Who to see and when: We have a number of different categories of appointments. For most things please please use the pre-bookable (routine) appointments, which are 10 minute appointments, with the doctor of your choice (more details at foot of this page). Note that these appointments can now be booked on line by those who have registered for this service by clicking on the "online booking Systm One" option at the foot of the left menu, or by clicking the box at the top on the right of this page. Same day appointments are those available within one working day of you contacting the practice which are for a single issue that you feel will not wait until a pre-bookable routine appointment is available. The evening medical emergency appointments are for medical conditions that arise after 1pm but are not appropriate to leave until the next same day surgery. If a medical emergency crops up during the working day we will fit you in as soon as possible but you will need to give details to the receptionist so that we are aware of the nature of the emergency. In addition to these doctors appointments, there are appointments with the Health Care Assistant for blood tests & blood pressure checks, and with the 3 Practice Nurses for a variety of conditions. There are more details below and in other sections of the website.
Even with advertising, our patient surveys repeatedly reveal that a number of people are still unaware that they can see a doctor the same day they ring, provided they ring sometime during the morning. These "same day" appointments are designed for a single problem that will not wait for the next available pre-bookable appointment. Same day appointments, and a few of the pre-bookable morning appointments are available to book on line from 6.30pm the working day before the surgery. We have recently introduced the option of the doctor ringing you back later in the morning to see if the medical condition for which you have requested a same day appointment can be dealt with on the phone, thus saving you a journey to the surgery. This standard of care is a much higher standard that the Government target of seeing "a" doctor within 48 hours (two working days). Note the Government has always acknowledged that it is impossible for a specific doctor to be available within 48 hours for every patient who wishes to see him or her. For more details see the section same day surgery.
For any appointment, the receptionists need some information to make the right sort of appointment - for example a longer appointment if you need to talk or have a complicated problem - if we know when you book your appointment that you need longer than 10 minutes it makes it less likely that we will run late - which inconveniences patients with appointments after yours (we're sure you'll have been that person sometimes!). Our nurses are also able to deal with many things, so having more information allows you to be directed to the most appropriate person.
All information you give is treated confidentially, so please try to help the appointments clerk or receptionist to help you.
We are a teaching practice for Year 4 Medical Students from the Hull-York Medical School; the students sit in with the doctors some Thursday mornings & some Tuesday baby clinics. If you prefer not to have the student(s) present during your consultation please inform the receptionist when booking your appointment so that you can choose a different surgery or (in the same day surgery) see a different doctor.
Also please remember to cancel any appointment if you no longer need it as this will make that time available for someone else. Unfortunately we have had to adopt a firm "did not attend" policy for those who repeatedly fail to attend booked appointments as around 175 appointments a month are lost in this way. If you have registered to book appointments on line you can also cancel appointments with doctors in the same way.
