Requesting an appointment
Urgent appointments
If you require an urgent appointment, please contact the practice on 01384 271 241 from 8am.
Routine appointments
You can request an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional online (Monday to Friday).
We will respond to requests within 2 working days during opening times.
You can also:
- phone us on 01384 271 241
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We book appointments for the same working day, next working day and have pre-bookable appointments available.
When you get in touch we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you. We may also suggest an appointment with a local pharmacist (see below).
There will be a choice of doctors according to who is on duty that day. If you prefer to be seen by a particular doctor, you may be asked to call back on another day.
We will offer you the choice of a face to face appointment at the surgery or a telephone consultation. Alternatively, you can also choose to have an appointment by text or email or by video call. Please let us know your preference.
There are a limited number of pre-booked appointments that can be booked up to 6 weeks in advance. If you feel you need a pre-bookable appointment please ask.
Appointments with a nurse
You can request a routine appointment with a nurse up to 10 weeks in advance.
We will respond to requests within 2 working days during opening times.
You can also:
- phone us on 01384 271 241
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or Patient Access to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use your answers to choose the most suitable nurse or healthcare care assistant to help you.
Most nurse appointments are face to face at the surgery, however, they may also be conducted over the telephone, via email or text or by video call. If you have a preference, please let us know.
Home visits
Patients or their representative should contact the surgery, preferably before 10:00am. All visit requests are dealt with by a GP, who will determine the urgency or necessity of a home visit.
Please realise that if a patient can attend surgery there is specialised equipment plus a full support service. This would obviously not be available in the home environment.
Please note that home visits are usually reserved for terminally ill and housebound patients. However any patient in genuine need of a home visit will not be refused.
Role of reception
Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help with your enquiry, ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician. However, it is your right to request to talk only to the doctor. Anything that is discussed with the receptionists or any other member of the team is treated in strict confidence.
Our reception desk is open between 7:30am–6:30pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 7:30am–8pm Wednesday and Friday where a receptionist is available to help you.
Appointments can be booked from 8am every morning.
Clinics are held every weekday between 8am and 6:30pm. We also offer appointments between 7:30am and 8am most days of the week and between 6:30pm and 8pm on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
You have a right to be treated courteously, and our receptionists also have a right to be treated courteously by you.
We can offer a degree of privacy in a separate room if your enquiry is sensitive. Please respect the privacy of other patients by standing well back from the reception desk until your turn.
Your appointment
Appointment times for the doctors, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Paramedic are normally 15 minutes. If you require a longer appointment please tell the receptionist when booking.
Appointment times with the nurses vary in length. The Receptionist will book you into an appropriate appointment when you tell them the reason for the appointment.
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
You may request a suitably trained chaperone for any procedure, test or examination.
Friends and family are not permitted to act as chaperones.
Please note – both male and female clinical team members work within the practice, if you have a preference, please ensure you discuss this when you book your appointment. For more information, please speak to our Reception team.
Information for under 18s
If you are under 18 years old, you do not need to attend an appointment with a parent or guardian. We are happy to see you by yourself, whatever your problem. Everything you say is kept entirely confidential.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- fill in a Cancel an appointment form
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system: Patient Access
- phone us on 01384 271 241 during opening times
If you have an appointment between 7:30am and 8am or 6:30pm and 8pm and need to cancel it at short notice, please phone us on 01384 297532 as the mainline number above will be closed.
Pharmacy First – Can your local pharmacy help you?
As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can offer advice on minor illnesses such as:
- coughs
- colds
- sore throats
- tummy trouble
- aches and pains
- sinusitis
- earache
- infected insect bites and stings
- impetigo
- shingles
- uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in women (16-64 years)
They can also advise on medicine that you can buy without a prescription based on the condition and the symptoms; this could include a course of antibiotics if deemed appropriate.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff.
Minor Eye Conditions Service
The Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) provides assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye problems such as:
- Red eye or eyelids
- Dry, gritty or uncomfortable eyes
- Eye irritation and inflammation
- A lot of recent discharge from the eye or watery eye
- Recently occurring flashes or floaters
- Painful eye
- Ingrowing lashes
- Recent and sudden loss of vision
- Foreign body in the eye
The service is for people of all ages. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.
You do not need a GP referral to use this service. You have to choose an optical practice that is convenient for you and book an appointment by calling the practice directly.
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Enhanced access
Practices in Kingswinford work collaboratively providing access to all patients Monday to Friday until 8:00pm and Saturdays from 9:00am– 5:00pm.
Appointments are available at different practices during the week, please discuss with reception or send a request via our website to book in, our practice is open on Wednesday and Friday evenings until 8:00pm.
During the week cover is provided at Wordsley Green on a Monday, Moss Grove Kingswinford on a Tuesday, Rangeways Road on a Thursday, Kingswinford Medical Practice on a Wednesday and Friday.
Cover for Saturdays is provided on a weekly rota with Rangeways open the 1st Saturday of the month, Summerhill 2nd, Wordsley Green 3rd, Moss Grove Kingswinford 4th and Kingswinford Medical practice covering the 5th Saturday.