Choose the Right Service
Every year, millions of us visit our GP with minor health problems that can be easily resolved without a doctor’s appointment. It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. Many health care problems do not need a doctor or nurse. Other professionals such as pharmacists, opticians and dentists may be better placed to help.
More information is available at Help Us Help You – Primary Care Services.
It is important that everyone uses their GP and local Accident and Emergency services wisely. For real life-threatening emergencies such as those below – RING 999
- Chest pain (suspected heart attack)
- Suspected stroke
- Suspected meningitis
- Anaphylactic shock (severe allergy)
- Heavy bleeding or deep lacerations
- Fluctuating levels of consciousness or completely unconscious
- Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing with a change in colour
- New seizure, fit or uncontrollable shaking
For immediately serious conditions such as the following, GO TO Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY
- A fever and lethargic (drowsy) child
- A feverish and floppy (unresponsive) infant
- Difficulty breathing
- Sudden, severe abdominal pain
- Accidental or intentional overdose of medication
- Trauma (including falls) and possible broken bones or road traffic accident
Can another Healthcare Professional help?
Do you need to see the GP?
Sometimes the GP is not the most appropriate Healthcare Professional to deal with your ailment. Please see the information on see a Doctor or Healthcare Professional, which might help you decide whether a GP appointment is truly necessary or whether it might be better for you to see a Pharmacist, Optician, Dentist or other Healthcare Professional. You can even self-refer for some services without seeing your GP.
Non-urgent advice: How Pharmacies can help
Please help us to help you by managing minor illnesses at home – don’t forget your pharmacist can help with many minor problems such as:
– Coughs
– Colds
– Sore throats
– Tummy troubles
– Aches and Pains
Please contact reception who will be able to refer you to the nearest Pharmacy First Services.
How to book appointments with the practice:
- Book an appointment using the GP online system – Patient Access.
- Phone us from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday on 01707 644451.
- Request an appointment online with Accurx.
- Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination.
- Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday during opening hours.
- Evening or weekend appointments are available on request by calling the surgery.
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health care professional to help you.
Your appointment at the Practice
Most of our appointments are available to book on the day, there are a number of appointments that can be scheduled up to 4 weeks in advance. Patients are welcome to choose any doctor within the practice; however, if you prefer to see a specific doctor, we recommend checking their schedule beforehand. It is Practice Policy to allow patients to choose whichever Doctor they wish to attend in the Practice.
When booking, please ensure that each family member who needs to be seen has a separate appointment. Appointments are 10 minutes long, and we kindly ask that only one issue be discussed per visit. If you have more than one concern, please book a double appointment.
While we strive to keep to our schedule, we ask for your patience if a prior appointment runs longer than expected.
Telephone Consultations
Telephone consultations can be booked with a clinician to discuss issues such as:
- medications / repeat prescriptions
- minor illnesses
- medical certificates
- results
- or any other issue that does not require a physical examination.
Telephone consultations are still classed as an appointment and are booked in the same way as an ordinary consultation and are ten minutes in duration. We are unable to give an exact time when the clinician will call. Patients are requested to ensure that they are available and that their phone line is not engaged at the time of the appointment.
Please help us
If you are not able to attend your appointment please let us know in time so that the time can be used for someone else. If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
Additional information
Blood Test Appointments
Blood test appointments at the Surgery are available to patient above 75, if you have health conditions that need regular monitoring or are a vulnerable adult. These appointments vary by day so please contact reception to book these.
All other blood tests must be booked with the Barnet or Chase Farm Hospital. Opening times and information on how to book the appointment is located below:
- Barnet Hospital
- Open Monday to Friday 9:00 – 16:45 for tests.
- Phone 0207 443 9757 to book an appointment or use this link.
- Chase Farm Hospital
- Monday – Thursday 08:00 – 19:40.
- Friday 08:00 – 15:450.
- Phone 0207 443 9757 to book an appointment or use this link.
The clinics for children’s blood tests are more varied and have other stipulations. Please visit use this link to find the necessary information.
Children’s blood tests cannot be done at the surgery at all.
For Fasting Blood Tests patients must have nothing to eat or drink for 12 hours prior to test. Only sips of water are allowed.
If you are booking a blood test away from the surgery, a blood test form must be taken. The results will then be sent to the GP.
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.
Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.
Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.
If you require interpretation services, please contact us in advance of your appointment and we can arrange this.
Communication Difficulties
Please let a member of our receptionist team know if you require any assistance in communication, as we will have resources in place to meet your needs. We have a hearing loop available for patients who are hard of hearing and we can also organise a sign-language interpreter if notified in advance.
If you have a suspected infectious disease
Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff.
Giving Consent for Treatment
You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.
Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.
It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.