In a medical emergency out of surgery hours please telephone NHS111 on 111

It is appropriate to see the correct clinician for your condition. We have an experienced and well qualified practice team which includes doctors, nurse specialists, practice nurses etc.

There are a variety of ways in which to access the clinical team such as:

• Surgery appointments
• Telephone appointments
• Email by special arrangements

The practice operates a telephone triage system, together with some book on the day appointments, and a pre-booked appointments system for the afternoon clinics, these appointments can be booked up to four weeks in advance. Our telephone lines open from 08.00.

Telephone Triage

As many of you will have seen in the news there are growing strains on GP
appointments. So that we can offer you the best service possible we have reviewed the way we book appointments and to help with demand have been operating a triage system when booking appointments. When calling for a GP appointment on the day patients are now offered an appointment with the Nurse Practitioner, if appropriate, or a telephone triage call with the GP on duty that day. This GP will call the patient to assess whether it is something that can be dealt with over the phone or book them a relevant appointment. So far we have had a lot of positive feedback regarding this service. Patients are also able to pre-book appointments with GPs for ongoing problems. The pre-booked appointments are available to book with reception or online. Please do not be offended if our reception staff ask for the nature of your problem—they are not preventing you from seeing a clinician they are trying to make sure you are seen by the appropriate clinician.

Appointments can be made by telephoning either Elham or Hawkinge. You are welcome to attend at either of the locations.

All patients with a long term condition will receive pre-booked appointments in specialist clinics and the majority of our nursing clinics are pre-bookable.

The surgery phones are switched off at 18.30 when NHS111 comes into operation (the out of hours service). The majority of late times are for pre-booked appointments only.