Appointments

Appointment System

The Practice endeavours to provide a mix of available appointments. These include:

  1. Pre-bookable appointments 4 weeks in advance with GPs, Practice Nurses, HCA and Clinical Pharmacists.
  2. Online appointments - please register for online services with reception.
  3. Telephone slots – bookable through reception.
  4. Triage slots with the nurses – please contact reception to book into specific clinics.
  5. Triage telephone slots with the nurses for advice.

If the above options do not meet your needs the receptionist will try and help you but she may have to ask questions about your current problem.

For more information on our clinical staff please Staff Page here

Please note we cannot guarantee the doctor of your choice.

Telephone system

Please be aware that we now have a new telephone system whereby you can request a call-back if the telephone lines are busy.  This will retain your place in the queue but does not guarantee an appointment.  Please note that we experience a high call volume between 08.00 - 11.00am; your call will be answered as soon as a member of the team becomes available.  If your enquiry is not urgent, please call outside of this time frame. Thank you.

appointment

Home Visits

Home visits are at the discretion of the doctor. Please phone before 10.00am but do not ask the doctor to call unless the patient is genuinely too ill to come to the surgery. A temperature or a rash does not usually merit a home visit.

When the condition of the patient does require a home visit, please try to give details of the patient’s name, address, age and telephone number and reason for the visit. This information enables doctors to plan their calls and allows the most urgent cases to be visited soonest. We realise that most people make considerable effort to get to the surgery for which we are very grateful.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Extended Access

Evening & Weekend Appointments

As part of our services to the patient population we are now offering Extended Access appointments with a variety of clinical staff throughout the week. 

Patients will be given the choice to book one of these appointments either face to face or via telephone depending on the needs of the patient.  These will be offered if you do not need a same day appointment which provides greater convenience for the patient.  

Some face to face appointments will need to be seen at an alternative location at the weekends and full information will be given by the reception team when you call to make an appointment.

 

Cancelling or changing an appointment

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.  If you are unable to get through to cancel your appointment, please e-mail blackwater.medicalcentre@nhs.net and we will endeavour to inform reception and offer the appointment to another patient.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

If you need help when we are closed

Click here for out-of-hours information.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • If you need an interpreter
  • If you have any other access or communication needs

Text Reminder Service

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

Complete our SMS Reminder Form

Travel vaccinations

If you're planning to travel outside the UK you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

View the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice