How To...
Register as a new patient (Private and NHS)
Adults: Please click here to download our adult new patient registration form and Family doctor services registration (GMS1) form. Come into the surgery with these forms and your NHS medical card to register.
Under 15 years of age: Please click here to download our under 15 new patient registration form and Family doctor services registration (GMS1) form. Come into the surgery with these forms, accompanied by a parent and your NHS medical card to register. In urgent cases or where confidentiality is required patients under 15 can be seen without a parent.
Private registration is even easier. Just walk in and register, but we are grateful if you fill out a new patient form.
Where patients request to join the practice list, the practice does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.
Make an appointment
Please contact the surgery if you need to make an appointment. We aim to ensure that you are able to see a health care professional within one working day but you can also book routine appointments in advance.
The doctors offer 10-minute consultations by appointment for routine or ongoing medical problems.When joining the practice you will be allocated to a named doctor. However you are registered with the practice and may see the doctor of your choice once you have registered. Please note however that at times the doctor you prefer to see may have fully booked surgeries. You will then be offered an appointment with an alternative doctor. Normally, we always have appointments available.
The appointment length for practice nurses varies according to the problem. Letting the receptionist know the nature of your problem when you request an appointment therefore helps us to work as efficiently as possible.
Please try to be punctual as being late inconveniences other patients. If we are late please be patient. Not all problems can be dealt with in 10 minutes and on another occasion it might be you that needs extra time. Our receptionists will keep you well-informed if the doctor or nurse is running late. Please do not blame the receptionist.
If you cannot make your appointment for whatever reason we ask that you let us know. If possible with not less than 24 hours notice so that another patient can be seen in your place. We lose a lot of doctor and nurse time every week through patients missing their appointments and forgetting to tell us.
You can also obtain telephone advice from the practice nurses. They are usually available between 1.30 - 2pm but these times may vary occasionally. The receptionist will inform you of the best time to ring. Please try to keep your phone call brief as a courtesy to other patients who may also be waiting to speak to the nurse. If you need to discuss things in more detail the nurse will advise you to make an appointment.
How we handle urgent calls
Please remember that we do not provide a walk-in service
If you consider that you have an urgent medical problem requiring attention on the same day, please telephone the surgery before 10am. The receptionist will require some details about your condition to allow them to arrange for you to be seen by the most appropriate person e.g GP or nurse. You will be offered a specific appointment time to attend the surgery. (You must be able to attend at this time)
Alternatively, if it is felt that your condition can be dealt with by telephone you will be offered a specific time for a five minute telephone consultation. The GP will call you back at this time (or within a five minute period of time) Please ensure the telephone line is kept free as if the GP is unable to contact you at that time they will not be able to repeat the call at a later time.
If your emergency is life threatening, please dial 999
Self Certify a sickness with your employer:
When you are sick you will get a sick note from us from the second week of your illness. However, for your first week you are required to provide your employer with a self certification form. Please click here, to download the self certification form.
Book a home visit
Home visits are provided at the discretion of the doctor and according to clinical need. They are usually reserved for older, infirm or terminally ill patients or in absolute emergencies. Children who are unwell can be brought to the medical centre. Please make every effort to get to the surgery, as the facilities for examination and treatment allow better evaluation than at home. As a general rule you will also be seen more quickly by coming to the surgery than waiting for a home visit.
If you or members of your family need a home visit, please ring the surgery before 10.30am, giving as much information as possible so that the triage clinician can assess the degree of urgency.
Order a repeat prescription
Please allow plenty of time for your repeat prescriptions to be prepared especially around bank holidays. Your prescription will take two working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays).
The system is computerised, so please use the printed request slip on the right hand side of your previous prescription or write your full details, including the name and strength of the drug. You may deliver your request to the surgery or fax it to us on 01344 301812.
To avoid errors, telephone requests are not accepted. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope if the prescription is to be posted, and allow extra time for the postal system. Please note that prescriptions will only be kept for 1 month and will be destroyed if not collected.
You can collect your prescription from the surgery any time between 8.00-18.30 weekdays or alternatively we can arrange for your prescripton to be sent to Sainsbury’s where you can then collect it during their usual pharmacy opening hours.
Make a Comment or Complaint
Whilst we endeavour to ensure that all matters are dealt with to your satisfaction, we do recognise that on occasions you may have a complaint or concern about the service you have received. Please feel free to speak to a member of the reception team about any issues you may have.
The practice has a formal complaints procedure which is part of the NHS National Complaints Procedure. A detailed complaints policy is available on request at the surgery.
Patient Group (P.P.G)
Forest End Medical Centre’s Patient Group (P.P.G.) was started in 2007 with the aim of helping communication between the practice and the patients.
It is not always convenient or practical to discuss certain matters during a routine consultation. So, if you have any suggestions or enquiries about the surgery you may like to talk to the P.P.G. or if you would like to find out more about the P.P.G., please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be particularly interested in hearing about any services or information (eg. support groups) you would like to see in the practice
The P.P.G. can be contacted by post, telephone or email. Please enquire at the surgery about contact details.
P.P.G newsletter - Spring 2009
