Appointments

All surgeries are by appointment only.

• NHS services across the Yorkshire region are experiencing extremely high demand at the moment – this includes GP practices which are extremely busy
• If you need advice for a minor/mild illness or injury, in the first instance, please either contact your local pharmacy for help or look at the self-care advice that’s available on-line from the NHS at www.nhs.uk
• Please watch the following online video to help you choose the most appropriate service for your needs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS6FdL9ObFM
• If you want to check your symptoms, there is an online symptom checker available at 111.nhs.uk, which will re-direct you to a health professional if you need to be consulted by someone
• The 111 online service is effective and efficient and endorsed by your GP. You will be dealt with more quickly using 111 online than calling 111. Go to www.111.nhs.uk

Patients can book appointments with the doctor or nurse of their choice if they wish to do so by telephoning reception during opening hours. 

We know you’re busy.  That’s why we allow appointments to be booked up to four weeks in advance so you can plan around family and work commitments.  We will offer you a choice of which clinician you see and the time at which you see them.  This is useful if you want to see the same doctor or nurse every time you visit, as we know many people do.  Not every clinician is available every day.  If the clinician of your choice is not available you will be offered the earliest possible alternative. 

Urgent cases will have access to a healthcare professional on the same day.

Monday is generally the busiest day of the week and there will only be a limited number of pre-bookable appointments available on this day.

You can also register for online booking which allows you to book your own appointments using our online booking systems. Please contact reception for further details.

Telephone Access

Dr Craven is available to speak to patients on the telephone between 16:30 and 17:00 Tuesday to Friday.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

Cancellations

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.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:30 if you require a home visit. You will be asked the reason for the visit to enable the doctor to prioritise visits. 

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange hospital attendance.

Home visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability. 

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)