Appointments

Our Appointment System

Worcester Street Surgery would like to welcome three new doctors to our team, Dr John Woolley, Dr Stephen Yell and Dr Jessica Gibbons.  These appointments provide us with a valuable additional resource to help accommodate the needs of our patients.

In addition to the employment of new doctors we have spent some time reviewing our appointments system and have made some simple changes to try to make the surgery more accessible to patients needs.  Here is an update of how our system works and how you can access an appointment at our surgery.

Routine Appointments

Pre-bookable up to 4 weeks in advance for routine reviews, assessment of existing or non urgent medical problems and medication reviews.  It is advisable to book well in advance as advanced appointments for your preferred GP may be limited and go very quickly. 

Next Day (2 working day appointments)

Opened approximately “48” hours (for the given day and the following day) in advance, and are available for problems that require early assessment but that are not deemed an emergency.  Appointments are opened at varying points throughout the day.

Telephone Advice

The doctors are more than happy to offer telephone consultations, should you wish to talk to either a doctor or nurse without coming in to the surgery.

Please ring prior to 11.00am to request a telephone consultation. If the doctor is unavailable at that time, the receptionist will take a message and ask the doctor to call you back.

Bear in mind that at other times they may be busy and the receptionist will suggest an alternative time to ring. Interruptions during surgery are upsetting for both doctors and patients and, for this reason, the receptionists have been asked not to disturb consultations with non-urgent telephone calls.

Same Day Appointments

These appointments are held back for release on any given day and are to accommodate the needs of those patients that need to be seen on the day.

Emergency Appointments

In addition to that we have an emergency session (usually at 12 noon) each day for problems that cannot be accommodated within an appointment slot that are deemed medically urgent for that day.  This session is an open surgery therefore we will be unable to guarantee a specific doctor or allocate a male/female to meet your needs.  We are also unable to predict demand for emergency appointments, therefore please expect a wait to be seen.  We will however, do our best to minimise your wait. As it is an emergency surgery we do not anticipate that this will be a problem for our patients.

Note.  Our appointments system is a fluid one with appointments opening at staggered intervals.  Some appointments are embargoed only to be released at a pre-set time.  This time is determined by the computer and the receptionist will not be able to open these appointments. 

Please believe the receptionist when she updates you on availability.  If there is not an appointment to offer she will not be able to find one.

Telephone Appointments

There are many occasions when patients needs can be accommodated over the telephone.  If you feel that this applies to you, please let the receptionist know and she will arrange for a doctor to give you a call.

Nurses Appointments

Our nurses are clinicians in their own right.  Many of them are able to prescribe within their field of expertise.  They can accommodate many of the needs of the patient including areas that you have traditionally visited your doctor for e.g. blood pressure check, routine diabetes checks and cervical smears.  The nurses’ appointments system works in exactly the same way as the doctors.

Extended Hours

The surgery now offers extended hours three evenings each week.  This means we provide later appointments to accommodate those patients who are working within the day.  Our nurses also offer some of their clinics later in the day.  There are no other services available during extended hours appointments.  You will not be able to collect prescriptions or make routine enquiries.  Medical emergencies will be accommodated by the routine out of hour’s service.

Home Visits

Requests for home visits should be requested before 10.30 am each day and should only be made for people that are housebound.  In the majority of cases young adults and children will be expected to attend the surgery for an appointment.  Responsibility for transport to the surgery lies with the patient.

Other Useful Tips

Appointments can be made in person, via the telephone or over the internet through our EMIS ACCESS system.  Patients requiring this service can leave their details at reception or email elaine.bridgwater@dudley.nhs.uk.

Information and log-on details will then be sent in the post. 

Appointments are normally available Monday-Friday from 08.30am – 6.05pm. 

When considering making an appointment, it is helpful to:

• Be prepared to be flexible about which doctor you see.  Doctor’s commitments and times of surgeries vary and many of our doctors work part-time.  To help you with access we suggest you have at least 2/3 doctors who you would call favourites.  This then does not limit your options for appointments.
• Acknowledge that surgeries will be busier on Mondays and demand for appointments will be high.  If your condition can wait until later in the week please leave Monday’s free for the doctors to deal with more acute problems.
• Attend the 12 noon Surgery only if your case is a medical emergency.  This avoids lengthy waits for those that have genuinely urgent problem.
• Book ahead if possible.  If you have a preferred Doctor, booking ahead is advisable.
• Finally, we ask you to cancel any appointments that you no longer need. Missed appointments are a waste of valuable clinical resources and time lost which could have been offered to those who do need treatment. Patients who regularly do not attend for pre-arranged appointments will be removed from the list.