Who is the most appropriate professional for your care?
Please consider what the best option for your healthcare are. Based on the urgency of your care and the nature of your ailment, we have a large team of practitioners working in our practice, so make sure you get to see the right person, at the right time, in the right place. Please check “Who do I see?” to find out more”
Have you tried self-care?
A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest. Many patients attend with conditions that would get better with self-care. Studies show that 25-40% of consultations with a GP are unnecessary so it would help if patients only booked an appointment with a GP if they really need to.
Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:
- Upset stomach
- Grazed knee
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Colds & Flu
There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:
Self-Referral Services – No need to see a GP or Nurse you can refer yourself!
We have provided our patients with a list of services that you can self-refer to without the need to see a GP or Nurse. You can normally self-refer by phone, attend a drop in clinic or by completing a self-referral form which you can send via email or post to the service of your choice.
Get immediate help from your local Pharmacy
Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an 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. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
Your local Pharmacist is able to help with minor cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraceptive (most Pharmacies now offer this service) and other common conditions.
No appointment is necessary and your local Pharmacist is usually open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP.
Over the Counter Medicines
Please refer to NHS leaflet shown below regarding over the counter medicines.
New Medicine Service
The New Medicine Service is available at Pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you’re just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- people who have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
More about the New Medicine Service.
Treat Yourself Better
We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.
Do you need Social Care & Support?
If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, this website explains your options and where you can get support.
Who do I see?
Provides you with information and supporting links for treatments for some of the most common conditions, services, or most suitable healthcare professional that you should see. ‘Who do I see?’, will signpost you to the most appropriate help and care.
Need to speak with someone when the surgery is closed?
Call 111
Call 111 when we are closed to speak to an NHS professional on any urgent health or medical issue.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
Urgent Care Centre
Urgent treatment centres are a facility you can go to if you need urgent medical attention, but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
At the moment, the NHS offers a mix of walk-in centres, urgent care centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres, all with different levels of service.
If you have an emergency please call 999
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren’t stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Mental Health Crisis?
Crisis support
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and need help, call NHS 111 and select option 2. Specially-trained mental health staff will speak to you and discuss your mental health care needs – instead of having to go to accident and emergency departments in local acute hospitals.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
It’s important to use A&E only for serious injuries and major emergencies.
Get immediate help for minor injuries
Use your local minor injuries unit if you need medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to A&E or a medical appointment.
Some examples of problems they deal with:
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
- minor head injuries
- cuts and grazes
- bites and stings
- minor scalds and burns
- ear and throat infections
- skin infections and rashes
- eye problems
- coughs and colds
- feverish illness in adults
- feverish illness in children
- abdominal pain
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- emergency contraception
Arrange an appointment with one of our Nursing team
Practice Nurses
Many of the things that you might think you need to see a doctor about can often be dealt with by our nurses, all whom have been trained to deal with medical problems; for some things the nurse is more experienced at dealing with the problem than a doctor.
They are available for pre-bookable and on the day treatment room duties, including: Routine blood pressure checks, HRT and contraceptive prescribing, cervical smears, minor illness management (coughs, colds, sore throats, urine infections and other newly presenting problems), wound care, ear care, immunisations, management of diabetes, coronary heart disease, asthma and COPD and many other conditions come within their expertise.
Assistant Practitioner
Our Assistant Practitioners work in the surgery undertaking clinical tasks, such as health checks, ear syringing, ECGs, blood tests, some injections and dressings.
Healthcare Assistants
Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) are available for pre-bookable and on the day appointments. The HCAs can see patients for blood tests, anti-coagulation/warfarin checks, NHS Health Checks, spirometry testing, ECGs, blood pressure monitoring, some wound care and some vaccinations. They may act as a chaperone when a patient or doctor requests one.
Phlebotomy
We have an in-house phlebotomy service. Appointments can be made
- Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5.30pm
Call the surgery on 01733 307840 to arrange an appointment with one of the Nursing team and you may be seen more quickly.
Need medical advice or treatment from one of our doctors?
Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems, may need an appointment with a doctor.
Call the surgery on 01733 307840 to arrange an appointment with a doctor
