How Do I...

MAKE A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT?
Routine appointments are booked in advance by telephoning or calling in during practice hours. The receptionist will endeavour to give you a convenient appointment with the doctor, but if this is not possible she will suggest an alternative time or another doctor who is available.

At Broomfield Park there is a receptionist on duty to take your call from 8.00am until the practice closes at 6.00pm but we are closed between 1.00 - 2.00pm. Please try to book routine appointments a few days in advance.

For routine appointments we allow 10 minutes per patient. If you feel that your problem is complex or you wish to discuss several problems please see 'Double Appointments' below.

When a doctor is away, their duties will be covered by another partner or locum. (All the doctors and practice nurses have access to your medical records but maintain full confidentiality.)

We have a fully qualified nurse practitioner, Marie White, who may see you for routine appointments or, particularly, 'on the day' appointments. She will be able to manage minor illnesses and seek GP advice if necessary.

Please ensure that you arrive on time for your appointment as the doctor may be unable to see you if you arrive late.

Do always report to reception on arrival for your appointment.

We have an electronic system for calling patients through for their appointments. Please therefore watch and listen to the monitors in the waiting area. If you have difficulty in hearing or seeing our 'call-in' monitors then please let reception know.

TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS
The doctor is able to give you advice on the telephone to save you attending the practice. Telephone appointments have proved popular and time efficient for both parties. When booking a telephone appointment please give details to the receptionist before 10.30am. The doctor will generally telephone you after morning surgery (this depends on whether they are doing a morning or afternoon surgery on that day).

CHOICE OF DOCTOR
As a patient of the practice you have a right to choose which doctor you wish to see when making an appointment. The practice will make every endeavour to meet this request which must be made at the time of booking your appointment. (Please be aware that certain doctors work fewer sessions per week than others.)

DOUBLE APPOINTMENTS
If you feel that you need more time with the doctor/nurse to discuss several problems then please ask the receptionist to book you a double appointment.

Should more than one of your family need to see a doctor at the same time, please make this clear when booking your appointment. This will ensure that you have a separate appointment for each member of the family thus allowing sufficient time for the doctor to assess each person's medical needs.

URGENT/EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS
For an EMERGENCY appointment on the same day, please try to contact the practice before 10.30am.

MISSED APPOINTMENTS
It is extremely important that patients attend booked appointments. If you do need to cancel your appointment then please give as much notice as possible so that the appointment can be re-booked to another patient.
The computer holds a record of missed appointments where notification has not been received of non-attendance. The doctors may remove patients from the list who continually miss booked appointments.

How Do I...

REQUEST A HOME VISIT?
If you feel you are too ill to attend the practice and request a home visit please telephone before 10.30am. Home visits are generally made to those patients who are housebound or too ill to attend the practice in person.
Sick children are normally better seen at the practice and should be brought along by their parents/guardians.
The doctor may telephone you first to establish whether a home visit is required or whether the problem may be better dealt with in a different way.

How Do I...

OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?
When making any enquiries relating to blood tests, x-rays etc please contact the practice after 12 noon. This allows the receptionists to dedicate the early part of their day to those patients urgently seeking appointments with their doctor.