HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE PRACTICE?
If you live within our practice area and are not currently registered with a doctor, you are eligible to join our practice.
Those applying to join the list are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation or appearance, disability or medication condition.
Our receptionists will give you the information you need and make you an appointment with a health care professional if this is needed.
Patients are registered with the practice rather than an individual doctor, although you may express a preference for which doctor you would normally wish to see. However, in urgent cases we cannot guarantee an
appointment with the doctor of your choice.
HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
An appointment system is in operation for consultations with all health care professionals. However, provision is made for urgent cases to be seen on the same day. You can make an appointment by telephone or in person at
the reception desk but do remember that incoming telephone lines are extremely busy during the early part of the morning. You may consult with any of the doctors at the practice. However, should you need an urgent
appointment we cannot guarantee you will see the doctor of your choice.
Please help us by giving as much notice as possible when making routine appointments and by cancelling your appointment well in advance if you are unable to attend.
The NHS Direct Helpline
This telephone helpline is staffed by specially trained nurses who can give you 'immediate information' and helpful friendly advice on what to do and not what to do. It is a 24-hour service and is completely
confidential. They also have information on local dentists and pharmacists.
Phone 0845 46 47. Calls are charged at local rates.
HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?
Patients are requested to telephone the surgery before 11.00am if a visit is required, in order to allow doctors to plan their calls. It is at the doctor's discretion as to whether a home visit is
deemed necessary.
In order to ensure that the best use is made of your GP services, please attend the surgery whenever possible.
Home Visiting Guidelines
GP Visit Recommended
Home visiting makes clinical sense and is the best way of giving medical opinion in cases involving:
- The terminally ill
- The truly housebound patient for whom travel to premises by car would cause deterioration in their medical condition
GP Visit May Be Useful
- Following a conversation with a health professional, it may be agreed that a seriously ill patient may be helped by a GP's visit
GP Visit Is Not Usual
In most cases it would not be an appropriate use of your GP's time or best for you in the following circumstances:
- Heart attack - severe crushing chest pain. The best approach is to call an emergency paramedic ambulance
- Common symptoms of childhood such as fevers, cold, cough, earache, headache, diarrhoea/vomiting and most cases of abdominal pain. These patients are usually well enough to travel to the surgery. It is not
harmful to take a child with fever outside
- Adults with common problems, such as cough, sore throat, influenza, general malaise, back pain and abdominal pain are also readily transportable to the doctor's surgery. Transport arrangements are the
responsibility of the patients or their carers
HOW DO I...
ORDER A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?
Regular repeat prescriptions are computerised. Each prescription has a tear-off slip which enables the next prescription to be ordered. For reasons of safety we cannot take requests for repeat prescriptions over the
telephone. They can however be obtained by faxing your request on (01484) 720479 or by emailing us at prescriptions@thechurchlanesurgery.co.uk. If it is more convenient we are
happy to post prescriptions as long as a stamped addressed envelope is provided.
Please anticipate your needs and allow two working days before collecting your prescription.
Repeat prescriptions for oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy cannot be obtained in this way but only by seeing your doctor.
Repeat prescription medications are destroyed if not collected within two weeks.
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