Appointments

How to Request an Appointment

You can make an appointment in the following ways:

Urgent Appointments

If you have an urgent problem during surgery hours, please call us on 01493 369 232.

If you require an urgent appointment or a longer appointment, please inform the receptionist at the time of booking. Urgent appointments are available twice daily, usually at the end of booked surgeries.

Severe Injuries

The surgery is equipped to treat minor injuries like small cuts and joint sprains. If the injury is more severe or may involve a broken bone then you should attend the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department at the following hospital:

James Paget University Hospital

Telephone: 01493 452200 or 01493 452436

Also, in the event of poisoning or overdose, please attend A&E.

NHS Walk in Centre

There is an NHS Walk-in Centre at:

Norwich Practices Walk-in Centre
Rouen House
Rouen Road
Norwich
NR1 1RB

Telephone: 01603 677 500

Website: www.norwichwalkincentre.co.uk

Open 07:00-21:00, 7 days a week.

Same-Day Appointment Booking

The practice is committed to same day booking and we endeavour to give our patients an appointment on the day they ring. There are occasions owing to holidays and illness when we may have to offer an appointment on the following day.

Telephone Advice and Consultations

Telephone Advice

Telephone advice may include queries about a prescription, a test result, a hospital appointment, a referral, a form that needs to be completed or advice about a minor ailment. Please call and ask the receptionist who will be able to help you.

Telephone Consultations with your Doctor

A telephone clinic is held each day. If you have a problem that you think can be dealt with over the telephone, please call 01493 369 232 before 10:00 to book with reception and Dr Rogers will call you.

Telephone appointments are only available during surgery hours.

Advice is also available from the NHS 111 service, by calling 111 from your landline or mobile phone.

Cancel an Appointment

Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to make your appointment by using our Cancel an Appointment triage.

Alternatively, you may simply return a text message to your appointment reminder, saying you do not want your appointment anymore.

As part of our commitment to all our patients we monitor the efficient use of appointments. If a patient regularly fails to attend a booked appointment, the practice reserves the right to remove them and their family from the practice list.

Getting the Most Out of Your Consultation

In Great Britain, patients on average have just seven minutes with their GP. The BMA’s Doctor Patient Partnership offers the following advice to help you use this time effectively.

Be Prepared

  • Make a list of any questions / problems you wish to discuss before hand
  • Take a pen and paper as you may want to note down important points
  • Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined
  • Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking
  • You can bring someone with you for support

During The Appointment

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.

If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember, pharmacists are experts in medication and are a very useful source of advice.

Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.

One Problem at a Time

If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.

Be on Time

Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.

Separate Appointments

Request a separate appointment for each member of the family.

Under 14 Year Olds

Accompany under 14 year olds. If however, a young person strongly wishes to be treated without his/her parent’s involvement, his/her confidentiality will be respected.