HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Non-urgent
The practice uses an appointment system. To make an appointment please telephone or call in at the surgery during office hours. Requests should be made four to five days in advance if possible.
We average ten minutes per patient, so please book a double appointment if your problem is complex. If you have several different problems you may have to return for a second consultation. Please remember to cancel
appointments you cannot keep. You may consult any of the doctors in the practice, although it is often preferable to see one who knows you best.
Urgent
If you have an urgent medical problem we will always try to see you on the same day. Please telephone early in the day, but after 8.10am. We run an EMERGENCY SURGERY each morning from 8.00am. Calls are first 'telephone triaged' by the doctor because many problems can be dealt with effectively on the phone, thus saving valuable time. Patients who do need to be seen are given 5-minute appointments from about 9.40am.
The appointment system may change from time to time.
Internet Booking
Appointments can now be booked on the internet, as well as prescriptions ordered. For more information please ask at reception to register for this service.
SMS
If you wish, we can remind you of your appointment by text to your mobile phone. Please arrange with reception.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT? (8.00am - 6.30pm weekdays)
We do prefer to see you in surgery because it gives us more time to see other patients. However, if you are unable to visit us due to serious illness or physical disability we will see you at home. Requests for home
visits should be made between 8.30 and 10.30am, although emergencies can be requested at any time. A doctor will often phone back to assess the visit initially.
Individual doctors' attendance can be requested but cannot always be guaranteed.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TELEPHONE ADVICE?
If you wish to speak to your doctor on the telephone ask for a 'telephone consultation' appointment.
Many consultations can be done on the phone. These include test results, followup to hospital letters, and other follow-up instances where an examination is not needed. Please ask for a telephone appointment in these
situations. This will save the need for a valuable face to face appointment.
NHS DIRECT
Do remember that NHS Direct can offer health information and advice on 0845 4647. Their website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk also offers excellent information on
specific conditions and other recommended links.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
Your doctor may need to do tests on you to diagnose an illness. Please bring specimens requested to reception before 12noon to catch the collection van (weekdays only). Blood tests and non-urgent x-rays are
usually done at the Community Hospital, although some tests are done by our nurses or at Macclesfield Hospital.
TEST RESULTS take at least seven to ten days to come back: please allow time before telephoning for the result. X-rays currently take up to three weeks to get reported unless urgent. The receptionist will be instructed to say whether it is normal or whether you need to speak to your doctor. Please always phone for your result (between 10.00am and 2.00pm) to ensure that abnormal results are not missed.
HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE PRACTICE?
You may register with the practice if you live within the practice area, or be seen as a temporary resident if you are here for less than three months. We like all our new patients to have a new registration
medical with our practice nurse within one month of joining the practice. This allows us to assess your health before we get your notes and offer appropriate advice.
HOW DO I...
ADVISE YOU OF NEW DETAILS?
Please remember to inform us if you change your name, address or telephone number. This is most important particularly if we need to contact you about something urgent.
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