Appointments

To consult with a doctor, telephone 90325185 for Dunville, or 90776886 for Shore before 12 Noon - the duty doctor will ring you back or text you, some times even A video may be organised. If needed a face to face consultation may be organised.

Making an appointment allows you to choose the doctor of your choice and helps to reduce your waiting time. A separate appointment is required for each person to be seen.

If invited to the surgery please arrive at the allocated time, preferably alone if possible, to reduce exposure and crowding. The staff will then invite you into the building by one of the front or rear doors, be sure to bring your own face covering.

It is also important to gather your thoughts before a consultation – please don’t leave important issues until the end, please try to mention all issues at the beginning.

You should also try and learn the names of your tablets, rather than just the colours, sizes and shapes.  

Urgent Appointments

These are available, but not always with the doctor of your choice. We will endeavour to see any patient within 2 working days if so needed – but this can only work if respected by patients and will be at a time of the day and with such a doctor that the Practice can organise. If you cannot get an appointment as soon as needed please ask the receptionist to organise the doctor to ring you back – give your mobile number and if the doctor cannot solve the issue over the phone he/she will organise an urgent appointment for you (this is for urgent clinical matters) and needs to be requested before 12:00.

Telephone a Doctor

The best time to ring is just before the surgery. During surgery it is difficult for the doctor to discuss matters whilst another Patient is present so leave a contact Telephone number and details and the doctor will endeavour to phone you within 24 hours if clinically important.

Chaperones

We welcome the use of chaperones for any examinations – feel free to bring a friend, or ask for a nurse or staff member to be present.

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.

Home Visits

Home visits can be arranged with the doctor when the patient is medically too ill to travel,   (or it may be more appropriate for the doctor to arrange an ambulance to the hospital). Please try not to leave these requests till late in the afternoon.

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).

Teaching

This practice is recognised by the Department of Health for teaching undergraduate medical students from Queen’s University. On occasions patients may be asked to co-operate regarding history taking, physical examination and videotaping of consultations. Please don’t hesitate to refuse if you feel at all uncomfortable.

Most years a registrar or foundation doctor is attached to the Practice. These doctors have completed their university training and three or four years in hospital, having gained a broad experience in obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics & general medicine. They are about to become GP’s in their own right.