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Surgery Times
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Opening Times
Both Surgeries are open from 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
All doctors have surgeries at Burton : Drs Hickish, Jenkinson, Longley & Brewitt have surgeries at Bransgore. The reception staff at either medical centre can book appointments for both surgeries as there is one computer system for the whole Practice.
All clinical consultations are by appointment only, we do not have 'walk in' clinics, as we believe that this can cause unnecessarily long waits for attention. The Practice therefore strives to achieve the most appropriate timed appointment, with the right practitioner, and hopefully the practitioner of choice for the patient.
Routine Appointments:
Appointments with any of the clinical team (doctors, nurses and health care assistants) are available up to 4 weeks in advance. Appointments can be made in person or by telephoning either surgery, but if it is a routine appointment we would ask that this request please be made after 10.00 am if possible.
Since August 2008 we have extended the surgery hours to meet the needs of patient who are not able to attend in the normal opening hours. This service is for routine appointments only, booked in advance. Appointments are available:
Mornings - 7.30am-8.00am weekday mornings (the exact mornings vary each week)
Evenings - 6.30pm-8.00pm (alternate between Monday and Wednesday and both surgeries)
Saturdays - 8.30am onwards, usually once per month
Length of Appointment:
All GP appointments are of 10 minutes duration. If you feel you will need longer than this, please advice the reception staff who will allocate double the time to your appointment. It is also helpful to bear in mind that is difficult for any GP to attend properly to several problems in one
10 minute appointment.
Nurse appointments are of variable length according to what is to be done, so it is essential that reception staff know what the appointment is for so that you have the properly allocated time.
Late Arrivals:If you are late arriving for an appointment it may not be possible for the practitioner to see you. The reception will ask on your behalf, but you may be disappointed or have a long wait to the end of the surgery.
Non Attendees:
Many patients fail to attend their appointments. Anyone not turning up for an appointment will be written to by the Practice Manager and anyone repeatedly not attending risks being asked to register with another Practice.
If you are unable to attend for an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible
so that we can utilise this valuable time for another patient. '
KEEP IT, CANCEL IT but DON'T FORGET IT...'
Urgent Appointments
For urgent conditions, or where there is uncertainty over when a patient needs to be seen and by whom, it is most likely that there will be a telephone assessment. You will be rung back by our Nurse Practitioner or by the Duty Doctor and asked for more information; they will then be able to give you advice or arrange an appointment within 48 hours with the most appropriate practitioner. This practitioner may not be the one of your choice, but will be appropriately qualified to deal with the problem as presented.
Telephone Advice
Our doctors and nurses are happy to give advice over the telephone, although this has to be fitted around their surgery times, unless it is an emergency. Please discuss your contact needs with the receptionist, who can either arrange for you to be called back or give you a time to ring. 24 hour nurse-led advice is also available from NHS DIRECT - on 0845 4647 and at : www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Home
Visits
Please come to the surgery whenever possible as facilities are better for examination and treatment. If you think you need a home visit, please telephone either surgery BEFORE 10.00am and give the receptionist as much detail as possible, so the doctors may plan their rounds. You may be contacted by the Nurse Practitioner if more details of your needs are required. It may not be possible for your own doctor to visit.
Out
of Hours Services ( weeknights after 6.30pm/Weekends & Bank Holidays)
Our out of hours care is provided by the Urgent Care Service
Tel: 0845 600 10 13
If you are unwell outside normal surgery hours, you may call NHS DIRECT - on 0845 4647 for advice, or call in at your local pharmacist.
If you need urgent medical attention you may ring the surgery as usual.
A recorded message will direct you to the Out of Hours Service, provided by the Urgent Care Service, as above.
The responsibility for this services falls on the Dorset Primary Care Trust.
If your illness or injury is severe or you've had a serious accident call 999 and ask for an ambulance or visit your local A&E department.
Repeat Prescriptions
You may request your repeat prescription online by clicking on the button to the left and entering your details and request as prompted.
Requests for regular medication can be made by bringing your repeat prescription counterfoil to the surgery or by sending it by post enclosing a stamped-addressed envelope. Requests can also be made by telephone;
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at Bransgore, 01425 672857 but AFTER 10.00am please
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at Burton, on 01202-481777, between 12noon and 2.00pm.
Please allow 48 hours notice
for your prescription to be processed. If your medication does not appear on
your prescription counterfoil it will not be on the computer system as a
'repeat' prescription. This means that your request will be considered by
the "Duty Doctor" and may therefore take a little time to process.
Test Result Enquiries
Please call or telephone after 10.00am for results of blood tests, X-rays etc,. and allow at least 7 days before making enquiries. If tests will be available earlier, you will be advised of this.
New Patients
It is important that we get to know new patients as quickly as possible. To achieve this we ask everyone who has their registration accepted to complete a detailed health questionnaire. this will be assessed by a member of the clinical team and you may be invited to have a health check with either a doctor of a nurse.
Change of Address or Personal Details
If you change your name, address or telephone number, please advise the surgery immediately as we need to keep our records accurate. If your new address is outside the practice area, you may be asked to transfer to another doctor nearer to your home. Help us to Help You!
Should you need to access your medical records, please ask reception to provide you with the 'Health Records - Advisory Note for Patients' leaflet which outlines your rights and the necessary procedure.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Please refer any queries regarding the Freedom
of Information Act to Mrs Lorraine Trim, the Practice Manager
