Appointments

The Practice operates the Advanced Access appointment system and aim to offer same day appointments to those who want them. The majority of appointments will only be available to "book on the day" If you require a routine appointment for either a new or ongoing problem or a review you will be able to telephone on the day you require your appointment. A number of appointments will be available to book in advance. These will be either follow-up appointments, where a GP has asked to see you, or 'future' appointments for patients who are unable to attend 'on the day'. These will be available up to 2 weeks in advance.

Wherever possible you will be offered an appointment with the doctor of your choice; however once a doctors surgery is full you will be offered an appointment with an alternative GP or asked to call back on a different day. Please note that all the GP´s are not in surgery for every session.

An appointment is for one person only. We are a group practice and you may see any of the doctors, not just the one that you are registered with. During busy periods you may have to wait a few days to see the doctor of your choice. Our appointments are for 10 minutes but appointments with our training doctors and medical students may take 20-30 minutes. If you have either a complex or multiple problems, please ask for extra appointment time to allow for full discussion. This will prevent the patients after you being inconvenienced due to over-running appointment times.

If you make an appointment you will be expected to attend for this or to cancel it with reasonable notice.

The staff have a difficult job and you co-operation and respect is appreciated.

Extended Opening Hours

From 1st September 2008 the surgery will be open on a Tuesday evening from 6.30pm–8.00pm and on a Thursday evening from 6.30pm–8.00pm.

Pre-booked appointments are available on a Thursday evening for those patients who find it difficult to attend at any other time.

Telephone access will not be available and telephone calls to the surgery will be diverted to our out of hours service – North Staffs Urgent Care in the usual way.