Practice Information

Appointments

Consultations with the Doctor or Nurse are by appointment only. We will always try to accommodate you if the doctor is available. If your condition is urgent, please let us know, you will be seen on the same day.

Some general tips:

• Make an appointment for each person that needs to be seen
• Book early in the day and a few days in advance if your problem is not serious
• We generally allocate 15 minutes per appointment. Please bear this in mind when in consultation with the doctor.
• If you have more than one problem to discuss or a complex personal one, let us know in advance so that we can allocate more time to you and avoid delaying the rest of the day’s surgery
• It is vital to cancel an appointment if no longer required as this frees it up for another.
• If you are running late, let us know

We are aware that there are sometimes delays in our waiting room and we do our very best to avoid them. Emergencies do happen and will always be prioritised. Reception will let you know if an unexpected interruption for whatever reason is occurring. Please bear with us as this is unavoidable and ask for your understanding

How do I make the most of my visit to my Doctor?

• Try to tell the Doctor the main reason for your visit at the start of the consultation.
• If you have a number of things on your mind, it might be better to write these down beforehand.
• If you think you have a urinary tract infection, or are attending for an antenatal visit, please bring a urine sample with you to the consultation.
• If you think the Doctor/Nurse needs to examine you or do a procedure, think about what to wear. Eg If you are having your blood pressure checked, wear a loose sleeved top. Dress a baby in clothes that can be removed easily.
• The Doctor will only be interrupted during your consultation if an emergency occurs or if he has to accept a phone call from a Consultant/Hospital.
• Your consultation with the Doctor is completely private

Results

Blood tests are only done if required. The samples are collected from the surgery Mon-Thur before 12pm and taken to the lab. The results return electronically to the surgery. The doctor will write to you about the results or send you a text message if this is ok with you. The practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality, we will only release test results to the patient to whom they relate to except in the case of a minor. Reception staff may be asked to pass on results or advice from the Doctor/Nurse

Text or SMS messaging

We have introduced text messaging for the purpose of sending normal routine results. You will have been asked for your consent to contact you in this way. Please let us know if you are happy/or no longer happy to receive messages this way and of course, let us know if your number changes!

Sample fees

Paperless Practice

We are a paperless Practice. Your details are put on the computer when you register and all consultations are recorded in your computer file. All lab results/x-rays/letters/Shannondoc visits are either scanned into your file or more often received electronically. If a document is scanned into your file, the original is shredded appropriately. Appropriate back up procedures are in place.