Appointments

There is significant demand for GP services, appointments, and the wider NHS right now, but our team is here to help you get the right care as quickly as possible.

Our patient care co-ordinators are trained to guide you toward the best type of appointment for your needs, so please give them as much information as possible; as GPs, we ask them to do this and it helps us assess what type of help you need next.

If you need to Cancel your appointment you can do so via online services, the NHS App, or by phone 01904 439100 and select option ‘0’ or via Virtual Health Assistant.

Requests

If you do not have access to the internet you can ring us on 01904 439100.

Online requests are processed throughout the day, Monday to Friday between 8 am and 6 pm. Fill out the form giving as much information as possible, please request a longer appointment if you have more than one issue.

All appointment requests are reviewed by our Triage Team.

Our Triaging Clinicans review all Same Day Requests and prioritise appointments using the information submitted to ensure you see the right Clinician within the right timeframe.  Our Triage Reception Team use a signposting sheet approved by our GPs, to review all Routine appointment requests.

Urgent requests are dealt with as quickly as possible within 1 working day, non-urgent requests can take several weeks.

Types of Appointments

If you have a new urgent, same-day problem, we will help you as quickly as possible.

Most issues we can handle safely over the telephone but if not, you’ll be offered a face to face appointment.

If we need to see you face to face, you could be asked to come down to any of our surgeries at short notice. We will call you if the appointment is within 2 hours (please keep your phone handy).

We’re lucky to have a wide range of Urgent Care Practitioners at the practice including Advanced Care Practitioners, Prescribing Nurses, and Paramedics. A GP is available for additional clinical input  when required.

If you have a non-urgent problem or need a follow-up appointment to discuss your condition or the results of tests, you’ll be offered a routine appointment

Your condition may be suitable for services such as PharmaRefer, or  an appointment at Acomb Garth,  Nimbus. Please be assured we will have reviewed the information provided from you carefully to ensure you are offered the most appropriate appointment with an appropriate clinician.

If possible, please try to request a home visit before 10:00. A doctor or nurse will review your request & phone you back, as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or it may be more appropriate to arrange a hospital attendance.

Home visits are only available for patients who are too ill (eg terminally ill) or physically incapable of travelling to the surgery (eg a truly housebound patient for whom travel to the surgery by car would cause deterioration in their medical condition).

Our doctors typically see four patients in the practice in the time it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the practice if at all possible. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery 

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.

Can’t make it during the day? We are able to offer, evening and Weekend  appointments  at Acomb Garth  Through Extended Access.

Our Contact Centre Administrators will advise if these are available and suitable for your needs.

Our nursing teams provide a whole range of healthcare services, from cervical screening (smear tests) and health checks to blood tests and long-term condition reviews, to name a few.

At Your Appointment

You can choose to be seen at any of our surgeries as your medical records are computerised.

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

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

You can help us by
  • Being on time for your appointment.
  • Letting us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel.
  • Calling for an urgent appointment or home visit before 10:00am daily.
  • Ringing for results of tests after 12 noon Monday to Friday only.

Other Help

Call 999

If you or someone else is experiencing any of the following, ring 999:

  • Unconscious/collapsed
  • Struggling to breathe
  • Suspected stroke
  • Anaphylactic reaction
  • Central, crushing chest pain or suspected heart attack
yellow and white van on road during daytime

Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk anytime of day. Trained staff and nurses will give you advice and arrange further assessment if necessary.

Head to your local pharmacy for advice about many minor illnesses, as well as any medication queries. Find your Local Pharmacy.