• If you ask to see a doctor urgently it can be more difficult to see a named doctor as these appointments are given with the first available doctor. Many doctors are not in every day. If the problem can wait a few days you have more chance of choosing your doctor.
   
• The phone. Some problems can be dealt with (or a plan of action started) exclusively by telephone consultation.
   
• The practice nurses and health care assistants can care for and follow up most long term conditions, and can involve the doctor in any treatment decisions.
   
• Please, only see the doctor for things that need the doctor. Other health care professionals in the practice can see you for a variety of problems or procedures. This helps make doctors more available to see patients for illness.

The Health Care Assistants should see you for:

• All blood tests, Blood pressure checks, ECG, Urine tests

The Practice Nurses should see you for:

• Contraception checks, Smoking cessation, Travel vaccinations
  Routine checks for Asthma/COPD, Heart, Stroke, Diabetes

As well as the normal wounds, dressings, stitches, cervical smears, coil checks, ear syringing, sexual health swabs, new patient checks.

• Let the receptionist know & they can make your appointment with the correct person.
   
• When you make a nurse appointment you will be asked what the appointment is for. This is just to ensure that you will see a nurse who can provide the service you need.

Cancelling appointments - if you are unable to attend is essential. Every week we lose on average 50 appointments because patients fail to turn up without letting us know. If you cancel an appointment that you cannot attend then we can use that appointment for someone else.

Some doctors don't consult every day. This list indicates when they usually consult:-