Appointments

Urgent appointments

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

• phone us on 01527 66511 , Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.30pm. Main phone lines are open 8.30am – 6pm, a mobile number will be provided at other times
• 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.

Practice Nurse Appointments

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many ailments and you may be seen more quickly. You can book up to four weeks in advance to see one our nurses.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 14 days:

• phone us on 01527 66511, 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 NHS account 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.

Enhanced Access

At Hillview Medical Centre, we offer Enhanced Access appointments. This is where additional appointments are offered to patients during the evening and weekend. This provides convenience for patients who find it difficult to come into the surgery during the normal working day.

Appointments may also be available within the PCN (Primary Care Network). This means that our care navigators may offer you an appointment remotely or at another practice, to help meet the demand for appointments. The PCN practices are: Elgar House Surgery, St Stephens Surgery including Maple View Medical Centre, Hillview Medical Centre, The Dow Surgery and The Bridge Surgery.

Please contact our care navigators if you wish to book one of these appointments. 

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

• by phone
• face to face at the surgery
• by text or email

Appointments by phonel or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can use any of these methods for in hours and extended access appointments

Late For Your Appointment

Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day-except in the event of an medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

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-facel or by text or email
• if you need an interpreter
• if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:30 if you require a home visit and be prepared to give the receptionist some details of your problem.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. 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. In this respect the doctor may call you to assess the situation further.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby.