Which Site?

We ask that each patient selects a main site for the majority of their care, either Dickens Heath or Northbrook. There is no restriction on which site you choose, although we ask that you do not change your mind more than twice per year. You may book any available routine appointment at your main site, but only within 24 hours of the appointment time at the other site. Urgent appointments can be at either site, and your doctor may choose to book an appointment for you at the other site for specific reasons. Your registration will automatically be for the site nearest your home unless you tell us otherwise.

Appointments

All consultations are by appointment. Telephone 0121 745 9333 (Northbrook) or 0121 744 9393 (Dickens Heath), visit in person or make an internet booking here. Appointments can be booked up to a month in advance although we reserve some appointments each day. Requests for same day appointments will be screened by the duty doctor to assess the urgency and we cannot guarantee any particular doctor for same day appointments. You may be asked to leave your number so that the Duty Doctor can ring you back to clarify the best person for you to see for an urgent appointment. Advance bookings do not require any screening.

We also offer a telephone consultation system. You can pre-arrange a specified time to talk to one of the doctors by appointment. As with face to face appointments, same day requests will initially be considered by the Duty Doctor.

Blood test appointments can be booked directly with the receptionists, but please point out that it is unlikely that a form will have been made out. This enables the staff to check the details prior to your appointment, saving any delays or omissions. Blood testing is available at both Northbrook and Dickens Heath, by appointment, usually with the Health Care Assistants.

Minor Surgery procedures are all done at the Dickens Heath site as Northbrook does not fulfil the relevant Health and Safety and Infection Control regulations. They must be screened by a doctor first and the procedure discussed so please do not try to book an appointment directly for a minor surgical procedure. The doctor will give you the relevant paperwork to take to reception, who will then book your minor surgery procedure with you.

If you no longer need your appointment or are unable to attend, please telephone to cancel immediately so that we can offer it to someone else.

At the Northbrook surgery we have an automatic touch screen booking in system. We also use a call system at both surgeries which displays your name and which doctor you are seeing when it is your turn. If you would rather your name were not displayed on the call system board please tell the receptionist when you arrive and she will alert the doctor.

We are also offering two routine surgeries at our Dickens Heath site on Saturday mornings.

Saturdays are a government initiative, hence we are constrained by some rules:

• All appointments must be booked in advance (they are on the online booking section)
• No 'emergency' or 'walk-in' cases can be seen (not covered legally, bizarrely)
• Preferably, appointments are for people who work during the week or otherwise are not free on weekdays
• No blood tests or anything requiring phoning the hospital (they will be shut for non-emergencies)
• We are happy to do smear tests, postnatal exams, small minor ops (not freezing) and joint injections if the doctor normally does them
• Yellow Fever vaccinations can be arranged
• Telephones must remain diverted to out of hours answerphone message
• No Bank Holiday weekends
• Skeleton staff so Dickens Heath is safer, security is across the road!
• Pharmacy in Dickens Heath is open on Saturdays, Northbrook Pharmacy is not
• All appointments are open to all registered patients of the practice, regardless of where you usually attend

Repeat Prescriptions

Please give us 48 hours notice to process requests. You may order in several ways:

• By post, including an S.A.E. if you wish your prescription to be posted back
• By fax, on 0121 733 6892 (Northbrook) or 0121 744 0060 (Dickens Heath)
• By handing in your counterfoil or written request any time during opening hours
• On our secure internet site linked from here.

Please do not email prescription requests.

We have arrangements with several local pharmacies who will collect your prescription from us and make up the items. These can then be collected from the chemist. If you want to use this service please tick the relevant box on your counterfoil.

For safety reasons we are unable to accept prescription requests by telephone.