Appointments

Same day appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today (Monday to Friday):

  • Call the Surgery on 01332 880249 8am – 6pm
  • or use the GP online system: SystmOnline – Registration Required – see Online Services

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.

A small number of same day appointments are offered to be able to deal with significant health issues that, whilst not an emergency (life threatening), do require immediate attention.

There is a duty doctor every day, who deals with urgent clinical enquiries arising via our care navigator team as well as from other healthcare and community services. They are responsible for triaging home visit requests. Some same day health issues can be dealt with by phone and these patients may be booked in with the duty doctor.

Please remember that general practice is not an emergency service, and 999 should be called for health emergencies including chest pain, struggling to breathe and stroke.

Urgent appointments

Urgent appointments are offered to deal with concerning health issues that do not require immediate attention but are unable to wait for a routine appointment. These can be booked 3 days in advance. These will be available to book from w/c 25th November 2024.

  • Call the Surgery on 01332 880249 8am – 6pm
  • or use the GP online system: SystmOnline – Registration Required – see Online Services

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.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 4 – 6 weeks::

  • Call the Surgery on 01332 880249 8am – 6pm
  • or use the GP online system: SystmOnline – Registration Required – see Online Services

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.

We constantly review our appointments system to make the most of the limited resources we have available. Having listened to your feedback, from 25th November 2024 we are moving away from the “ring on the day” system, so you will be able to pre-book appointments 4-6 weeks in advance with members of the clinical team including GP’s. We are hopeful this will make things more convenient when trying to contact the surgery, and will allow for better continuity of care. There will be a small number of appointments available at shorter notice for things which cannot wait (eg breast lumps, infections).

Please click here for more information on the types of appointments now available.
 
Like all other GP surgeries, we are not an unlimited service. Funding to general practice has reduced significantly in real-terms over the past 5 years. At a time of unprecedented pressure and workload, and with a shrinking workforce, we must follow BMA recognised guidance  on maintaining safe working practices so that we do not put the safety of our patients or the welfare of our staff at risk.
 
Please note therefore that these changes to the appointments system will not increase the number of appointments available. If we have reached safe capacity for the day and we are full, there are other options for getting the help that you need. These include:
 
Urgent treatment centre (UTC)
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-visit-an-urgent-treatment-centre/
111 (Ring them for advice or go online https://111.nhs.uk/
They will give advice, or book you in / direct you to the most appropriate service to help you)
NHS Pharmacy First
https://healthmedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/02/01/pharmacy-first-what-you-need-to-know/
Derbyshire mental health support line
Understandably, a GP surgery only has so much capacity and when appointments are fully booked, we are unable to simply provide more with the resources available. When this happens you will be asked to phone NHS111 who will provide an appropriate route for your problem. You may also be referred to the new Pharmacy First scheme for certain problems which can be quickly and effectively treated by a qualified pharmacist. Our Care Navigators will arrange this for you if you contact us about a relevant condition. Please understand that this is not a personal rejection. But simply that your problem may be best treated by another service, or the Practice’s capacity within which we can safely deliver care, is now full due to demand from other patients.
Please understand that the practice does its best to provide an excellent service at all times and in times of increased pressure, measures need to be in place to try to serve high patient demand with the resources that are available.
We also ask that you are considerate towards our Care Navigation staff, who work very hard to support the wellbeing of all of our patients. Our team do their best to provide the best care possible to you within their resources and a difficult interaction with a patient can often have an emotional impact on the member of staff, which then affects how they are able to help other patients.
All of the staff at Arthur Medical Centre strive to deliver an exceptional level of care to each and every patient, and we do so within the parameters of available resources and funding. If you have feedback or a complaint regarding your experience as a patient of the Practice, please submit this in writing for the attention of the Practice Manager. If you have feedback or a complaint regarding national policies related to Primary Care or NHS services, these may be best raised with your MP.

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 you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system: SystmOnline
  • phone us on 01332 880249, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other 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

Home visits

Home visits are reserved for those that are truly housebound because of illness or disability.  It is preferable for patients to be seen at the surgery as this provides the facilities and access to all the appropriate equipment that cannot be brought to patients’ homes.  Several patients can be seen at the surgery in the time that it takes to make one home visit.  Lack of own transport is not an acceptable reason for a visit request as relatives, friends, taxi firms, community transport etc are generally available options.

Should you need to request an urgent home visit please telephone the surgery before 10.00am whenever possible.  Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed.  Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.  The doctor will usually wish to speak to you before arranging a visit.