We run all our clinics by an appointment-only system. GP Appointments are only made through our new system SystmConnect – follow this link to find out more about how the system works.
The link to access the forms for you to create a request is below, as well as the ways in which you can book a GP or clinical appointment:
- The SystmConnect Triage link – https://systmonline.tpp-uk.com/2/OnlineConsultation?OrgId=J83007
- Calling the surgery to fill out the form with you, if you are unable.
- Some routine appointments can be made through phone call such as: smears, asthma reviews, blood tests, hypertension etc, but no appointments where a doctor is needed.
We will make sure you see the most suitable clinical staff for your request.
After your medical request has been triaged
You will be sent a booking link to book an appointment with the most suitable clinician. This may not be the person you think you should see, however it is the person the Doctor feels is most appropriate to address your clinical need.
You may be able to book an appointment the first time you access the booking link; however, there may not be any available at that time.
We release appointments on a staggered basis throughout the week to provide availability to all patients; this may mean you have to access the link a few times, until an appointment becomes available.
If you have not managed to get an appointment and your booking link expires after a week, please contact us and we can then look at whether we can send another link, or need to expedite the appointment.
Please be prepared to be asked to make an additional appointment if the GP feels unable to deal with your problem safely within the allocated appointment.
Ringing for an appointment
Many minor, acute illnesses are best treated using home or over-the-counter remedies and do not require an appointment with the surgery.
Our call handlers will ask for brief details concerning your call, this will likely lead to them asking you to fill out the form or filling out the form with with you, unless the appointment does not require a doctor.
When you fill out the form for an appointment, you will be asked a series of questions:
- Please give a brief indication of the problem
- How long have you had it for?
- Is the problem getting worse, what have you tried?
- Any thing else to tell us?
- Specify when you can/cannot be contacted.
These questions have been set and approved by our GP’s to enable you to be seen by the most appropriate clinician.
Our aim is to help support our patients:
- Treat minor, acute conditions themselves without having to come to the surgery
- See and treat significant new acute conditions quickly
- Ensure patients are seen by specialist nurses for a range of problems including; family planning, sexual health, diabetes, asthma etc.
- Maintain continuity with a single clinician for ongoing complex conditions to the best of our ability.
Our standard appointment length
Our standard appointment length is 10 minutes this is in line with common practice throughout the NHS.
In most cases, we will be able to deal with only one problem during this 10 minute appointment.
Having to deal with more than one problem in 10 minutes can mean that the GP is not able to give each of your problems the careful attention they require and may not enable them to help you as much as they’d like to.
Extra help and support within your appointments.
Some people may need extra support within their appointment; this could be a translator for a different language, hearing support if the patient struggles with hearing loss, or extra help with understanding the clinician, etc. We offer longer appointments for these, as they can often go over the usual 15 minute time.
Please make this known to us if you feel we can do anything to help us to plan for the appointment and have things set up and in place for your arrival so we can improve the efficiency of our care towards you.
What may your appointment look like?
The following formats are available to you by the majority of our clinicians.
Telephone – the clinician will call the number you give at the time of booking. You will be given an approximate timeframe for this call.
Face to Face – When attending Face to Face appointments please remember, this is a set time, please arrive 5mins before to allow time to book in.
Please help us to help all our patients
The GP has to balance caring for you as an individual patient with all the other patients who need to be seen.
Please be patient if your GP is late – it usually means they’ve been working hard dealing with sick patients with urgent problems that cannot wait and require more time to care for.
Home visits
Telephone the surgery before 10:30 if you require a home visit.
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.
Hathaway Medical Centre: 01249 462775
You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP.
Chippenham Community Team: 01249 456548
You can 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 old.
Health Visitors: 01249 456459
