How to Make an Appointment
Non-urgent advice: Important
All GP appointments made by receptionist on the day will be telephone consultations, unless a GP has asked us to book you in for a face to face one.
Please note our receptionist are unable to make F2F with a GP, unless advised by a clinician.
Appointments may be booked in several ways:
By visiting our website
Patients can request a GP appointments using our online platform called eConsult.
By Phone
Patients can book an appointment by calling reception on 0208 5671612.
Appointment Types
We offer a range of different appointments at the surgery:
Routine appointments and Clinics
Pre-bookable for up to 4 weeks ahead. Please review our Surgery Clinics to see if the practice offers your appointment type, and duration of appointment needed.
Video consultations – please note that those consultations are offered only when appropriate.
On the day appointments (Emergencies)
We offer on the day appointments which can be requested via completing an eConsult. If unable to use the online facilities you can call us on the day and request a call back from a GP. Please note that all requests will be screened by one of our duty doctors, whom then will decide whether you need to be contacted on the same day.
Who do I see?
For information on how best to be seen at the Surgery, select the service or condition you require.
Home Visits
It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you; we work closely with Ealing Community Transport to bring patients to the surgery where possible.
Home visits are ONLY for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery; home visits are not for those who do not have transport.
If you need a home visit please contact the surgery as early as possible in the morning, before 10:00, and give one of our receptionists details.
Our Duty Doctor will call you back to ascertain the clinical nature and urgency of your needs; the Duty Doctor will then arrange a visit as appropriate.
Non-urgent/routine home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible.
Making the Best of Your Appointment
- Prepare your thoughts and problems in advance by writing down your problem e.g: When your symptoms started, how they have changed.
- Do a urine sample if you have pain passing urine or lower abdominal pain.
- Do not try to add another person in on your consultation. Let reception know you need another appointment for this individual or prioritise who needs the appointment more.
- Be honest with the doctor. It is important to tell the doctor the main reason you are there at the start of the consultation. If you are embarrassed, don’t be, the doctor is there to help and won’t be shocked.
- If you have more than one problem please let reception know and they will try and get you a longer appointment if possible. Otherwise, let your doctor know at the beginning of your consultation. They may be able to deal with more than one problem if they are related. However, your doctor may make you another appointment for your other problems, especially if they are new or complex problems.
- If you have any special needs please inform reception in advance so we can prepare the appointment for you first time (e.g. need an interpreter, visual impairment, hearing impairment, prefer male/female doctor etc..)
- If you know you have difficulty understanding or explaining things, bring someone you trust with you or if you require an advocate, see the NHS choices advocacy services for further guidance.
- Dress accordingly for possible examination. Loose clothing is best and remove any layers in advance.
- Please let reception know if you would like a chaperone.
A consultation is about sharing in decisions about your care and goals, to make a good consultation you should let your doctor know about your goals, hopes, fears and expectations; this is why doctors ask you for YOUR thoughts.
At the end of a consultation you should know:
- What is your main problem.
- What do you need to do about it.
- What to do if it does not get any better.
Useful Links
NHS Choices – Get the most from a doctor’s appointment
Cancelling your Appointments
We do understand that sometimes you may forget your appointment, or that other important life incidents happen and that you sometimes no longer need the appointment.
We do ask that if you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel it or notify the practice why you did not attend at your earliest convenience.
We have a large number of people who do not attend their appointments every single week leading to wasted doctor and nurse time, leading to delays in you being able to get an appointment.
You can telephone us on 0208 567 1612, cancel via online services, reply CANCEL to the text reminder or come in and speak to Reception.
Please let us know well in advance if you cannot make your appointment so that it may be allocated to another patient.
eConsult
