Appointments

All patients are seen by appointment. If the matter is urgent, an appointment will be offered with one of the doctors on that day or at one of a number of sites in Gloucester that are offering evening and weekend appointments.

Urgent appointments

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

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

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:

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

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Telephone advice

The doctors are always willing to speak to you on the phone. Please arrange a suitable time with the receptionist.

Training

The practice is involved in teaching nursing students and medical students, and on occasions school students on work experience. Patients may be approached for consent for these students to sit in on consultations, and are free to decline if this is felt inappropriate.

Enhanced access appointments

Extra appointments are available at GP Surgeries across North and South Gloucester PCN.

GP appointments may be available across Churchdown, Longlevens, Hucclecote, Brockworth and Alney practices after 6:30pm Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings.

All appointments are pre-bookable only this is not a walk in service. Normal reception is also not available we are only able to deal with booked patients

Our aim is to make it easier and more convenient for patients to see a GP by providing more appointments at certain surgeries across the area. These will be known as enhanced access appointments. Patients can book to be seen regardless of which Surgery they are registered at.

All appointments need to be pre-booked, either in advance or on the day. This is not a walk in service and does not replace the service provided by our local minor injuries unit or A&E.

Consent to access your medical record

To treat you appropriately, the GP you see will need access to your medical record and you will be asked for your consent to this when booking. When you arrive for your appointment, you will again be asked for consent to your record being accessed. If you have changed your mind and do not give your consent, then we will not be able to see you and you will need to re-book to be seen at your own surgery.

Further investigations

Following your consultation, if you need to have further investigations such as blood tests or x-rays, or you need to be referred to a specialist at the hospital, this may be referred back to your own GP.

If you need to take medication for your condition, such as antibiotics, you will be given a paper prescription which you can then take to any Pharmacy to be fulfilled.

After your appointment

If you have any further concerns or feel you need to be seen again, you should contact your own GP surgery. Your first point of contact should always be your own GP surgery who will be able to help you.

Complaints

If you need to make a complaint about the NEG enhanced access service, please do so by contacting your usual surgery who will advise you of their complaints procedure.

FAQs

Who can be seen at an enhanced access clinic

These appointments are for anyone with a new problem, such as tonsillitis or an ear infection, or with a long-term condition that has become worse, e.g. a chest/respiratory condition that has become worse and needs treating urgently.

If you have already seen your own GP about a problem, or you have a long-term condition and are currently receiving treatment, it may be more appropriate for you to see your own GP who already knows about your condition and any tests/treatments you have received. Your Surgery staff will be able to advise when you book.

How do I access an appointment?

Ring your GP surgery as normal. Your surgery will offer you an appointment based on what is available. If you choose an enhanced access appointment, the reception staff will tell you where the clinic is being held and the times of the available appointments. If this is convenient an appointment will be booked for you.

It is very likely the appointment will not be with your usual GP, and the GP you see will be from another surgery. You will be asked for your consent for your medical record to be accessed by the GP you see. Information about your consultation will be entered into your record and your usual GP will be able to see this.

The reception staff will ask you for a brief indication of why you want to be seen. This is not because they are being intrusive, but in some cases it may be better for you to see your own GP or other health professional and they are simply trying to ensure the most appropriate appointment is booked for you. This is to avoid wasting your time and to allow these enhanced access appointments to be used to maximum advantage for all.

What sort of problems are suitable?

These appointments are suitable for people with medical problems that are new such as tonsillitis or that have got worse, for example someone with COPD (also known as emphysema) who may have a chest infection that needs treating quickly.

Are there problems that are not suitable?

Usually, if you have already seen your own GP about a problem, or the appointment is about a long-term medical condition, it would be more appropriate if you continue to see your own GP who already knows about your condition, including tests and treatments that you have received.   There are some exceptions – for example, if your long term condition, such as COPD or asthma, has temporarily got worse due to a chest infection, these appointments will usually be able to help.  When you ring your GP surgery, the doctor or nurse who speaks to you will be able to advise whether it is suitable for you.

Do these clinics have access to my medical records?

At the moment, some clinics will have and some will not have access to full medical records. We hope that this will soon change and that all clinics will shortly be able to access your records if you give them permission to do so.  Please bring a list of the medication you take to your appointment.

Does my own GP know what has happened at my appointment?

When you come to a non practice clinic appointment, you will be asked if you are happy for a record of your appointment to be sent to your own GP.  Provided you say yes, a summary of the appointment will be sent to your own doctor

Text message reminders

You can now register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding appointments and health care.

If you wish to register for this messaging service please fill out the consent form.

New data protection regulations (GDPR)

Under data protection regulations introduced on 25th May 2018, we will continue to contact patients via text messages regarding the delivery of care if they have provided consent to do so.

If practices are sending messages about recommended treatment for the management of a specific health issue, then this is defined as providing appropriate care for patients, not marketing purposes.

If you would like to opt out of any future contact via text messaging, then please complete the form and indicate in the marked section.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

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

If possible please try to phone reception before 10:30am if you require a home visit.

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.

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 or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Related information

Health A to Z

Sick notes

Test results