Booking an Appointment 

Please telephone our receptionists on 01243 786827 between 8.30am and 6pm [line closed between 12.30am and 1.30pm] who will arrange the most appropriate and earliest appointment for you. If your problem is not urgent please leave your call until later in the day since the phones get busy first thing.

Our medical receptionists are specially trained to assist you to see the most appropriate health professional for your needs as quickly as possible. They will ask you to describe your basic symptoms to allow them to choose the best way for you to access our services.

If you need to see a doctor urgently (i.e. on the same day) you will either be offered a face to face appointment with a Triage Nurse/Doctor or you will be called back by the duty doctor who will discuss your problem over the phone and arrange a face to face appointment if necessary the same day.

You are requested to let our reception team know if you are unable to keep an appointment as soon as possible so that your appointment can be given to another patient.

Home Visits

In some circumstances a patient may require a home visit.  Please ring the surgery on 01243 782 819 before 10.00am if you feel you need a home visit.  You will be contacted by one of the doctors by telephone and he or she will decide the most appropriate way to help you.  Generally speaking home visits are reserved for people who are housebound due to physical illness, people who are in nursing homes, or those who have special circumstances.  The doctors ask that wherever possible patients make every effort to attend the surgery so that they can be helped in the quickest time possible.

Doctor Triage

If you wish to see a doctor urgently the receptionist will take your details and some information about your condition.  The information will be passed to the duty doctor who will telephone you back depending on the urgency of your need.  You may receive telephone advice from the duty doctor or be given an appointment to see one of the doctors at the surgery.  This system of triage enables patients with the most urgent needs to be seen as a priority and for all patients to be dealt with in the most appropriate way.  If you feel your matter is particularly urgent please tell the receptionist that this is the case.

Nurse Triage

Some of the nurses at Parklands Surgery are able to prescribe medication and many minor illnesses can be dealt with by one of the qualified nurses.  You may be offered an appointment with the triage nurse on call for that day.  If the nurse is unable to help she will contact the duty doctor.

Telephone Appointments

If you feel you can be helped by a telephone call from a doctor or nurse please make a booked appointment by telephoning 01243 786 827 and the receptionist will book you in to an available telephone appointment.

Extended Opening Hours

Parklands is open for pre-bookable appointments on Saturday mornings between 08.30 am and 11.00 am.  We prefer these appointments to be used for patients who have difficulty visiting during working hours.  The surgery is not open at this time for general enquires.

Emergencies

Whatever the time of day if you, or someone else, requires emergency help (for example, that person is experiencing severe chest pain or has lost consciousness) please dial 999.

NHS Direct

NHS Direct offers free expert health information and advice 24 hours a day.  For deaf people and those hard of hearing, a telephone service is available on 0845 606 4647 or visit on line at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk