Medical Referrals And Investigations

Often as a result of your consultation with the doctor you may be asked to have further investigations such as blood tests or x-rays or be referred for a specialist opinion. You will usually be advised on how long it takes for the results to come back to the doctor. It is obviously important that you have the opportunity of discussing the result with the doctor. Significant results will normally be followed up from the practice but you may telephone the surgery after the appropriate time interval, if you wish to do so.

How Do I...
Obtain a Medical Certificate?

NON NHS MEDICAL CERTIFCATES, REPORTS AND FORMS

A number of services are non-NHS and therefore chargeable. Your doctor will inform you at the time of request whether a fee is payable. Examples would be certificates your employer's benefit, holiday cancellation, passport counter signatory, private references or letters. Please enquire at Reception for the scales of charges. We reserve the right to take a deposit for services requested.

Please note all patients are able to self-certify for up to seven days. Any medical certificate issued by a GP is a legal document. They may not be post-dated or issued in advance. However they may be backdated, for example to provide continuous cover over a weekend.

How Do I...
Obtain Telephone Advice?

If you wish to speak to a doctor you may telephone the surgery any time during normal opening hours and request telephone advice. Please allow the receptionist to check your telephone number so that the doctor can ring you back. In addition, we do need to maintain accurate contact details for our patients. As this is for advice only you will receive a call from the doctor between 8.00am and 7.00pm.

How Do I...
Obtain A Home Visit?

Patients should attend the surgery whenever possible. For patients who are unable to attend due to severe, acute illness or prolonged debilitating problems, requests for a home visit should be made whenever possible before 11.00am. Please provide details of name, address, telephone number and the reason for the visit. The doctor will return your call and asses the need for a home visit. Visits requested after 11.00am should be for emergencies only and will normally be done by the duty doctor for the day.

How Do I...
Obtain Test Results?

The doctor will contact you if the results need further discussion. There is no need to routinely call the surgery. However if you are phoning to check for results of blood tests, x-rays, etc please do so between 11.00am and 3.00pm. Reception can only give information about a result on the instruction of a doctor. If you feel the need to discuss any result with a GP please request a telephone consultation with the GP who ordered the test. Please note we are unable as a matter of routine to notify all patients of all negative reports. Please routinely leave five working days before calling, noting that certain tests may take considerably longer. Please note if you request to speak to a particular doctor they may be part time or not on the premises.