Appointments

We operate a full triage service. Please use eConsult or phone to request a call-back.

If a face-to-face GP appointment is required this will be made available after your initial telephone/video/eConsult. Your appointment will be booked with the most appropriate clinician based on your needs.

Consultations are for one person, approximately for 10 minutes and ideally to discuss one problem. The consultation will not always be face-to-face, it may be conducted over the telephone or via webcam, if appropriate.

Try and manage common ailments and viruses yourself – visit a pharmacy, or look at on-line NHS advice before booking an appointment.
If you have set up Patient Access, the online booking service, you will be able to book online appointments, click here to access online services.

If you require an appointment click on the link for eConsult.

Urgent Same-Day Appointments

If you need advice the same day please telephone the Practice as soon after 8.00am as possible.

If you need to speak to a clinician the Patient Advisor will either book a telephone/video consultation for you or may suggest you ask your question via eConsult. The relevant clinician will then respond to you within two working days.

Our Advance Nurse Practitioners, Locums and Paramedics specialise in on-the-day appointments for when you are unexpectedly not well. These may be face-to-face, telephone or video call. Alternatively the Patient Advisor can arrange a routine call back with the GP, this may take 3-4 working days. Please ensure you give us as much information regarding the call back as possible.

Advance / Routine appointments

To ensure that phone calls are answered as quickly as possible, please telephone after 11am for pre-bookable routine appointment requests and enquiries. If you require a specific doctor the Patient Advisor will advise you of the next available appointment.

Each routine appointment is 10 minutes per patient.

We have limited GP advance appointments, however, if the GP schedules a follow-up appointment, the Patient Advisors will be in touch to arrange this with you.

Our Appointment System

Think Pharmacy First

When you or your family are unwell, you may not always need to make an appointment to see your GP. Pharmacists are experts in the use of medicines and can provide you with free expert advice on the best treatment for a wide range of illnesses and minor ailments.

Pharmacy First allows Island residents to go straight to their pharmacist to receive treatment, for selected minor ailments, without needing to visit their GP to get a prescription first. Medication supplied will be free of charge only if exempt from prescription charges. If the patient pays for their prescription they will pay the OTC cost of any medicines supplied. To access this service you must be a registered patient of one of the surgeries on the IOW.

Your appointment

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

Consultations are for one person, approximately for 10 minutes and ideally to discuss one problem. The consultation will not always be face-to-face, it may be conducted over the telephone or via webcam, if appropriate.

If you have been offered a telephone consultation, we will call you on the telephone number you have given/on our system. If you are only available on a mobile phone, please remember to have it switched on and ensure you are in a location with good reception.

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 – eConsult
  • phone us on 01983 409292  (Sandown branch) or 01983 862245  (Shanklin branch), 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 or translation (we offer a translation service, but we will need at least 24 hours notice to book an interpreter)
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

Home Visits are for Patients needing end of life care, completely housebound, or if their clinical condition would be adversely affected by attending the Practice. See our Home Visiting Policy (link to policy page)

Home visit requests should be made before 11.30am.

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.

All home visits are triaged and you will be visited by either a GP (not necessarily your usual GP), a Registrar or a Paramedic.

Further Information

These cases don’t need urgent GP appointments. Under normal circumstances, you can handle them in advance. If you are asking for an appointment about these, please tell the receptionist. They can arrange other help for you.

When requesting an appointment or home visit, tell the receptionist the name of your preferred doctor. At times, we may not be able to guarantee that you will see your preferred GP. Yet, we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Please notify us in advance (preferably when booking your appointment) if you would like a Chaperone present.
If you fall ill while away from home or living outside the practice area, a local GP can see you. They will view you as a “temporary patient”. If you stay longer than three months, the GP may wish to register you on their list as a permanent patient. This is important for you. It’s for your new GP, and especially your former GP. They can ensure passing on your medical history.