Appointments

Urgent appointments

Urgent appointments for most minor ailments will now be booked with our Clinical Pharmacist service for a telephone appointment call back within 48 hours. There will not be a possibility of speaking with or visiting the GP if you are unwell with any minor ailment.

Urgent same day appointments with the GP’s will still be available for those that do not meet the criteria to be booked with the Clinical Pharmacist.

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

phone us on 020 8777 1293, Monday to Friday at 8am
visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

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

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

phone us on 020 8777 1293, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
use your Patient Access account
use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

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.

Please note that our routine appointments are released every Monday 8am and operate on a first come first serve basis. We recommend booking your appointment through online services at this time, if you do not have access to online services please see here. Due to staff holiday and unforeseeable circumstances the amount of routine appointments available per week vary and may run out sooner than the end of the week. In this instance, you will be asked to try again next Monday.

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.

Appointment Assistance

All patients will be given the right to a same day assessment if clinically indicated.

All patients being referred to hospital will be given the right to choose their hospital.

NHS resources are precious and it is in everyone’s interest to use them in a responsible manner.

Please:
– Please keep your phone call brief and avoid calling during peak morning time for non-urgent matters
– Only use the emergency service in a genuine emergency
– Treat all the members of the team with respect and courtesy at all times.
– Reduce delays by remembering appointments are for one person only.
– Keep your appointment and always let us know if you wish to cancel or change.
– Notice helps, but even knowing at the last minute can help us fit someone else in.

Be Prepared
– Make a list of any questions / problems you wish to discuss before hand.
– Take a pen & paper as you may want to note down important points.
– Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined.
– Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking.
– You can bring someone with you for support.

During The Appointment
– Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
– If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.
– If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember pharmacists are experts in medication and a very useful source of advice.
– Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.

One Problem At A Time
If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.

Be on Time
Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.

Separate Appointments
Make a separate appointment for each member of the family.

Under 14 Year Olds
Accompany under 14 year olds. If however, a young person strongly wishes to be treated without his/her parent’s involvement, his/her confidentiality will be respected.

Automated Arrival Screens

To make your visit to the surgery easier, we have an automated arrivals screen in the waiting room. When used, it will announce your arrival electronically rather than booking in at the reception desk.

Our receptionists will answer your phone calls, make appointments and handle any enquiries, along with doing the prescriptions and much more work that is done in the background that no one sees.

They are there to help you but their job is extremely demanding, so please help them by understanding the problems they face when trying to please everyone.

They may occasionally need to ask for some medical details if they feel your enquiry can be dealt with by speaking to a doctor on the telephone, but they will always treat what you say with the utmost confidentiality. They aim to be pleasant and courteous at all times.

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 – Patient Access
complete our online appointment cancellation form
phone us on 020 8777 1293, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

Should you wish to amend your appointment type, such as changing a face to face appointment to a telephone appointment, please email us at selicb.wickhamparksurgery@nhs.net or call us on 0208 777 1293.

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

Interpreting and Translation Support

Home visits

If your illness prevents you from attending the surgery, a home visit can be arranged by telephoning the surgery before 10.30am. Urgent calls will be referred to the duty doctor. You may be advised that the doctor will telephone you to discuss your need for a home visit. 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 practice.

Home visits are usually carried out by a GP from the surgery between 2pm to 4pm, although this time may vary. In the case that a GP may not be able to attend for the booked home visit, the surgery will do a referral to the Rapid Response Team, which will mean a registered Doctor or Nurse visiting who do not work at the surgery.