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 however, if you wish, seek advice before calling an ambulance, although you should be aware that by doing so you will be delaying the arrival of assistance.

To do this you may telephone the Surgery 01672-512187 (weekdays only between 9 am and 1 pm and between 2 pm and 6.30 pm), or you can 'phone the Out of Hours Service 0300-1115717 (every day 6.30 pm to 8 am, all day Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays)  - please see the next section for more details.

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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 0300-1115717.  Your call will be answered by either a 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.    Please note that the detailed arrangements may change in the future, and you should be prepared to telephone 01672-512187 first.

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. Whenever possible we would encourage you, in the interest of continuity of care, always to consult your own doctor. 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.  

Booking of routine appointments in the next two working days, both by telephone and in person, will start at  9 am each morning - so that those who are not able to attend in person are not disadvantaged. 

Pre-bookable Appointments

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

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.  You may 'phone the receptionist to request a telephone consultation.   The doctor will normally 'phone you back, and the receptionist will give you an indication of when this will be - generally at the end of the doctor's surgery.

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Appointment cancellation

Please remember if you cannot keep your appointment then let us know so that the appointment can be reallocated. 

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

From 12 January 2009, a number of routine appointments will be available between 7.30 am and 8 am each weekday morning, and between 6.30 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.  These appointments will be operated by a rota of GPs - the Receptionist will let patients know which GPs are consulting at each session.

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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;  her sessions are from 9.30 am to 11.30 am on weekday mornings.

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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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