Appointments

To utilise the telephone/ face to face/ video consultation service, you must phone the surgery during opening hours, Monday-Friday. Face to face appointments are arranged if deemed appropriate. You can also access appointments online via the link on the home page for non-urgent healthcare. These requests come through to the practice system and triaged within a few days and an appointment made as necessary.

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse or Clinical Pharmacist rather than a doctor. They are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

The Reception team may ask you a couple of questions whilst making your appointment to help signpost you to the most appropriate clinician.

Changing / Cancelling Appointments

If you would like to change / cancel your appointment please ring reception before your appointment time. This appointment can then be given to someone else. If you have been sent a text reminder for your appointment there is also an option to cancel your appointment.

Telephone Advice

Should you need to speak to a clinician via the telephone please call reception on 0161 740 2106. The receptionist may ask you some questions in order to assist the clinician. 

Alternative Options to Access Healthcare

Once you have provided the reason for your appointment, the receptionist can help signpost you to the most appropriate service. Other options that may be available are:

• Extended Access appointments in the local Hub including evening and weekends
• Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS) for minor ailments
• Online Consultations via the surgery website (home page)
• Direct booking for Physio appointments
• Referral to the Social Prescribing Services 

Training Practice

We are a training practice. Occasionally there may be a student doctor in the surgery; please let us know if you would prefer to be seen without the student present.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery when required, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

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).