Appointments

Patients can organise an appointment by using the Patient Access, NHS app or Patient online Services.

Alternatively, you can call the surgery on calling 01843 608860 during opening times or by visiting the reception desk. GP appointments can be made 2 weeks in advance (subject to availability) and we encourage patients with ongoing problems to pre-book. A number of our appointments are reserved to be booked on the day. These can be booked from 8.00am on the day. 

We offer telephone consultations and we have a small number available for each doctor which can be booked on the day or in advance. 

Appointment Lengths

• GP Appointments are 10 minutes
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Appointments are 15 minutes

We want to give you the best possible outcome and experience from your visit to our medical centre. In order that we can meet the needs of all our patients, we are asking you to try and help us with a few simple considerations that can help us all to get the most from your appointment.

Booking Your Appointment

• Please do trust the reception staff. The reception staff are here to help you and the clinical team. If you answer their questions as clearly as possible they will be more likely to ensure you can access the right help you need by the right member of theteam and, where appropriate, ensure the right length appointment is booked.
• Appointment length. Our 10 minutes appointments are designed for one problem only. If you have several problems (or one that requires a detailed examination or gynaecological problem) please ask for an extended appointment.
• Appointments to discuss test results or hospital letter. If you are booking an appointment to discuss a test result or a hospital letter, please check with the receptionist that they are available before booking an appointment.
• Seeing your preferred clinician. Your preferred clinician may not be available. We work as an integrated team and being seen timely by a clinician other than your preferred/usual clinician may be more appropriate
• Advanced nurse practitioner prescribers. Our advanced nurse practitioner prescribers are highly skilled and able to deal with most problems. If necessary they will get immediate advice from a GP or arrange a timely appointment with a GP.
• Online Booking. If using this service please book appointments responsibly.
• Emergency on the day appointments. These are mainly dealt with by our advanced nurse practitioner prescribers. Please be clear about your need to see a clinician and trust our receptionist. They are trained to book you with the right clinician or, in certain extreme circumstances, advise you if A&E attendance is more appropriate.
• Please use the rest of the team effectively. Chasing a referral to the hospital or other document? Please ring and ask for the secretaries. Repeat prescription issues? Please speak to the receptionist. Need a blood pressure check? Have you tried using the machine in the waiting room? Need travel advice? Ask for the nurse. Need to see a counsellor? Ask reception if you can self-refer. Worried about your toddler’s weight? See the health visitor. Need over the counter medicine? See the pharmacist. Many services do not need you to see the GP first these days.

During your Appointment

• Please tell the clinician at the beginning of the appointment if you have more than one item to discuss. List them at the beginning rather than say, “and while I’m here” or ‘”there were just a couple of other things”. If you list them at the start the clinician can plan out the time. Please let the clinician decide what they can deal with in the allotted time. Your definition of one ‘small’ problem may take longer to deal with than three other seemingly small problems.
• Please bring your diary. A really good history helps us to help you. If you can tell us exactly what happened and when, that makes our job much easier.
• Bring a list of all medications you take with dose and times.

Cancelling your appointment
If you cannot manage to keep or no longer need your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible to allow us to offer the appointment to another patient. This will help to keep waiting times down. You can find our ‘Did Not Attend’ numbers on our waiting room display screens. We very much appreciate your cooperation and understanding in trying to help our service run smoothly for all our patients and staff alike.

You must give your employer a doctor's 'fit note' (sometimes called a 'sick note') if you've been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

Visit our Sickness Certificates page

Information and advice for travelling abroad.

Visit our Travel Information page

If you feel that you cannot get to the surgery please contact us before 10.30am. You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or 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. 

It is the policy of the practice to respect the privacy, dignity, cultural and religious beliefs of our patients.

If you feel you would like a chaperone to be present during a physical examination by a doctor or any other health professional you may be consulting at the surgery (or if you would prefer to be examined by a doctor or health professional of the same sex as yourself), please let us know and we will do our best to comply with your wishes.

Extra evening, weekend and bank holiday appointments are available in Kent to help you get the care you need, when you need it. This is part of a national drive to improve access to GP practice services and give people the opportunity to have an appointment at a time that suits them.

The extra appointments, which may be provided by a GP, nurse, physiotherapist, paramedic practitioner or other health professional, are for routine, non-urgent care. The extra slots are available between 6.30pm and 8pm each weekday.  There are also appointments on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

They will not necessarily be at your usual GP practice, but the health professionals treating you will be able to see your full medical record, with your consent.  If you need an appointment you will be allocated the most suitable clinician for your need.