Other
How do I?
- Find out a result?
- Get a sick certificate?
- Counter signature for passport applications?
- Have a private medical for insurance purposes or other purposes (e.g diving medical)?
- Find out my blood group?
- Make a complaint?
- Get a private referral?
- Get a private prescription put onto an N.H.S prescription?
- Find out why I haven't received my hospital appointment?
- Certificate of Fitness to travel/to perform?
- See my medical records?
- Change registration from one partner Doctor to another within the practice?
- Get a letter in support of an application to the local council Housing Dept?
- Get a longer appointment?
- Get a Homeopathic medicine?
- Get some travel vaccinations?
- Get the pill?
- Have a diaphragm (cap) fitted?
- Have a coil (IUCD) fitted?
- See a Doctor on my own if I am under 16?
- Change from another doctor in the locality?
Other
- Why does the Practice keep asking me in for checks?
- I am a visitor from overseas?
- How long will it take my notes to arrive from my previous Doctor?
- What happens if I change address?
- Why do I have to pay for some things at the practice when the N.H.S is free?
- Why don't you still do your own out of hour's advice and visits?
Finding out a result.
Ring reception after 10.30 Some results take longer e.g Xrays can be 2-3 weeks.
Getting a sick certificate.
N.H.S certificates are only issued after a week of ill health. Make an appt to see a doctor. There is a charge for private certificates.
Counter signature for passport applications.
Speak to reception. There is no obligation on the doctor's part to sign these and they have to be able to attest in good faith that they have known you personally for at least two years. There is a charge and the process takes 5 working days. We will not sign passports at short notice. Reception has a list of other people who can sign or you can check with the Passport Office on www.ukpa.gov.uk
Arranging a private medical for insurance purposes or other purposes(e.g diving medical)
You need to speak to the secretary to arrange a private medical. Not all the doctors do private medicals. There is always a charge for private medicals. They are done outside normal surgery time by pre-arrangement with our secretary.
Finding out my blood group.
You don't, its not routine and of very little practical use to you. It is possible to have blood typing done at a local hospital but this is done privately and there is a charge. Patients who volunteer to be blood donors will be given information on their blood group.
Making a complaint.
We hope you won't need to! Write or speak to the Practice manager in the first instance. We are keen to try and resolve any problems. If patients are dissatisfied with our response then a written complaint to the Primary Care Trust is the next step.
Getting a private referral.
Generally by seeing a Doctor, although, if it is an ongoing problem, it may be possible to do it by phone. Insurance companies may not pay unless you have been properly referred. The Doctors generally only refer to colleagues whose work they are aware of and who they are happy to commend. See the notes elsewhere on this site on “Private Medicine”.
Getting a private prescription put onto an N.H.S prescription.
A source of potential problems. The Doctors are strictly not supposed to transfer a private to an NHS script but however are sympathetic to the financial difficulties of the situation as virtually all private health insurance will not cover the cost of drugs. See elsewhere on this site ”Private Medicine”
Finding out why I haven't received my hospital appointment.
You can ring the hospital appointments Dept and if they deny all knowledge speak to our secretary. Have you changed address without telling us?
Acquiring a Certificate of Fitness to travel/to perform.
Speak to the secretary. There is a charge.
Viewing my medical records.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are entitled to see your records. You have to make a written application to the Practice Manager and the notes have to be viewed on site under supervision at a prearranged date. I am afraid that we would have great difficulty coping if even a tiny number of patients wished to do this so would hope people would restrain themselves unless there is a genuine need. Should you require copies of any of your medical record there will be a charge.
Changing registration from one partner Doctor to another within the practice.
We do not do this. It makes no difference to you as we have “open” lists and you can see whichever doctor you prefer. You do of course get better continuity of care if you stick to one person.
Getting a letter in support of an application to the local council Housing Dept.
Don't ask. If we do write one they are ignored. The Council have a special points system for medical problems. They will write to us directly (with your permission) if they require information, and we have to provide the information requested.
Asking for a longer appointment.
Most people would like a longer appointment, but as NHS G.P's, we have to use our time in the most medically efficient way possible. With only occasional exceptions, each appointment is 10 minutes long.
Receiving Homeopathic medicine.
Not prescribable on the NHS and none of the doctors are Homeopathically trained
Getting some travel vaccinations.
Speak to reception and see one of our nurses.
Getting the pill.
If it's the first time you need to see a doctor. After that an annual review is adequate. If you are under 16 we are able to prescribe without parental knowledge should you wish. Please come in and discuss.
Having a diaphragm (cap) fitted.
Speak to reception.
Having a coil (IUCD) fitted.
Speak to reception. We fit Mirena coils. We also have a list of local clinics that provide this service.
Seeing a Doctor on my own if under 16.
We will see you. It is the Doctors responsibility, if it is an important medical problem, to establish whether you are mature enough to understand. We hope parents are kept informed but where it is your wish not to do so, we will respect that.
Change from another doctor in the locality?
You are free to register at the practice as long as you live in our practice area.
Why does the Practice keep asking me in for checks?
These are important as part of your ongoing health care, and also part of the government's new requirement of G.P's. We appreciate you are all busy but please don't ignore invitations for medical reviews.
I am a visitor from overseas.
Please check with reception. The entitlement to free treatment is dependent on your circumstances and your country of residence. There will normally be a charge for seeing an overseas visitor who is in the UK short term except for a medical problem that has arisen during your stay. It does not cover pre-existing medical conditions. There is no entitlement to free treatment at an NHS hospital.
How long will it take my notes to arrive from my previous Doctor?
It's extremely variable from a few weeks to months. We can make an urgent request if it is clinically necessary. The process is much quicker if you provide full details including your NHS number when you register.
What happens if I change address?
You must inform us. We sometimes have important information to impart and you may be wondering why that hospital appointment letter has not arrived. If you have moved within our area it is not a problem. If you have moved out of the area you will have to register with a more local practice.
Why do I have to pay for some things at the practice when the N.H.S is free?
This is because the N.H.S only covers certain services and the rest you have to pay for. Our charges are reviewed to be in line with national scales.
Why don't you still do your own out of hour's advice and visits?
Because, like a lot of patients, we have families and get tired by the end of a working day. The out of hours service is presently covered by CAMIDOC which is an organisation using doctors many of whom are local G.P's who are prepared to provide cover. It is for pressing medical problems which cannot wait until normal office hours.
