Access the online appointment system via NHS App

Access the online appointment system via SystmOne

Routine Appointments

To book an appointment :

- please call the surgery on 01924 220256 after 08:00am. Morning and afternoon appointments are pre-bookable in advance.

- by using your NHS App Account

· visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Appointments are for one person and only usually to discuss one problem. If you feel you need more time then please book a double appointment.

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Urgent Appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):

· phone us on 01924 220256, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm

· visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

For urgent appointments you may have to wait in the surgery and you may not be able to see the doctor of your choice

Telephone Consultations

If you feel your problem could be dealt with over the telephone rather than by a visit to the surgery please call after 08:00 and inform reception. A doctor or nurse will then call you back.

Examples of subjects suitable for telephone consultations include minor ailments, medication requests outside of your normal repeats or follow up consultations for long-term problems.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order that the slot can be given to someone else. Patients who repeatedly fail to attend without cancelling will be invited to the surgery to discuss the problem.

To cancel your appointment:

· use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)

· phone us on 01924220256, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm

· reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message if available.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

· by phone

· face to face at the surgery

· on a video call

· by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

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

Did you know you can also book routine nurse appointments on evenings and weekends at GP Care Extended Access Service in Wakefield?

If you struggle to make daytime appointments to see the nurse, ask our receptionist about an evening or weekend slot instead at GP Care Extended Access Service.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception between 08:00 - 10:00 if you require a home visit. You will need to provide some details of your problem and confirm your address and telephone number.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Managing your health online

Access the online appointment system via NHS App

Access the online appointment system via SystmOne

Using one of the online links above;

There are many things you can do online at our surgery. Some tasks you can do using a website called PATCHS where you can:

· request an appointment

· request a sick note

· ask about test results

· contact us about an admin request

Using your NHS account or SystemOne online

There are other tasks you can do online, like:

· order repeat prescriptions

· view your test results

· see parts of your health record

· check or cancel appointments

· see your vaccination record

For these, you can use your NHS account or SystemOne Online. You can access them using their websites or apps.

Setting up an NHS account

To set up your NHS account for the first time, you will need to set up an NHS login. Read about how to set up NHS login (nhs.uk).

Once you have set up your NHS login, you can log in to your NHS account or download the NHS App onto your phone.

Setting up SystemOne Online

To set up SystemOne Online for the first time:

· visit the surgery with photo ID so we can confirm your identity

· we will give you a username and password

· go to SystemOne Online or use the app to register

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)