How to make an appointment
Routine/Pre-Bookable Appointments
You can request a routine or pre bookable appointment through our online form. It is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
Once your form is submitted, it will be reviewed by one of our GPs, who will decide on the most appropriate help to offer and with which healthcare professional.
We may offer you:
- A face-to-face consultation
- A telephone consultation
- A video consultation
- A text or email
If you are unable to complete the online form, please call our reception team on 01922 927240. They will be happy to help you.
Urgent On The Day Appointments
If the practice is closed and you need urgent medical help or advice, call 111.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 999.
Calls to 111 and 999 are free.
when the practice is open please submit an online form for the practice to review. If you are unable to complete this form, or your query is regarding a serious medical condition, please call the reception team on 01922 927240.
Cancelling or Rescheduling an Appointment
You can cancel an appointment through the following methods:
- Use the NHS app 24 hours 7 days a week
- If you receive a reminder text message it will give you the option to cancel the appointment via a unique link
- Call us between 8am to 6:30pm on 01922 927240
If you need to change an appointment, please let us know so we can reschedule and use the appointment for someone else. It may be necessary to ask the GP to review your request again. The same process will then apply as detailed above.
Housebound Patients
When requesting an appointment, please inform us if you are currently housebound. This can be done on the online form or when talking to our reception team. This will allow it to be taken into consideration when allocating care to you.
Chaperones
We respect the privacy, dignity, and cultural and religious beliefs of our patients. If you would like a chaperone during your consultation, please ask at reception or speak to your clinician.
Travel Assessment Appointments
At Keys Family Practice, our Practice Nurses can offer and provide comprehensive travel health advice and administration of NHS funded immunisations necessary for your trip. We politely request that all travel health requests are made 12 weeks ahead of your planned date of travel following completion of a travel questionnaire form. Meanwhile, you may wish to use the official travel health advice websites and search for the country or countries of destination for further advice:
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk
Please contact the practice via submitting an admin accurx request, specifying the date of planned travel so our admin team can send you a pre –travel questionnaire to complete. Alternatively you can attend the surgery and ask the reception team for a printed version of the questionnaire to complete. You must complete this questionnaire 12 weeks prior to the date of travel in order for us to have enough time to process this request and book you for an appointment with a nurse when necessary. Access to appointments will be subject to appointment availability at the time of the request.
Our nurses will review your request and contact you with the next step. If there are any non-NHS immunisations that are recommended you will be advised on these and directed to private travel clinics (a link has been provided for your information).
What to do when we are closed
If you have an urgent healthcare need and we are closed please contact 111 via dialling 111 or contacting them online. Their services are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
If you have a medical emergency please call 999.
If you have a mental health emergency please call the CRISIS team on 01922 607000. This is available 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Otherwise you can contact us once our online form and telephone lines are open again.
Get help fast from a pharmacist
Your pharmacist can help with various conditions such as minor cuts, sprains, aches, colds, headaches, rashes, cystitis.
Why visit your pharmacy?
It’s estimated 50 million visits to the GP are made every year for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema and athlete’s foot.
But by visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble. Instead of booking and waiting for a GP appointment, you can visit your local pharmacist any time, just walk in.
Minor ailments and conditions your pharmacy may help with
- mild skin conditions, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, impetigo, athlete’s foot
- coughs and colds, including blocked nose (nasal congestion), and sore throats
- bruises, sunburn, and minor burns and scalds
- constipation and piles (haemorrhoids)
- hay fever, dry eyes and allergies (including rashes, bites and stings)
- aches and pains, including earache, headache, migraine, back pain and toothache
- vomiting, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhoea and threadworms
- period pain, thrush and cystitis
- head lice (nits)
- conjunctivitis, cold sores and mouth ulcers
- warts and verrucas
- nappy rash and teething
To find your nearest pharmacy, please visit Find a Pharmacy.
Getting the most out of an appointment
In Great Britain, patients on average have just ten minutes with their GP. The British Medical Association (BMA)‘s Doctor Patient Partnership offers the following advice to help you use this time effectively.
Be prepared
Take a pen and paper as you may want to note down important points.
Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined.
Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking.
You can bring someone with you for support.
During the appointment
If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.
If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember pharmacists are experts in medication and a very useful source of advice.
Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.
One problem at a time
Be on time
Separate appointments
Under 14 year olds
Home visits
Home visits can be requested for patients who are unable to travel or be brought to the surgery because of serious illness and/or infirmity. If you need a home visit and are unable to attend the practice, please telephone the surgery. A clinician may contact you before visiting to ensure that a visit is appropriate or whether the problem can be managed in a different way.
Interpreter Services
If English isn’t your first language, don’t worry we can help you by arranging an interpreter. If you need an interpreter, please let us know when booking your appointment. We will advise how long it will take for an interpreter to be arranged.
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that the interpreter can be cancelled.
Late for your appointment
Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day-except in the event of an medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Community Services
We now have access to additional services in the community that can help you with your healthcare needs. We may refer you to these services, such as:
- Opticians: Primary eye care service
- Pharmacy: Pharmacy First
- Podiatry