Patient Access
Routine Appointments
You can request an appointment by:
- Online via Patient Access (Register via the link above or click here)
- Phone – 01902 721021
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm - Using the NHS App to book a screening test or vaccination
If you are ringing for an appointment, please note when your call is answered, staff will ask you about your illness, this is to help them direct your call to the appropriate GP or service.
If you require an interpreter for your appointment, please let reception know and this will be arranged for you. Please also note that a translation facility for this website can be found in the top-right corner of your screen.
Urgent Appointments
You can request an urgent appointment for today (Monday to Friday) by:
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm.
- Phone – 01902 721021
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am 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.
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.
Other Clinicians
We have a number for alternative health care professionals available, who can deal with all minor ailments and other health issues which may not need to be seen by a GP. Our reception team are fully trained in care navigation and will be able to help advise of the most appropriate service.
Requesting a Home Visit
Requests for visits must be made before 10.30am and at the latest 12noon. Please only request home visits if you are incapable of attending the surgery.
Patients who are able to leave home for other reasons would be expected to attend the surgery for appointments.
If a patient is encouraged to come into the surgery, it is often on the basis that this is where the best care can be provided. Completing home visits is also more time consuming for our GPs.
Whenever possible, try and come into the surgery as facilities here are far better for examination and treatment. It helps us to judge the urgency of the call if you describe the symptoms. The receptionists are trained to deal with your call so do expect to be asked. All information is confidential. The doctor may telephone prior to, or instead of, visiting. Visits requested later in the day that are for the housebound, but are not urgent, will not be seen that day. Ring early if you wish for a routine call if you are housebound.
Are we running late?
We apologise in advance for any clinic which runs behind schedule and for keeping you waiting.
There are a number of reasons as to why this happens and we hope by explaining these reasons to you beforehand and offering some possible solutions, it may assist in your understanding and cooperation as well as reducing the time in which clinics may run late.
Reason 1
Some patients attend for their pre-booked appointment but have multiple problems. Each appointment slot is for 10 minutes which is normally sufficient to deal with one issue. Therefore, when a patient presents with multiple issues, it results in the GP having to spend more time than the allocated 10 minutes to assess the problems appropriately and effectively.
Suggestion – If you have more than one problem that you wish to discuss with your GP, please request a double appointment when booking, this will enable the GP to spend extra time with you without impacting on other patients waiting.
Reason 2
Other family members attending and expecting to be seen at the same time. Each appointment slot is allocated to one patient. As stated above 10 minutes is usually sufficient to deal with one problem for that one individual only.
Suggestion – We kindly request that an appointment is booked for each individual patient wishing to see the GP even if it is for the same problem. This way the correct time can be allocated and the GP should have adequate time to assess and treat each person effectively.
Reason 3
Patients arriving late for their pre-booked appointment. As a practice we do not like to instruct patients to rebook their appointment due to them missing their allocated slot if they have run late for genuine reasons. The GP will use their discretion and try to “slot you in” if possible in between other patients but this will inevitably impact on later appointment times for other patients. However, it may be necessary for you to reschedule your appointment for another day/session.
Suggestion – We kindly request for all patients to try to arrive on time for their pre-booked appointments. If you are running a little late however, please contact the surgery and advise them beforehand, that way if another patient arrives before you that is booked in later, it may be possible for them to be seen first.
Reason 4
The GP having to deal with emergencies. There are a number of situations that may require urgent/immediate attention from the GP such as telephone calls from paramedics or other medical professionals, requests for help from other staff members, arranging emergency hospital admissions, emergency treatment for palliative patients, etc etc. These occurrences are inevitable and unavoidable and always require the GPs attention. This unfortunately will impact on the time pre-booked patients are waiting.
Suggestion – Unfortunately there is no solution to this issue but we request your understanding when this occurs. The GP will always deal with these issues as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimise your wait.
On any occasion if you are kept waiting after your allocated appointment time please ask the reception staff, who will be happy to give you an explanation as to why the delay is occurring.
Chaperones
We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation.
This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained receptionist who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time.
You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.
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 and dressing patients, if required.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are cancelling an appointment for the same day, please contact your GP Surgery.
- Online via Patient Access
- Via your Text message reminder
– Simply reply “cancel” via text - Phone
– Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
– We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm
If you fail to notify the practice you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter/SMS Message informing you that you have missed an appointment. Persistent defaulters may be removed from the practice list.
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.
Community 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.
Enhanced Access Appointments
Please see the Enhanced Access (out of hours) service schedule below
| Day/Time | Which practice is open? |
|---|---|
| Monday 6.30 to 8.00pm | Ashfield Road Surgery Tel: 01902 783372 |
| Tuesday 6.30 to 8.00pm | Keats Grove Surgery Tel: 01902 731907 |
| Wednesday 6.30 to 8.00pm | Cannock Road Medical Practice Tel: 01902 739973Woden Road Surgery Tel: 01902 454242 |
| Thursday 6.30 to 8.00pm | MGS Medical Practice Tel: 01902 728861 |
| Friday 6.30 to 8.00pm | Showell Park Health Centre Tel: 01902 446711 |
| Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm | Prestbury Medical Practice Tel: 01902 721021 |
| Saturday 1.00 to 5.00pm | Showell Park Health Centre Tel: 01902 446711 |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Contact your GP Practice to book an appointment. Please note, you must be registered to one of our network’s practices.
What types of services are available on a Saturday?
- Acute Clinics
- Blood Sample taking
- First Contact Physiotherapy
- Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC)
- Medication Reviews
- NHS Health Checks