Appointments
Patients are able to make appointments with the doctor, nurse and healthcare assistants.
For all appointments please telephone on 0161 643 5005 and speak to a receptionist
You can also book appointments using the NHS App or Patient Online booking systems. Kindly ring and speak to the Care Co-ordinator Jessica for assistance with this.
It is not always necessary to see a GP. A nurse practitioner, Practice Nurse, Healthcare Assistant or another service such as First Contact MSK Practitioners, Social Prescribing Link Workers, Mental Health Nurse, Paediatric Community Nurse or Community Pharmacist may be more appropriate and for this reason our Receptionists have been trained to cover a more diverse role and are working in the practice as Care Navigators.
The purpose of this role is to advise patients and carers about the sources of help and advice which are most relevant to their need. Active signposting is NOT a clinical consultation is it not to make a diagnosis or plan treatment.
This approach is not about denying our patients an appointment but actually using signposting for precisely the opposite motive. It is to make it easier for patients who need to see a GP to get an appointment, while shortening the time it takes to connect patients with the most appropriate person
To help you make the appointment, the Receptionist will need to know a brief overview about why you need an appointment and so will ask you some very brief questions. This is so they can offer you the most appropriate service to deal with your problem.
Appointment Reminders
We now have a text message reminder service, this confirms the appointment when you book it and reminds you the day before your appointment.
This works as a two way response, and allows you to cancel the appointment without calling and also respond to any health campaigns.
To make use of this service please ensure you update the surgery with your current mobile number.
Cancellations
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the appointment to another patient. You can cancel an appointment by telephoning the surgery, or via text message by replying "CANCEL" to your appointment reminder message.
Persistent failure to attend appointments without cancelling will result in your removal from the practice list.
Enhanced Access
Middleton Primary Care Network
The service gives patients more flexibility in where, when and how you use local health services. It helps those who struggle to get to the doctors during the week because of work and family commitments.
To access these appointments, please telephone the surgery, Option 1 and speak to a receptionist. Appointments are available at hubs across Middleton, Heywood and Rochdale.
While you may not get to see your own doctor during these hours, the GP or Nurse you see will have access to your medical record, subject to your consent.
Appointments are available at the following times:
Monday to Friday | 6.30pm until 8.00pm |
Saturday and Bank Holidays | 9.00am until 5.00pm |
Requests for Urgent Appointments
We operate a clinical triage system for all urgent / emergency appointment requests.
Upon request for an emergency appointment, you will be asked a few questions relating to the nature of your emergency which will be reviewed by a clinician. If the clinician feels you can be signposted to a community service, you will be contacted by a receptionist, or you will be contacted by a clinician to discuss the problem on the same day however we are unable to guarantee a time and this will be an available GP - we are unable to offer preferred clinician for emergency appointments.
For certain 'Red Flag' symptoms such as chest pain, you may be advised to attend A&E.
Routine Follow Up Appointments
If a GP has advised you to make a follow up appointment, please contact the surgery to speak to a receptionist. We are able to pre-book routine follow up appointments up to four weeks in advance.
Chaperones
The practice has a policy of offering a chaperone during any intimate examination. This is to protect both patient and clinician.
The chaperones have all completed formal chaperone training and follow a strict procedure. If you have any concerns please raise this with the clinician you are seeing.