Appointments
Routine and Urgent Appointments
We use a quick and simple online triage form called Accurx Patient Triage (there is no need for any registration to use this) for all routine and urgent appointment requests use the ‘click here to get started’ link below. If you do not have access to the internet or you are unable to complete the form yourself, please contact reception and one of our receptionists will complete the form on your behalf. We do find it extremely beneficial when patients complete the forms themselves as this gives the GP a more thorough insight of the problem and it frees up the telephone lines for patients who cannot do the form themselves. Online forms are available to complete between 8am – 5pm.
How Do I Use Patient Triage?
- Open this link to the form https://florey.accurx.com/p/A84031
- Select whether you have an medical or admin request
- Confirm it is not an emergency
- Complete the questions giving as much information as possible
- Tell us how you would like to be contacted
- Enter your details
- Press submit
Alternatively please watch the video for more detailed information.
You can also access the form via the NHS App by selecting the “Services” option at the bottom of the screen, then “Contact your GP about a health problem”.
Once the surgery receives your online form it is triaged by a GP where they will offer advice, telephone call or an appointment with the most appropriate clinician who may be a GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Mental Health Practitioner, Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioner, Pharmacist, GP Link Worker or our Health and Wellbeing Coach.
Telephone Advice
The majority of appointments with our doctors and many of our nurses appointments are now carried out by telephone avoiding the need for some patients to attend the surgery in person. We can also offer video consultations where appropriate.
Chaperone
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend. On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present, i.e a trained member of staff. Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking an appointment so that arrangements can be made and your appointment is not delayed in any way. Where this is not possible we will endeavour to provide a formal chaperone at the time of request. However occasionally it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment. Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.
Pharmacy First
Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or a prescription. The pharmacists follow a robust clinical pathway which includes self care and safety-netting advice and, only if appropriate, supplying a restricted set of prescription only medicines. After a consultation with the pharmacist, the pharmacy will send a notification to the GP on the same day or on the following working day. The seven conditions and age ranges they can manage are listed below:
- Acute Otitis Media – 1-17 years
- Impetigo – 1 year and over
- Infected Insect Bites – 1 year and over
- Shingles – 18 years and over
- Sinusitis – 12 years and over
- Sore Throat 5 years and over
- Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections – Women 16-64 years
Cancelling your appointment
If you have an appointment and cannot attend and wish to cancel, please let us know as soon as you can either by cancelling via your text reminder, telephone on 01670 511393. It is very important all appointments that aren’t needed or can’t be attended are cancelled so they can be used for patients who need to be seen.
GP Extended Access
Greystoke Surgery offers evening appointments on a Tuesday and Thursday 6.30pm – 8pm.
Home Visits
Home visits are available for housebound and palliative patients. This is done via an online triage form and the GP will work with you to determine the best way to asses you and arrange a home visit if required. Home visits are at the discretion of the GP and are usually done at lunchtime.
It is very helpful for us if patients request home visits before 11am, if possible. Visits requested later than this which cannot wait until the following day may not be able to happen until the evening, after we have completed our surgeries. Our doctors typically see four patients in the practice in the time it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the practice if it is at all possible. Lack of transport is not an appropriate reason for requesting a home visit.
