Please see our Reception Staff or telephone the Practice during Opening Times on 0121 557 3422 to arrange an appointment to see the doctor or nurse.
The doctor will try their best to give enough time to each patient but if, for example, two members of one family try to be seen in a single appointment, other patients will be kept waiting. So please make an appointment for each person wishing to be seen.
If you think that your problem may take an unusually long time, please inform our Reception Staff so that allowances can be made for this.
Routine Appointments
You can request a routine appointment in the next 7 days by:
- Phone
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Using the NHS App to book a screening test or vaccination
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
You will be offered the earliest available appointment to see the doctor of your choice, or nurse; although it may not be possible to fit you in the same day.
Telephone Advice
If you require advice from a doctor, please telephone 0121 557 3422; the receptionist will put you through to the doctor as soon as she/he is free. Please appreciate that it may be necessary to ask you to either hold or phone back should the doctor be busy with another patient.
Urgent Appointments
If you have an urgent medical problem that you feel needs attention on the same day, please explain this to our Reception Staff who will use our telephone triage service to deal with your request.
When you call, our Reception Staff will take your name and telephone number and either the duty doctor or nurse practitioner will telephone you back as soon as possible.
If the clinician thinks you need to be seen, you will usually be offered an appointment that day.
You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) by:
- Phone
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Emergency Appointments
If you need a doctor in an emergency (i.e. it cannot wait until normal surgery opening hours), please telephone 0121 557 3422; a tape-recorded message will give you a further number to phone.
Your request will then be passed on to the duty doctor or to the deputising service doctors, who will give advice accordingly or arrange for you to be seen at one of the Primary Care Surgeries.
The Doctor will visit if absolutely necessary.
Your Appointment
However you choose to contact us we may offer you a consultation:
- By phone
- Face-to-face at the surgery
- On a video call
- By text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means the doctor or nurse can help you sooner.
We usually provide a telephone appointment and then offer a face-to-face appointment if needed. However, if you prefer a face-to-face appointment, please tell us.
If you need help with your appointment, please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or another health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs.
Chaperones
Our Practice is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of every-one is of paramount importance.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend. On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present.
Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.
If you wish to have a member of the Practice staff present during your consultation please mention this to our Reception Staff when booking your appointment, or to the doctor at your consultation, and it will be arranged.
The role of a chaperone:
- Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations.
- Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability.
- Provides emotional comfort and reassurance.
- Assists in the examination.
- Assists with undressing patients, if required.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can allocate it to someone else.
If you are cancelling an appointment for the same day, please contact the practice.
If you are cancelling an appointment for another day, please cancel your appointment by:
- Phone
– Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speaking with a receptionist
– We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
When we are closed
NHS 111
If you are very unwell and you cannot wait until the surgery has opened, please call NHS 111 by dialling 111, and they will be able to advise on the care that you need. They can organise emergency services or an ambulance if needed. The NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisers supported by experienced nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. The NHS 111 service is available if you require urgent medical help, but it is not a life-threatening situation.
Late Night Pharmacies
As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.
All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website. Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.