You are registered with the practice, and not with one particular doctor. This means that all doctors in the practice will take responsibility for all patients and that you can choose which doctor you want to see. However, in general we think it is better that you see the same doctor for the same problem, whenever possible.

APPOINTMENTS

We operate an appointment system. Appointments can be made by telephoning the surgery number or calling personally to the reception desk. We allow 10 minutes per consultation, longer by arrangement. Please cancel if you cannot attend as someone else might need the appointment. Is is also possible to book your own routine appointment on line by clicking here. If you want to make use of this facility, please talk to one of our receptionists.

URGENT CONSULTATIONS

If you need an urgent consultation, please make this clear to the receptionist. We will try our best to accommodate you. We will always see your child the same day if you feel they may be quite ill or in pain, or if you are worried about a serious illness.

HOME VISITS

If a home visit is needed, please telephone between 8.00 and 10.00am. Please try to give our receptionist some guidance on why you would like a visit as this helps us to assess priorities and plan our rounds. Try to come to the surgery whenever possible. Usually we can see you more quickly and facilities for examination and treatment are far better. Visits are normally done sometime before 3 pm. If you feel that you/ the patient could not wait until that time, please tell our receptionists. We also need to be informed if your/ the patients' condition deteriorates whilst waiting.

EMERGENCIES

If you need medical advice urgently outside normal surgery hours, telephone 01543 412981. You will be automatically connected to the Out of Hours Call Centre which is run by Staffordshire Ambulance Service.  Specially trained call centre staff, with the back-up of qualified medical professionals, will assess how best to help you, for example, by giving you advice or arranging for an ambulance to attend if the problem appears serious.  If it is felt that you need to be seen and cannot wait until surgery is open again, you will be given an appointment slot at the Primary Care Centre at Samuel Johnson Hospital Lichfield (see map on the back cover of this booklet, SJCH is located on the site of the previous St Michaels Hospital), where you will either see a nurse practitioner or doctor.  If, because of your condition or circumstances you cannot travel, you will be able to get a home visit from a community nurse, community paramedic officer (ambulance nurse) or a doctor from Staffordshire Ambulance Service.

INJURIES

If you have a minor injury you can go directly to the Minor Injuries Unit of the Samuel Johnson Community Hospital. There you will be treated by experienced nursing staff, if necessary with the back-up of a doctor.

Major casualties can be seen at the Accident and Emergency Departments of one of the three district general hospitals serving the area: Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield; Burton District Hospital, Burton-on-Trent; Walsall Manor Hospital, Walsall.

TEMPORARY RESIDENTS

You are entitled to see a doctor anywhere in the UK if you are away from home and in need of medical help. You can do this simply by asking to see the nearest doctor as a temporary resident. We will be happy to see any relatives or friends staying with you if they need a doctor.

TELEPHONE ADVICE

Your doctor will be happy to give you advice on the telephone when they are not consulting. The receptionists have been asked not to interrupt your doctor if with a patient unless your call is urgent. You may, therefore, be asked to phone back or to leave a telephone number for your doctor to contact you when free.