Visiting your Practice

You can help us to help you by…

Being prepared and thinking ahead – how could we save you having to come back? For example – if it’s likely we’ll need a urine test, take a sample with you.

Don’t save everything up – if you have multiple medical issues to discuss, you may need multiple appointments.

Taking someone with you – if you’re attending for important test results or if you have memory troubles, it’s a good idea to bring a friend, family member or carer.

Bringing up the most important issue first – you only have a 10-minute appointment, talking about your most important problem first helps your GP prioritise their care.

Asking for a longer appointment – if you feel that your problem is going to take longer than 10 minutes, ask for a longer appointment when you book.

Knowing your history – doctors rely on the information you provide, so try to be clear on the details (write notes if they’ll help).

Sharing your query with reception – our reception teams are highly trained and will treat you very professionally. A brief explanation of the type of service you need from us will help them to direct you to the most appropriate person.

Saying what you believe you need – this will save time. Your GP may not always agree, but this gives you time to discuss things properly.

Saying if you have a preference – If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist for further treatment, you can choose where to have your treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics. Your GP can make recommendations too.

Saying if you don’t understand – try not to be frightened or overwhelmed. Let us know if you don’t understand the words we’re using. We’ll explain anything you need us to.

One person per appointment – your appointment time is limited, and doctors always work best when focused only on you, so please try not to ask about your friend or family member’s problems. It’s best they book their own appointment.

Where next?

• A patient guide to GP services

Here’s a rundown of our medical professionals and what they can help with. If you’re still unsure, ask our receptionists…

Assistant Practitioner

• Blood pressure
• Simple dressings
• Simple asthma checks
• New patient checks
• NHS checks
• Some vaccinations (check with our reception team first)

Practice Nurse

• Chronic disease management, such as annual checks
• Vaccinations
• Cervical smears
• Dressings
• Contraceptive advice

Doctors

• Anything that cannot be done by the nursing team

Telephone consultations

• When being seen in person is not necessary

Your local pharmacy

A pharmacist is an expert on medicines and can give advice on common complaints, such as:

• Acne / hay fever / allergic rhinitis / allergies
• Aches and pains
• Headache
• Athlete’s Foot
• Head lice
• Conjunctivitis
• Impetigo
• Constipation
• Indigestion / heartburn / stomach upset
• Coughs / colds / flu / sore
• Throat oral thrush (infant)
• Diarrhoea
• Scabies
• Eczema / dermatitis
• Threadworm
• Emergency contraception
• Gout
• Urinary tract infections (women)
• Haemorrhoids

Our surgeries are training practices. This means that junior doctors spend time here as a supervised GP registrar.

You may be asked to participate in their training, such as the video taping of your consultation. You’ll always be asked for your permission first. If you feel that you want to be treated by someone else, please feel free to let us know.

As well as GPs, there are others who are trained here to. Here’s an overview of how different people are trained here…

GP Registrar

Training prior to joining us: Five years at medical school and two years working in hospitals.
Training while with us: 18 months as a GP registrar of a three-year training programme.

Foundation Year 2 (FY2) Doctors

Training prior to joining us: Qualified as fully trained doctors for a minimum of one year with hospital experience.
Training while with us: Four-month placement under the support of another one of our GPs.

Medical Students

Training prior to joining us: 4th and 5th year medical students on placement from the University of Manchester.
Training while with us: Our students may sit in during your consultation, or may take the consultation themselves with the consent of both the supervising GP and yourself.

Physician Associates

Training prior to joining us: Background in healthcare and trained to work alongside GPs and nurses.
Training while with us: Part of a two-year training programme. They may see you prior to a GP consultation to gather history and perform simple tests, such as blood pressure checks.

Work Experience Students

Training prior to joining us: 6th form students from local schools who are applying to Universities to study nursing or medicine. As part of their application, future university students sometimes need to provide evidence of experience within medical areas.
Training while with us: You may find that a student will be sat in with the doctor or nurse that you are seeing.

If you are ill while away from home or you’re not registered with a doctor, we can provide emergency treatment for 14 days. Following this you’ll need to register on either a temporary or permanent patient.

You can be a temporary patient for up to three months, and you can remain registered with your permanent GP during this time. After three months you will have to re-register as a temporary or permanent patient.

Practices don’t have to accept you as a temporary patient, although they do have an obligation to offer emergency treatment. You cannot register as a temporary patient at a practice in the town or area where you are already registered.

Where next?

• Download the Temporary Resident Registration form

Blood Tests

One of the most common forms of medical tests, blood tests can help us:

• Assess your general health
• Confirm a bacterial or viral infection
• See how well certain organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are functioning

During a blood test, blood will be drawn from your arm, either from the inside of the elbow or wrist, or the back of the hand if the patient is a child. When taking a blood sample from a child, we always numb the injection site first.

Read more: NHS – Blood tests

X-Rays

An X-ray examines the inside of your body, and are very effective at detecting problems with bones, such as fractures.

X-rays can also identify problems with soft tissue, such as pneumonia or breast cancer.

During an X-ray, you’ll lie on a table or stand against a flat surface so that the part of your body being X-rayed is between the X-ray tube and the photographic plate.

Read more: NHS – X-rays

Electronic Referral System

If you need further treatment we’ll refer you, many times this will be via the Electronic Referral System, which provides you with a choice of where and when to receive treatment.

To book your appointment online using the E-Referral Service you’ll need the booking reference number from your booking letter and the password or access code you were given by the person or organisation that referred you (for example your GP Practice).

If you do not have this information, contact the person or organisation that referred you.

Benefits of the service:

• Shorter referral to treatment times
• A choice of hospital or specialist
• Choice of appointment date and time

Where next?

• What happens when you are referred by your GP to see a specialist?

If you’re having difficulty paying NHS charges, contact your practice to discuss whether you may be eligible for exemption.

Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) offer savings for people who need extensive medication – for example, more than 15 items over 12 months.

Telephone advice and order line – 0845 850 0030
General Public – Buy or Renew a PPC on-line

NHS Charges

England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free.

Prescription (per item) – £9.00
3 month PPC – £29.10
12 month PPC – £104.00

We charge for some tasks outside of normal NHS medical services. A few examples include:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The charges for these tasks are based on the British Medical Association’s (BMA) suggestions. Please feel free to ask our reception team about what you need, and they’ll happily advise.

Why do we charge for non-NHS services?

The services listed above are often undertaken by GPs who are self-employed. They, like any business, must cover the costs of the work they undertake.

These fees also help us to maintain our standards of care.

Do GPs have to help with these tasks?

In most instances, they are not obliged to (although there are some examples where they are legally required to help, such as confirming a patient isn’t fit for jury service). However it’s rare that a GP would refuse to assist.

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?

When one of our GPs completes a form, it takes time away from the medical care they can provide. With their heavy workload in mind, they often fill out your forms outside of their normal working hours.

I only need the doctor’s signature – what is the problem?

Even the most basic of forms require that your doctor ensures what they’re signing is true. This can involve checking your entire medical history, which is incredibly time-consuming.

We’re working with other GP practices in Eastern Cheshire to provide you with better access to healthcare services.

Our extended hours service allows you to see a clinician on weekdays outside of 08:00-18:30 and on Saturdays and Sundays.

Use this service by ringing your surgery as usual, and asking for an evening or weekend slot. We’ll then confirm the times we have available and the location.

The consultation may not be with your named GP, or in your usual practice, but they’ll still be able to access your GP record with your permission.

If you have any questions about your health and care as a consequence of an EU exit please visit www.nhs.uk. This website is updated on a regular basis and contains the latest advice around the situation.

Continue to order your repeat prescriptions and take your medicines as normal. Avoid ordering more medicines than normal as this might mean that other people won’t be able to get their medicines.