Appointments

Important - Please note that at all times during the working day, emergencies always take priority over fixed appointments.  

Generally 10 minutes is allocated at each appointment period.  For the mutual benefit of patients and doctors every effort is made to run to the appointed times.  However, should you require a longer appointment please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.  Sometimes, and for reasons beyond our control, we cannot absolutely guarantee punctuality.  We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. 

Please note that an allocated appointment is for one patient only.  Do not be offended if your request to address another person’s problems is refused.  Further to this, if you find you are unable to keep an appointment please let reception know in good time to allow best use of the clinician’s time and availability to other patients. 

Our aim is that you will see any member of the primary health care team within 24 hours and a doctor within 48 hours of your request for an appointment.  This is in line with N.H.S. targets for access to primary care directives. 

Whilst mindful of your wishes to see a particular clinician, this may not always be possible at a time convenient both to patient and the clinician, and unless you are prepared to accept an alternative arrangement some delay may occur.  

If you have problems with our appointment system please contact the Practice Manager.  Again we wish to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

Follow Up Appointments

Patients who suffer from chronic or a longer term illness are encouraged to attend the surgery on a regular basis. We recommend intervals of at least 6 or 12 months depending on your illness and its severity. The Health Professional in charge of your case will advise you by specifying intervals for you. If problems arise between specific visits please contact the surgery as soon as possible.

Missed Appointments

If you are unable to keep a pre-booked appointment please ensure that you phone the Practice well in advance to cancel your appointment. The Practice is experiencing a rise in the number of patients who do not attend for their pre-booked appointments. In these circumstances those patients who do not contact the surgery to cancel an appointment and do not attend for their appointments, three times in any year, may be removed from the Practice list. It is with regret that this action needs to be taken but it is in the interests of all patients who require appointments.  

Consultation Ethics

During consultations we aim to ensure the following; that

1. Your privacy, dignity and confidentiality are respected at all times.
2. You can discuss health related matters with a professional of the same sex wherever possible.
3. You are offered a chaperone if undergoing an intimate examination.
4. You will be offered an explanation of your problem, and treatment planning will be discussed with you.
5. We will take appropriate action to organise a second opinion if your symptoms warrant a specialist referral.  

Walk-In Emergency Clinic

The Practice has a Walk-In Emergency Clinic available to Oaklands registered patients. 

The hours of opening are Monday - Friday 10.45am - 12.00noon and 3.30pm-4.30pm. 

The consultation is for ONE urgent problem only and may involve a wait - please do not embarrass the doctor by asking for other problems to be considered.

AS FROM MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2012 OAKLANDS SURGERY EMERGENCY WALK-IN CLINC WILL BE DISCONTINUED

If you require an urgent appointment after 13th Feburary 2012 please telephone the practice or present at reception where you will be offered the next available appointment

Telephone Appointments

Doctors and Nurses are available from 8.00am – 7.30pm for telephone appointments.  

On receiving the request from a patient to speak to a GP or a nurse the message is taken by the receptionist for the named clinician, and the message is then conveyed for appropriate action by the clinician. 

The clinician will then telephone the patient.  Receptionists cannot put calls directly through to clinicians during clinics unless the situation requires emergency attention.  
 

Home Visits 

Home visits should be seen as a privilege and not an entitlement.  Except for emergencies, requests for visits should be considered carefully before contacting the surgery. 

Those patients confined to the home due to illness os disability should contact the surgery before 11.30am to arrange a home visit.  Home visits will be triaged by a clinician and the clinician involved may contact you by telephone to discuss the nature of your problem before arranging the visit and ultimately it will be the clinican who decides whether a home visit is appropriate.  We are unable to provide a specific time for the home visit as this will be determined by the number of home visits requested.  Please note that lack of transport cannot be accepted as a reason for a home visit, nor does the Practice provide transport services.