Appointments and home visits

Routine and same day appointments
If you would like to see the doctor or nurse at the surgery phone 0161 303 7200 or come into the practice to make an appointment. We will see you the same day if you feel you have a serious problem that will not wait, though please be aware that last minute appointments often make other patients wait longer to be seen.

Home visits
If you are housebound or have a severe illness that makes you too unwell to come to the surgery, you can ask for a home visit. The doctors will phone you back before they come, to make sure they are the best person to see you. Sometimes the other professionals can help you better than the doctors; for example District Nurses (338 7469), our pharmacist (338 6612), Health visitors (338 2278), home physiotherapists and social workers (342 2400).

Please note that we are always able to examine patients better and can do more tests in the practice. Please try to make it to the surgery if you can.

Other ways of getting help rather than coming in to see the doctor
You may like to get help with a medical problem or query in ways other than coming to see the doctor. Many conditions and queries can be dealt with safely over the phone. There is also a range of health professionals other than the doctor who can help you.

• Phone advice
  If you feel you have a problem or query which can be dealt with over the phone and would prefer not to have to come into the surgery, you can request a telephone consultation.  The receptionists will take your number and we would be happy to return your phone call the same day. If we feel it is not safe to deal with your problem on the phone they will always arrange for you to come into the surgery.
  
  Things which can be dealt with by the doctors over the phone:
  • Advice about treating minor illnesses
  • Queries about hospital appointments
  • Queries about forms and sick notes
  • Advice on medication (try our pharmacist for expert advice 338 6612)
  • 'Morning after’ contraception
• Practice nurse care
  Our practice nurses are experts in helping patients deal with long-term illnesses and conditions and helping you to keep healthy. Please use their services rather than the doctor for:
   
  • Blood pressure readings (this can also be done in our waiting room using our self testing machine)
  • Healthy heart checks (cholesterol and smoking)
  • Contraception advice and checks
  • Asthma checks
  • Routine diabetes care
  • Blood tests (we have a dedicated member of staff for these tests)
  • Childhood Immunisations and queries
  • Cervical smear services
  • Smoking cessation help
  • Diet advice and general fitness enquiries
• Forms and sick notes
  The practice deals with lots of requests for insurance reports, sick notes and benefit enquiries. Generally we like to avoid using our appointments for these enquiries, in order to keep our time clear to see poorly patients. If you have an enquiry about a form or sick note, please ask reception what is the best way of dealing with it. Often they can be completed quickly by the doctors or nurses without you having to come into the surgery.