Appointments

Appointments

Care Navigation

When you ask for a GP appointment, our friendly reception team will help you find the right health professional. They might suggest a phone call or a face-to-face visit with our Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic, Nurse, or GP. They might also send you to another healthcare provider in the community, like your local pharmacist.

Pharmacy First – Quick, Local Healthcare Advice

Your first stop for minor illnesses and common health concerns. Local pharmacists are there to provide expert advice, treatment options, and reassurance without the need for a GP appointment.

What is Pharmacy First?

Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows you to speak to your local pharmacist about minor health problems. Many common conditions can be treated effectively by a pharmacist, saving you time and helping you get the right treatment sooner.

Conditions Your Pharmacy Can Help With

Pharmacists can provide advice, recommend over-the-counter treatments, or even supply certain prescription medications for conditions such as:

  • Ear infections in children aged 1 to 17 years
  • Impetigo, from age 1 and above
  • Infected insect bites, age 1 and above
  • Shingles, age 18 and over
  • Sinusitis, from age 12 and over
  • Sore throats, for ages 5 and over
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), for women aged 16 to 64

If your symptoms suggest a more serious condition, your pharmacist will guide you to the most appropriate care.

How It Works

  1. Visit Your Local Pharmacy – You do not need an appointment for Pharmacy First. Just walk in and speak to our pharmacist.
  2. Assessment and Advice – The pharmacist will discuss your symptoms, medical history, and any medications you take.
  3. Treatment and Guidance – The pharmacist may recommend over-the-counter medicines, supply certain NHS prescriptions, or refer you to your GP or another healthcare professional if needed.
  4. Follow-Up Support – Pharmacists can provide ongoing advice and support to help you recover quickly.

Why Choose Pharmacy First?

  • Convenient – No waiting for a GP appointment.
  • Fast Access – Get advice and treatment quickly.
  • Expert Care – Pharmacists are trained to manage minor illnesses safely.
  • Free NHS Service – Pharmacy First is an NHS-funded service in many areas.

Important Information

Pharmacy First is for minor illnesses and common conditions only. For urgent, serious, or life-threatening symptoms (such as chest pain, severe breathing problems, or stroke symptoms), call 999 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

Urgent appointments

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

When you contact us, we’ll ask you a few questions about how you’re feeling. We use this information to pick the best doctor, nurse, or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment (Monday to Friday):

There are only a few GP appointments available to book each day. Our reception team will help you find the best health professional to see. If you book online, check our clinics and services page first. You should get a response from us within 48 hours after you ask for an appointment online. If you don’t hear from us in that time, please call the number above. Click here for information on how to register for online services.

Your appointment

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

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery

Phone appointments can be more flexible and often mean you get help sooner. However, sometimes the GP might still need you to come in for an examination.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

Please remember that each appointment is for one patient only. It would be helpful if you would be punctual or cancel any appointments you no longer need.

To cancel your appointment:

Non-Attendance of Appointments

Since we started having more face-to-face appointments, more patients are missing their appointments. This makes others who need to see a doctor wait longer.

Starting April 1, 2024, we have a new policy to help with this problem.

Here are the steps if you miss an appointment:

  1. First Missed Appointment: You’ll receive a reminder by text (or post if no mobile/consent), with a link to our policy and next steps.
  2. Second Missed Appointment: You will receive a warning letter asking why you missed the appointments. If you miss another one, you might be removed from our practice.
  3. Third Missed Appointment: You will get a second warning letter and given a telephone appointment to talk to our Patient Liaison Team. If you don’t have a good reason for missing the appointments, or if you don’t contact us, you might be removed from our practice.

If you are removed from the practice, you will have 30 days to find a new doctor.

We count missed appointments over a 12-month period. This policy also applies to children who miss appointments because their parent or caregiver didn’t bring them. If this happens many times, we will talk to our safeguarding team to decide what to do.

Home visits

Home visits are decided by the doctor and are only for medical reasons. Usually, you should ask for a home visit only if you are very sick or can’t leave your house.

Call between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM to ask for a home visit, unless it’s an emergency, then you can call anytime. When you call, tell the receptionist that you need a home visit. It might be a Paramedic or Community Nurse who visits you, not always the GP.

When we are closed

If you have an urgent health need while the practice is closed, please call NHS 111 (all calls to 111 will be recorded).

In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and/or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.

If you have a Mental Health or Adult Social Care issue, please call 01472 256256. This service is available 24/7.

For more information on NHS 111 and other emergency services visit www.nhs.uk/111