Appointments
We run an appointments system called Advanced Access, which is a government initiative to enable patients to gain access to a healthcare professional within 24 hours and a doctor within 48 hours and pre-bookable appointments up to 4 weeks in advance.
Your Doctor will see you in the surgery by appointment. Appointments can be made with reception either by calling at the surgery or by telephone. When you make an appointment, the receptionist may need to have some idea of the nature of the problem so that an appropriate length of time can be allocated to you, and provides the Doctor with a little information prior to your arrival at the surgery. Any information concerning your health will be treated in the strictest confidence, as the receptionists are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the Doctors
Please make one appointment for each person who wishes to see the doctor.
If you cannot keep an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that this time can be offered to somebody else. We try to be as flexible as possible, but sometimes delays are unavoidable. We recommend that you get to know one doctor and usually book to see them for ongoing medical conditions, so that we can provide continuity of care and thus a better service.
TELEPHONE ADVICE
In some situations, you may prefer to speak to your doctor or to one of our nursing sisters on the phone.
Please telephone our enquiry number and explain:
- Secretary (Dibden Purlieu) 03480 877900
- Enquiries (Marchwood) 02380 871233
You may be given a suitable time to ring back, or the secretary may take your number for us to telephone you back. It is not usually possible for the doctor to speak to you there and then. If you are telephoning for the results of a test, please telephone after 2.00pm, as our lines can be very busy in the morning.
To maintain confidentiality, results are only given to the patient or to a parent or guardian in the case of a child. If in any doubt, and we ask to telephone you back, please understand that we do this only to protect your confidentiality.