Appointments

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We offer an appointment only service. Appointments may be made by telephoning (01332) 271212. Alternatively you may call into the surgery to make an appointment for another day.  

BOOKING APPOINTMENTS

“I don’t want to tell a receptionist about my problem -

what do they know?”

The first person you will undoubtedly speak to when requesting an appointment at the surgery is the medical receptionist.  It may be that you will be asked about your illness. This is because the doctor has instructed the receptionist to ask about your problem.

The answer to the receptionist will allow her to direct you to the most appropriate person to deal with your problem – a nurse or a doctor.

This is particularly important when making an appointment to see the nurse, as our nurses have specialist knowledge in many fields for which they will have had specific updates and training.

All of our medical receptionists are very aware of the confidential nature of any enquiry and always adhere to the practice policy regarding confidentiality.

Please try and help them to help you.

You may just require some advice and for this you can ask to speak to our Medical Assessment Team.

CAN’T SEE A DOCTOR OR NURSE BECAUSE YOU CAN’T GET AN APPOINTMENT?

WE SERVE A LARGE POPULATION AND HAVE A HIGH DEMAND FOR APPOINTMENTS. IF YOU FIND YOU NO LONGER REQUIRE YOUR APPOINTMENT PLEASE CANCEL IN PLENTY OF TIME, ALLOWING US TO RE-USE THIS APPOINTMENT TIME. 

IN SEPTEMBER 2010

566 PATIENTS

DID NOT ATTEND

THEIR PRE-BOOKED APPOINTMENTS WASTING

673 APPOINTMENTS

= 161 HOURS OF CLINICAL TIME WASTED IN JUST ONE MONTH

If you cannot attend or no longer require the appointment PLEASE

let us know so that we can offer it to another patient

NEW APPOINTMENT SYSTEM

PLEASE HELP US TO GIVE IT A TRY

The practice will be launching a new appointment system that will enable you to be offered more appointments within a 2 day time scale.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPOINTMENT

ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS (a health problem presentfor a few days, or that has been troubling the patient for some time, which is a minor nuisance, which does not respond to over the counter medication)

FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS (these appointments are for patients who the doctor has specifically asked to come back for re-examination)

REVIEW APPOINTMENTS (these appointments are for patients who are on long term medication and that the doctor has requested a review of the medication and/or treatment)

URGENT APPOINTMENTS (a health problem which suddenly becomes much worse or a sudden onset of symptoms that are causing distress)

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

GO TO ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY (an injury which you believe will require stitches or an x-ray. Other examples are breathlessness or severe pain in the body, deep lacerations and suspected fractures)

WHEN TO CALL 999 (examples include severe chestpain, suspected stroke, unconsciousness, injury with severe bleeding, breathing difficulties, children who are pale, floppy and drowsy, to name but a few)

Clinical Consulting Times

Appointments with our doctors and  nurses vary but on the whole are spread evenly across the day. These are available by appointment. Our receptionists will ask the reason for your visit so that they may book you with the appropriately qualified nurse.

Our Saturday morning appointments at Lister House Surgery are strictly by appointment only.

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.