Appointments – Same Day, Soon and Routine
The doctors at HMG have reviewed the way that appointments are booked. As a result, they would like to ask patients to complete an online form for all appointment requests.
If you do not have internet access then call the practice and our reception team will help you to complete the form.
This system allows the doctors to better assess your needs and direct you to the most appropriate healthcare professional. The system ensures that your concerns are addressed promptly and effectively. This is whether you need a same-day appointment, a ‘soon’ appointment, advice over the phone, or a routine check-up.
The purpose of routine appointments is for general health queries, diagnoses, and monitoring of ongoing conditions that aren’t of serious medical concern, for example: blood tests, women’s health, contraception, existing condition reviews, fit or sick notes etc.
‘Soon’ appointments are booked to deal with health issues that will need to be looked at within the next 7 days, for example: passing blood in your urine or stool, finding a lump in your breasts or testicles, or noticing a change in the colour or shape of a mole.
If you have an urgent problem, for example: a chest, throat or ear infection, a urinary tract infection (UTI), a new swelling in your leg, a bleed during pregnancy (when less than 16 weeks pregnant) a fever in a child who is under 5 years old, or a mental health crisis a member of the duty team will either give advice over the phone or arrange to see you with a same day appointment.
How It Works
1. Contact Us: When you need to book an appointment, simply use our online consultation tool. You can use a computer or a smart phone.
If you do not have internet access then call the practice and our reception team will help you to complete the form. Think of this as the start of your consultation with the clinician.
2. Triage Assessment: The information you provide will be reviewed by our trained care navigators. It will then be passed to a GP to review.
3. Appointment Booking: You will be directed to the most appropriate healthcare professional or service. This will ensure you receive the care you need.
4. Timescale: We will be aiming to respond to your form within 1 working day. Most forms will be dealt with on the same day.
Please note our on-the-day appointments are limited and you may be referred to NHS 111. If you need urgent support when the surgery is closed, please contact NHS 111 online or dial 111.
Benefits Of This System
Quick and Efficient: The system allows us to prioritise urgent cases and better manage routine appointments. This should reduce waiting times and ensure you get timely care.
Personalised Care: By understanding your needs upfront, we can direct you to the right healthcare professional. This could be a GP, nurse, or another specialist.
Easy Access: You will be able to share your symptoms or requests online. This will make it easier for us to understand your needs before your consultation.
Better Communication: Our team will be better equipped to provide you with the information and support you need. This will ensure a smoother and more satisfying experience.
The doctors at HMG have reviewed the way that appointments are booked. As a result, they would like to ask patients to complete an online form for both on the day and routine appointment requests.
This system allows the doctors to better assess your needs and direct you to the most appropriate healthcare professional. The system ensures that your concerns are addressed promptly and effectively. This is whether you need a same-day appointment, advice over the phone, or a routine check-up.
Your Appointment
- Please be on time for your appointment
- Please cancel unwanted appointments well in advance
- Make a separate appointment for each person who needs to attend
- GP appointments are 15 minutes in length so you may not be able to discuss all of your problems in one appointment. If you feel you need longer please request a double appointment.
Telephone Advice
You may choose, or be offered a telephone consultation when requesting an appointment. Telephone consultations are useful for patients who find it difficult to come into the practice, and they are especially useful for:
- Providing the results of investigations
- Medication reviews
- Health promotion e.g. promoting immunisation, cervical smear or smoking cessation services
- Follow-ups of patients with ongoing medical problems such as managing diabetes and patients with some mental health issues such as depression
Home Visits
Home visits are offered to our patients who are bedbound or requiring end of life care. Your will be visited by a member of our visiting team, this will not always be a GP. If you need a visit please call before 11am.
Chaperones
For intimate examinations, you will be offered the choice of having another healthcare professional present at the examination. This is called chaperoning.
You may be asked to book another appointment if a chaperone is not available at the time of your appointment. You are also welcome to bring a family member or friend into your appointment with you.
Cancelling an Appointment
Don’t need it? Cancel it!
We know people forget things, cancelling appointments being one of them! Remember to cancel your appointment if you don’t need it.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please give us as much notice as possible so that your appointment can be offered to someone else.
You can cancel your appointment online using The NHS App if you are signed up to the service or call the surgery (01432 272175) and choose option 1.
Please remember that there is a high demand for appointments and when you fail to attend you have prevented someone else from being seen in your place. On average about 900 appointments are missed each month.
Enhanced Access
We are able to offer appointments at evenings and weekends via Herefordshire General Practice (Taurus).
These take place at Station Medical Centre. Please ask our reception team for more information.
This is not a walk in service and all appointments must be booked through our reception team.
Herefordshire General Practice aims to provide 24/7 access to General Practice. Although you may not be seen at your evening or weekend appointment by your usual healthcare team, we all use the same computer system. This means that (with your permission) all healthcare practitioners can access and add to your records.