Appointments

As this is a group practice you may consult any of the doctors but it is in your interest to stay with one doctor for each period of illness. Routine appointments may be made in advance (maximum four weeks) which will enable us to offer you a time more suitable for your requirements. 

The doctors offer routine telephone consultations for instances which do not require a physical examination. All consultations are by appointment and these can be made by telephoning 01375 480000 or coming into the surgery.

In order to make the best use of a clinician’s time you may be asked some questions when you are making the appointment.  This is so we can offer you a consultation with the most appropriate person to deal with your condition (ie doctor or practice nurse).

Please remember that an appointment is for one patient only. If you cannot keep your appointment, kindly let us know as another patient will always take advantage of your cancellation. 

Missed Appointments

• Due to an increase in the number of wasted appointments through patients failing to attend without informing the surgery, it has become necessary to implement the following policy:
  • "If you fail to attend 2 appointments over a 6 month period the Practice will write to you asking if there are any specific problems preventing you from letting us know.  If you fail to attend for a 3rd appointment you will be asked to speak to the Practice Manager and you may be removed from the list and have to find an alternative Practice.  Failure to respond to any of the above will result in possible removal from the Practice list."
• Please ensure you cancel appointments where necessary. If you cannot attend your appointment for any reason please let us know as soon as possible (or click here) as this can be used by other patients and helps to reduce the overall waiting time for routine appointments.
  • During February there were 130 missed appointments where patients did not attend or cancel booked appointments.  This equates to 31 hours or 1 doctor not seeing patients for 4 days .

Thank you for your cooperation of this matter.

Appointments Review

In July 2017 the Practice conducted a review of the appointments system and a new more simplified system was agreed. This was implemented from September 2017 and then reviewed after 6 weeks when it was agreed to continue.  The appointments system will of course be reviewed regularly.

Every day the doctors’ sessions will consist of a number of Routine appointments* and a number of Emergency appointments. Requests for emergency appointments will be  triaged by a Doctor who will then book an appropriate appointment.  Requests for afternoon Emergency appointments should be made after 11am on the day.

Routine appointments can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance (by telephone, in person or using the PatientOnline service).

* At times when we have limited Doctors in attendance (ie school holidays) Routine appointments may not be available and all appointments will need to be made on the day.

We always appreciate feedback from patients and if you wish to comment please do so using the Suggestions box in Reception.

Appointments at other locations

Extra GP and Nurse appointments are available at a number of Hubs within Thurrock. Hubs are open 7pm-9pm every weekday and 9am-12pm at weekends. Appointments are for routine and urgent matters and are booked by contacting this surgery during normal hours or via NHS 111 outside of our normal hours.

There is also a GP at Orsett Minor Injuries Unit offering a walk in service and on day appointments for urgent medical issues only. They're open Mon - Fri 11am - 6pm, Sat & Sun 12pm to 3pm, appointments are booked directly with MIU (Tel 0300 300 1527) or walk in.

Weekend GP and Nurse Services

You can now see a GP or practice nurse on the weekend following the launch of the Thurrock Health Hubs. Each of the hubs has a single GP and nurse, seeing patients. 

The Health Hub for our area is located in

Thurrock Community Hospital,

Long Lane,

Grays,

Essex,

RM16 2PX

Open between 9.15am and 12.30pm. 

All visits are by appointment only and these are booked through Chafford Hundred Medical Centre as usual.  For more information, visit the hubs’ page on the Thurrock CCG website. Click here to view Thurrock Health Hubs Update.

Emergencies

If you are confronted by a serious problem such as severe chest pain or severe bleeding call an ambulance (999) before calling the surgery.

Minor Injuries Unit

The unit is able to examine and treat 'walking wounded' patients and have x-ray facilities for limb injuries (over 7 years old only ).

The closest Minor Injuries Unit is at

Orsett Hospital,

Rowley Road,

Orsett,

RM16 3EU

Telephone 01268 592300. - If you are in any doubt telephone the unit for advice.  

Home Visits

Patients whose illness prevents them from attending surgery can be visited in their own homes.

Requests for calls should be made as early in the day as possible, bearing in mind the surgery opening times.

Please be ready to give the receptionist your name, address, telephone number, age and brief details of what is wrong. Please click here to find our contact details.

Also remember that we can see several people at the surgery in the time it takes to do a home visit, so it would be helpful if you did not request a home visit unless you are too ill to come to the surgery. Lack of transport is not a valid reason for a home visit.

Test Results

When the doctor or practice nurse sends you for a test please ask them if you should make a follow-up appointment before you leave the surgery. Alternatively, results are available by telephoning the surgery, between 3.00pm and 4.00pm (12.00pm-1.00pm on Thursdays), three working days after the date on which you have the test taken.

Please note that some results such as for cervical smears, x-ray and general ultrasound will take longer to come back. To ensure confidentiality, results will only be given to the patient concerned. Please note that all tests are seen by the doctor before the result is given to the patient. In all cases, our staff are instructed not to give pregnancy test results over the telephone, therefore a routine appointment with the doctor should be made for when the result is back. When making an appointment to discuss a test result please arrange this with the doctor who sent you for the test in order to ensure continuity of care.

Samples

All samples should be handed into reception before 10.00am Monday to Friday. Please ensure that your sample is clearly labelled with your name and date of birth and it is in the appropriate container. Please do not cover the container with any form of wrapping or sellotape.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can be undertaken at a number of sites, details of which are available at reception. Or you can now book a blood test appointment online - click here for more detatils.

Cervical Smear Tests

Cancer of the cervix can be prevented and all female patients between 25 and 64 years of age are advised to have regular smear tests. These tests are important because they can detect early signs of disease which is easily treated. A call and recall system is operated to remind you when your test is due. Please make an appointment with the practice nurse when appropriate. Click here for our contact details.

Online Appointments Booking

You can now have access to our appointments system online.  By using this system you will be able to book an appointment with a GP up to four weeks in advance (no bookings for Same Day appointments).

The new system will require you to have a user name and password which will then allow you to log on to the Practice clinical system and book or cancel appointments.

Utilising this service will enable you to access both appointments and prescriptions 24 hours a day.

To find out more and obtain a user name and password please see one of the Reception Team.  Click here to find our contact details. You will need Photographic identification in order to register for this service.