How To See The Doctor

Consultations

Consultations are by appointment. Please telephone Reception on Wells 836650 to arrange an appointment.You are free to see any doctor of your choice, and every effort will be made to give you an appointment with that doctor. It is sensible to see the same doctor each time, especially for follow up of a continuing problem. We try to see sick children and urgent cases the same day, otherwise you will be offered the first available appointment. We apologise for delays which are often unavoidable, and assure you that you will be seen as soon as possible.

If you are unable to keep an appointment please notify reception as soon as possible as someone else will be able to use your appointment.

In April 2007, 198 patients failed to keep their appointments, wasting 32 hours of surgery bookings.

Please remember that an appointment is for one person only. If two people want to be seen together you should book two appointments.

Telephone Consultations

Some problems can be dealt with over the telephone. If you want to speak to the doctor, please phone reception. They will arrange for your doctor to phone you back. Doctors are normally available to make calls after morning surgery and before evening surgery.

Please remember that many minor ailments such as coughs, colds, stomach upsets and insect bites will often resolve themselves without you needing to see a doctor. Your local chemist and NHS Direct will also be able to advise you on these.

Home Visits

Home visits are time consuming and have to be only for the housebound or those too ill to come to the surgery. It is often quicker and more satisfactory to wrap a feverish child in a blanket and bring him to the surgery where he can be seen immediately rather than waiting anxiously at home. We can see 4 or 5 patients in the surgery in the time it takes to do a single home visit.

If you do need a home visit please try to phone the surgery before 10.30 am. We appreciate that this may not always be possible but phoning early helps the doctors to plan their rounds.

Introduction	Map of Wells	Practice Area
Doctors	Staff	Premises
Making Appointments	Telephoning the Surgery	Useful Telephone Numbers
Surgery Timetable	Clinics	Special Services
Out of Hours	Practice Charter	Links Page
Advice on treating common illnesses