Your GP practice is open and if you need to arrange a face to face appointment or to  speak to your GP, please ring us on 01268 553321.  Our opening hours are 08.00 - 18.30.

You can also call NHS 111.  

For the best chance of a same day appointment please call the surgery at 08.00 as appointments book very quickly. 

IN JANUARY 2023 THE SURGERY ANSWERED 3,545 TELEPHONE CALLS.  SO PLEASE THINK TWICE BEFORE COMPLAINING THAT YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH.  OUR STAFF ARE WORKING AS HARD AS THEY CAN. 

During February 2024 there were 32 face to face appointments which were not attended and 6 telephone consultations which were not answered.  This amounts to 13 working hours that have been wasted.

During the entire year of 2023, 589 appointments were wasted.  This is the equivalent of 2 weeks worth of appointments.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, as this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters may be asked to change to another practice.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

Home Visits

Out-of-hours GP services are changing

We want to provide the right services at a time which is convenient for you. We’ve listened to feedback from people in our local area, and we are making changes to our out-of-hours appointments to deliver better services for you.

The new way of delivering out-of-hours appointments will give you:

• Access to more healthcare professionals. This new service will be delivered by professionals including GPs, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Clinical Pharmacists, Physician Associates and Physiotherapists.
• More choice about the type of appointment you want. These include a mixture of in-person face-to-face appointments, and remote appointments like telephone, video, or online appointments.
• Make it more convenient for you to travel to out-of-hours appointments. These appointments are being planned and delivered locally, so it is likely they will available closer to your home.

From Saturday 1 October 2022, out-of-hours appointments will be available from 6.30pm to 8pm on weekdays, and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.

When we asked local people what you wanted from these appointments you told us you would like appointments outside the working hours 8:00 -18:30 and that it would be great to have access to extra Healthcare professionals including GPs, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Clinical Pharmacists, Physician Associates and Physiotherapists. These appointments will be available to help address the demand for same day appointments. In response we have listened to and actioned your requests.

Out-of-hours appointments were previously planned by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) on behalf of many GP practices in a bigger area. From Saturday 1^st October 2022, this is now being planned and delivered locally by Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

We are working together with other GP practices in our local area as part of the Central Basildon Primary Care Network. You can find out more about Central Basildon Primary Care Network on our PCN website at https://www.centralbasildonpcn.nhs.uk

An out-of-hours appointment might not be at your regular GP surgery. When you book an appointment, you will be told where the appointment will be.

These appointments will not be available as walk-in appointments. You will need to book them in advance

To book an out-of-hours appointment, you should contact your regular GP practice in the usual way. They will advise you on the appointments which are available, and which healthcare professional is the right person to help you.

If you need medical help now but it's not an emergency, you can also go to 111 online or call 111.

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and she will arrange this for you.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation of your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS TAKEN FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE DAILY MAIL, 16TH AUGUST 2023

GP practices have evolved.  Nowadays there are not only more ways to get an appointment, but also more health experts you may be able to see.

Most surgeries now have their own website, so as well as calling them, you can go online to book a consultation and order repeat prescriptions, too. 

And you might not always see a doctor first, because new health and care staff have been introduced into GP surgeries.  In fact, 29,000 extra health and care roles have been filled. 

This ensures that people can be seen by the right professional first time. So, if it's appropriate, you may be offered an appointment with a physiotherapist, paramedic or nurse.  Or you may be advised to see someone outside of the surgery, such as a pharmacist or optician. 

Not only does this get you the hel you need as quickly as possible, it also helps tackle the "8am rush" for an appointment.  And it fres GPs to concentrate on the complex an serious cases that really need their expertise. 

CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Some of the changes you are seeing in general practice began before the pandemic and were speeded up in response to the arrival of Covid-19.

Many GP surgery websites now include GP forms which can be ussed to request an appointment, get help and advbice or ask other questions.  You can still call the surgery or visit in person.  Whichever way you contact your GP practice, trained members of the reception team will ask you what you need help with.  It is not because they are nosy, it's because they need to know who it's best to book you in with, and it's entirely confidential. 

Once they know why you're requesting an appointment, they can determine who's the most suitable person for you to see.  It's all done under the supervision and guidance of GPs, so if someone is unsure about your case, it will bepased on to a doctor or another senior clinician to assess. 

Whatever they decide, it means that you'll be seen as quickly as possible by the most appropriate professional. Alternatively, if it's better for you, you may be directed to experts outside of the surgery you may not realise you can see, such as community pharmacies and mental health services.