MAKING A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT

Routine appointments are booked in advance by either: Telephoning the practice, calling into the practice or on-line booking using our website.  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. Please try to book routine appointments a few days in advance.

We occasionally send out text reminders to patients relating to pre-booked appointments.  There is no facility to reply to these reminders.

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 doctor or locum. (All the doctors and practice nurses have access to your medical records but maintain full confidentiality.)

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 or use our automated patient check-in service.

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.

GP APPOINTMENT AVAILABILITY

Generally appointments are available with a GP between the following times:

• 8.00 and 11.20am each weekday morning
• 2.00 and 5.50pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
• 2.00 and 7.40pm* Monday (Tuesday where a Bank Holiday falls on a Monday)

A limited number of evening and Saturday morning appointments are also available. The Saturday morning appointments take place at the University of Warwick Health Centre.

*Late evening and Saturday appointments are available to those patients who have difficulty in getting to the practice during the normal working day.

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.

CHAPERONES

If you would like a chaperone present during your consultation then please advise the receptionist when booking your appointment or when checking in.

URGENT/EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

For an EMERGENCY appointment on the same day, please try to contact the practice at 08.00 am when the surgery opens.

MISSED APPOINTMENTS

It is extremely important that patients attend booked appointments.  If you arrive late for your appointment you may not be seen as you would be in another patient's time slot.  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

WAITING TIMES

All our clinicians endeavour to run to appointment times.  However depending upon the complexity of the illness and any emergency that can arise they can run late.  If you have been waiting longer than 30 minutes beyond your appointment time please see reception.  To assist the clinicians in running to time please remember that one appointment is for one problem.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Health Centre.

Attached is our home visiting policy Home Visiting Policy

TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS

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).

A limited amount of telephone enquiry slots are also available with the nurses.

TELEPHONE CALLS TO PATIENTS

The practice often needs to contact a patient by telephone.  If the patient is not in when the call is made then a short message will be left.  It is very important that patients keep the practice up to date with their up to date telephone numbers.

Ideally patients with long term conditions are seen twice per year; once by the Nurse and once by the Doctor. 

Visit One

Generally the nurse appointment is initiated by a letter asking you to make an appointment.  (Sometimes the appointment can be preceded by an appropriate blood test).  During your appointment the nurse will also carry out a medication check.  If there are any concerns at this stage the nurse will liaise with the Doctor or advise you to make an appointment with the Doctor. 

Visit Two 

The second appointment should be with the Doctor for a medical review six months after the nurse appointment.

Of course, if patients have any other concerns during the year they will be seen in the usual manner.

Leading a healthy lifestyle if you have a long term condition can help ease your symptoms.  If you would like advice on how you can do this please call the practice and book an appointment with our Healthy Lifestyle Advisor.    

The above process allows the practice to improve patient services by reducing unnecessary attendances thereby increasing appointment access.

WAITING AREA

Our current waiting area is temporarily in a portacabin due to the building of an extension to our premises.  We apologise for any inconvenience.  Oncer the extension is completed in 2019 our facilities will be enhanced including the provision of seven new clinical rooms to better meet the needs of our patients.

DISABLED ACCESS

Disabled access is via the main entrance.  All consulting rooms and treatment areas are on the ground floor. If you are hard of hearing, please tell us as we have the 'hearing loop' system.

INFECTION CONTROL

Books and magazines have been removed from the waiting area as they can present a risk of spreading infection. The check-in screen in the waiting area is cleaned several times each working day to reduce the risk of spreading infection. If you are concerned about infection please wash your hands after using the touch screen.

CAR PARKING

We currently have no car parking at our premises due to the building of an extension.  Please DO NOT park in the residents car park in front of our main gates.  We apologise for any inconvenience.  Our car park will be available to our patients once the building extension has been completed in 2019.  Your Doctor encourages you to walk to the practice.  Alternatively there is ample parking in the side roads near to the practice.  Please park safely and with courtesy to others.

Dental Pain 

Doctors would not normally give strong pain killers or antibiotics relating to dental pain.  Patients suffering from dental pain need to have a full assessment by a dentist.

For further advice click on the link below

Tooth Pain Advice 

Flu Vaccination Clinics

Flu vaccination clinics are held late September/November each year for all 'at risk' patients.  At risk patients are those who suffer from heart or kidney disease, asthma, diabetes and those aged 65 and over.  Please contact reception or look on the web site in September/October for details of flu vaccination clinics.

Free health checks are available for patients between the ages of 40 to 74 without a pre-existing condition.  The check is designed to assess your risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes. 

These conditions are the number one cause of premature death and patients are often unaware that they’ve developed a problem until it’s too late.

The check is available from Nicola your health care assistant. It’s quick and easy, and if we do find a problem, you’ll get plenty of personalised help and advice on simple lifestyles changes that can make a huge difference.

The check is based on questions and measurements such as age, family history, height, weight and blood pressure. There will also be a simple blood test to measure your cholesterol.  A free health check is available every five years.

We are currently sending out postal invitations to relevant patients inviting them in for this health check.   However if you fit the above category and wish to have your health check now then please contact reception to make your appointment.

For further information please click on the following link NHS Free Health Checks