Appointments and Visits

Medical emergencies

You should dial 999 when there is concern about serious or life threatening illnesses or accidents, e.g. acute breathing problems, chest pains, and serious injuries from road traffic accidents or assaults.  If you are not sure whether to dial 999, the advice the practice has been given by the Wiltshire Ambulance Service is “if in doubt, call an ambulance”.

You may seek advice before calling an ambulance by telephoning the surgery 01672 512187 (weekdays only between 9am and 1pm and 2pm and 6.30pm) or by telephoning the Out of Hours Service 0300-111 5717 (every day 6.30 pm to 8 am, all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays) 
 

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To call for urgent medical assistance (including Out of Hours service)

If you need urgent medical assistance between 6.30 pm and 8 am, at a weekend or on a bank holiday you should contact the Out of Hours service operated by Wiltshire Medical Services Limited by telephoning 0300-111 5717. 

Your call will be answered by either a trained call handler or by a nurse, who will ask some general questions and may be able to give advice straight away, or you may be asked to speak to a triage nurse who will make a full assessment.   The triage nurse may give advice over the 'phone, or arrange for you to come to a treatment centre to see a nurse or a doctor (this may be at Chippenham Hospital), or arrange a home visit.

Between 8 am and 6.30 pm on weekdays you should telephone the surgery 01672-512187.  An answering machine operates between 8 am and 9 am and between 1 pm and 2 pm.  At these times you will be given another number to call - this number will be answered in the Surgery, and a doctor can be called if necessary.    The surgery's answering machine (01672 512187) will at all times provide a telephone number to telephone for urgent medical assistance.

The surgery's answering machine (01672-512187) will at all times provide a telephone number to 'phone for urgent medical assistance.

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Doctor appointments

There is an appointment system for all Surgeries. Booking of appointments both by telephone and in person will start at 9am each morning.

We would encourage you, in the interest of continuity of care, always to consult the doctor with whom you are registered. However, this may not always be possible, and an appointment may be offered with a doctor other than your own.

Urgent Appointments

If you believe that you need to see a doctor the same day, please telephone the surgery.   The triage nurse will then telephone you to discuss your problem with you and, if necessary, will arrange for a doctor's appointment on the same day (this may not be with the doctor with whom you are registered).   Other than in emergency situations, we ask that you do not attend the surgery to ask for a same day doctor’s appointment - our system is based on the triage nurse telephoning you.

Routine Appointments

We aspire to offer a routine appointment with one of the practice's doctors on either of the next two working days;  however, during periods of unprecedented demand this may not always be possible.  

Pre-bookable Appointments

Patients may also pre-book appointments with their own doctor (or with a female doctor for specifically female issues) up to two months in advance.  A limited number of pre-bookable appointments are available to ensure a balance between routine appointments and pre-bookable appointments. 

For a more detailed explanation of the appointments system, please refer to the article   "Why are restrictions placed on the pre-booking of doctors' appointments?" on the "Frequently asked questions" page.

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Doctors will give advice by telephone, when appropriate between 11.30am and 12 noon.  Practice Nurses will also give advice by telephone, when appropriate, during a nursing session.  Please telephone Reception if you wish to arrange a telephone consultation.
 

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Appointment cancellation

If you are unable to attend an appointment please telephone to cancel your appointment so that it may be made available to other patients.  

If you have a logonid and password, you can logon to SystmOnline (https://SystmOnline.tpp-uk.com ) to cancel an appointment.  If you would like a logonid and password, please ask at Dispensary - SystmOnline can also be used for ordering repeat prescriptions.

Doctors' timetable

+ every third week only

Extended hours appointments

GP appointments only:   7.30am - 8am Tuesday to Friday inclusive and 6.30pm to 7pm Monday to Thursday inclusive.

Routine and pre-bookable GP appointment only will be available during scheduled extended hours and practice's appointment booking procedures apply.  Reception will be open to check in patients with booked appointments only, the surgery and telephone lines are otherwise closed.

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Other appointments

You may also make appointments with Practice Nurses for the following procedures:
- general nursing advice
- dressings
- removal of stitches
- tetanus injections
- advice and injections for foreign travel
- cervical smears
- ear syringing
- dietary advice
- family planning.

If you need a blood test, you may book an appointment with the Practice Phlebotomist on weekdays morning from 9.30am to 11.30am.

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Home visits

If you feel you are too ill to attend the Surgery and need a visit, please let us know early, if possible before 10.30 am. It helps the doctor if you can let the receptionist know what your symptoms are. Doctors may ask you to attend the Surgery when it is more appropriate.

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