Appointments

Please click here to download a printable guide to how our appointment system works

 

Email Queries

	There may be times when you have a simple question, but feel that an appointment with a GP is not needed. To help make access to your GP even easier we have set up an 'Email Queries' system where simple questions can be submitted to the surgery and we will respond back to you via email. To submit a query please click on the mail icon and follow the instructions.
(Please take note of the instructions / restrictions at the top of the form before submitting).

Appointments
If you contact us before 11.00am and want to see a doctor we will be able to offer an appointment that day, BUT this cannot always be with the doctor of your choice.  You can also book up to four weeks in advance so if you know you want to see a certain doctor in a few weeks it is advisable to book ahead so that we can offer you a slot that is convenient for you.

If you cannot keep your appointment then please tell us so that someone else can have it. 

Children under 14 should normally be accompanied by an adult who knows about the problem.

For continuity of care please attend your regular surgery when possible as your medical records will be kept there.

Telephone Appointments
There will be times when you will need to come down to surgery for a consultation, but equally there will be times when talking to a Doctor on the phone will be just as effective and far easier for you. However, to give good advice on the phone the Doctor or Nurse will need to have your records available, so a scheduled appointment will need to be set up. Just phoning up and expecting to speak to a Doctor will not be effective and, just as important, it would be very unfair and disruptive for the patient that the Doctor has in their consulting room! For this system to work efficiently, booked times will need to be given so that the Doctor can give you their undivided attention.

If you feel that your problem can be dealt with by telephone and that you do not need any examination from a Doctor, you can book a telephone consultation.  The doctor will ring you on the number you give us within 30 minutes of the designated appointment time.

For more information and to set up a telephone consultation please speak to one of our receptionists.

Home Visits
If you are too ill to come to surgery and need a home visit then please let us know before 11.00am.  We will try to send a doctor of your choice but cannot guarantee this.  Calls received after 11.00am will be dealt with by the duty doctor.

You will usually be seen sooner if you come to the surgery.  Children can usually be safely wrapped up and brought to the surgery.

We are able to put patients with a rash in separate rooms.

Extended Hours

At Forrest Medical Centre we already have appointments available from 8.10am - 5.30pm most days, but we will now also offer a Saturday morning pre-booked surgery and some appointments between 6.30pm and 7.00pm during the week.   

We now provide a surgery from 8.30am - 12.00pm each Saturday at our Prior Deram Walk site. This surgery is for pre-booked appointments only, but can be used by patients who normally attend either Mount Street or Prior Deram Walk surgeries. Please ask about these appointments if you are someone who has problem getting down to our normal range of surgery times.

   

On three evenings a week we will also have some pre-booked appointments available between 6.30pm - 7.00pm. Emergencies on weekends, Bank Holidays and in the evenings will still be dealt with by the "Out of Hours Service" (the best way to contact them is by ringing the surgery phone number which will automatically put you through to this service).

For more information on the days and times available for all appointments, please check our General Information page.

Ambulances
Please let the surgery know if you need an ambulance for a hospital appointment.

We are part of the Ambulance Booking Service and so are not able to book ambulances direct for patients. We will provide you with a telephone number that you will need to call to arrange this yourself. Please be aware though that the hospital has clear guidelines detailing who is eligible for hospital transport - this eligibility criteria will be provided to you when you call to make a booking.

There is a minimum of 48 hours notice needed when booking an ambulance.