Appointments

How to Request an Appointment

You can make an appointment in the following ways:

All appointments need to be triaged, depending on whether the clinician treats you over the phone or video, you may be offered a face to face appointment.

Appointments are available to book using your online account, via our automated telephone booking system (both of these services operate for twenty-four hours per day) or via reception during our opening hours.

Telephone Appointments

If you have a telephone consultation, the clinician will call you on the day. However, we cannot guarantee the call will match your appointment time.

Video Consultation

If you have a video consultation, the clinician will send you a text link to join a secure consultation.

Urgent Problems

With regard to dealing with medical problems that need a clinician’s attention on the day that they arise, we have on the day appointments available. These appointments are to enable patients to have a single medical problem dealt with.

This service will only be available to patients who have an urgent medical need. For all other cases, a patient will be required to book in advance.

SystmOnline

You can book appointments with a doctor, book your cervical screening or blood test, order repeat medication and update your personal details 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact the Practice to find out more information about this service.

Automated Telephone System

Our automated telephone system operates 24 hours a day and enables you to book a consultation with a doctor, check or cancel any appointment you have already booked, whether the surgery is open or closed.

There is no need to register to use this service; all you need to do is make sure we have your correct phone numbers.

If you think we may have an incorrect contact number, please let us know and as soon as we amend your record you will be able to use the system.

Advanced Practitioner Appointments

Advanced practitioners are qualified to assess patients’ physical, psychological and social needs and to diagnose and implement agreed management plans with patients, including appropriate prescribing and referrals to specialists.

We have a team of advanced practitioners who work closely with the doctors and provide appointments for patients.

Nursing Team Appointments

Our nursing team is available by appointment for a range of your health care needs. These include asthma and diabetic checks, blood tests, removal of stitches and wound care, ECGs, health checks for the over 75 years, cervical screening, travel vaccinations, blood pressure checks and help to stop smoking. Please ask a member of reception for more information.

All appointments are booked in advance and while a few appointments may be available on the day this cannot be guaranteed.  The Care Navigator will ask you the purpose of your appointment, as certain procedures are allocated longer appointment times.

As appointment times are linked to the procedure, these appointments have to be booked through our reception team. However, appointment times can be checked or cancelled using SystmOnline, the NHS App or our automated telephone system.

Text Message Reminders

You can register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding appointments and health care.

If you wish to register for this messaging service, please Contact the Practice online.

Enhanced Access Appointments

We provide Extended Access appointments to support patients who have difficulty accessing appointments during the day due to work commitments and daily commuting. We offer GP, Nurse practitioner, Practice Nurse, Medicine Management appointments as well as Physiotherapy assessments.

  • 07:30 – 08:00 every day
  • 18:30 – 19:30 every day
  • 09:00 – 13:00 Saturday

Please note not all services will be running during these hours and they are for pre-booked appointments only.

Out of Hours Service

Provision of the out of hours service is the responsibility of, and is commissioned by, East Suffolk and Ipswich CCG

Between 18:30 and 08:00 Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays your call will be redirected to the NHS 111 service.

If you require urgent medical advice when the surgeries are closed, please telephone 111. You may be asked to attend Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD.

Out-of-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

Emergencies

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

How to Cancel an Appointment

To cancel, you can:

Interpreter Services

For non-English speakers, this practice uses the interpretation services provided by DA Languages. If you feel this service would be of help to you or others please tell the Care Navigator when booking your appointment.

Our Policy for Late Arrival for an Appointment

Our Care Navigators operate to the following protocol where patients arrive late for an appointment with a clinician:

Patients can book in up to 10 minutes after the appointment time without further formality.

Between 10-30 minutes after the appointment time, the Care Navigator will ask why you are late and then speak to the clinician. Depending on the circumstances, which will include the clinical workload, the clinician will then decide whether you can be seen later, which may not be until the end of the session or be asked to re-book.

If you are more than 30 minutes late for an appointment, the Care Navigators will ask you to re-book another routine appointment, which may not be available the same day, without reference to the clinician.