We operate a telephone call management system allowing us to handle a higher volume of incoming calls to the Practice. On contacting the Practice by telephone you will be greeted with our standard message giving you choice of where your call is directed. Calls are dealt with as quickly as possible however, more complicated calls can take several minutes. This is why you may be on hold for a few minutes. If our receptionists are busy on another call then you will be placed in the queue and advised of your position. All calls are answered in turn and you should hold until your call is answered as all new calls will be placed at the end of the queue.
Please note that our Medical Secretaries only deal with secondary care and external organizations. Please do not select this option if your call is practice related as you will be asked to call back.
Surgeries are held during the following times:
Doctors appointments are available up to 6pm every day. All Surgeries are by appointment. For routine appointments please telephone AFTER 10.00am to avoid congesting the switchboard or you may attend the Reception Desk any time between 8.30am and 6.00pm to make an appointment. Please check in using the self check-in kiosk or at reception when you arrive for your appointment.
Please let us know well in advance if you cannot keep an appointment so that it may be allocated to another patient. This avoids any unnecessary wait for patients wishing to see to see the practitioner of their choice. Missed appointments waste a considerable amount time each week for both doctors and practice nurses.
URGENT APPOINTMENTS
What should you do if you are ill and need an appointment with the doctor quickly?
If you need to see your doctor urgently please telephone the surgery as soon after 8.00am as possible. The earlier in the day the better so we have more time to liaise with our Community and Hospital Colleagues if this is necessary.
Be up front about why you need the appointment. This will help our staff to triage your appointment appropriately, and most of the time, will be all you need to do.
Detailed information can be found here
HOME VISITS
Doctors can see several patients in surgery in the time it takes to see one patient at home. For this reason please only request home visits if you are to ill to come to the Surgery. We will continue to visit patients at home where their medical condition prevents them from visiting the surgery. If you need the Doctor to visit you at home please telephone 953070 BEFORE 10.00am and give the Receptionist as much information as possible. This helps the Doctor to plan his visits so that the most urgent calls are made first. The doctor may telephone you to assess the urgency of your request and you may be asked to attend the surgery.
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS
It is usually possible to speak to your Doctor either before or after Surgery. The Receptionist will arrange this for you but she may need to ask for some details in order to help you. If it is not possible to transfer your call directly to the doctor then the receptionist will add your details to our doctors message screen and the doctor will return your call later in the day. If your call is urgent then please explain this to our receptionist who will bring this to the doctors attention. The receptionist will make every effort to ensure your message is passed to your doctor promptly.
IN AN EMERGENCY
For non-emergency healthcare outside of surgery hours, please call 111 for the out of hours service.
In case of emergency, please call 999
Outside normal hours, patients may be invited to attend The Urgent Care Centre at Victoria Hospital Blackpool ( At the front of the Accident and Emergency department). The practice has opted out of Out of Hours services (6.30pm – 8.00am) since 1st January 2005. NHS England commission this service on our behalf .
