wait depending on patient specifications. Please book a routine appointment either via the 24 hour patient partner system, the online booking system or by phoning during opening times to speak with a receptionist.

Urgent / Duty Doctor Appointments

We have a duty doctor each day who will manage the flow of patients who feel they need to be seen by a doctor that day. To book an on the day urgent appointment please phone at 08:00 when the lines first open. 

Please bear in mind the surgery cannot predict the demand for the urgent / duty doctor appointments so there may be a wait of up to 60 minutes for these appointments. The appointments are a 5 minute appointment for ONE problem only.

Other Healthcare Professionals

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with another Healthcare Professional rather than a doctor. They are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

General Information

Appointments are for ONE person / ONE problem only. If you need a longer appointment please discuss your request with the receptionist to book a double appointment; there could be a longer wait for a double appointment. 

Patients under 16yrs of age should be accompanied by an adult wherever possible.

Non-attendance for appointments is a constant problem and increases the wait for other patients to see the doctor. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please inform reception in plenty of time so that the appointment may be given to another patient.  If you turn up late for an appointment it will be up to the discretion of the doctor whether it is still possible for you to be seen as this may have an impact on other patients.

We always try to see patients at their appointed time but sometimes need to spend longer with patients than the allocated time; we appreciate your patience if there is some delay.

Appointment confirmations and reminders will be sent to your mobile phone by SMS text messaging service. Please ensure we have your up to date contact details on record.

We can arrange interpretation and translation services by telephone for patients who speak little or no English but please ensure that when you are booking your appointment you must advise the receptionist of this need and also request a double appointment.

If you require a face to face interpreter to be present during your consultation, this can be arranged but you will need to book your appointment at least two weeks in advance.  Alternatively, if you can bring someone along with you who can interpret for you, please do so. 

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Non attendance for appointments (DNAs) is a persistent problem and can severely affect the quality of care and speed of access and choice for our patients. Missed appointments will be regularly monitored by the practice manager.

Saturday Morning

We have some pre-bookable appointments on a Saturday morning.  These appointments must be booked via a receptionist. 

 
Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website