Appointments

Appointments can be made by telephoning 084 4477 3396 from Monday to Friday between 8.30 am - 6.00 pm or by calling in person at Priory or Springhill surgery (until 5.30pm).

Appointments are usually available within 48 hours, however, if you wish to see a particular doctor you may have to wait longer.

Further information on our appointment system can be downloaded by selecting the "Information" tab. 

You can help us ensure surgeries run smoothly by:

• Arriving on time and informing the receptionist whenever you arrive for your appointment.
• Letting us know if you are unable to keep an appointment so that we can offer it to another patient.
• Remembering one patient - one appointment! Separate appointments need to be made if other members of your family need to see the doctor.

Home Visits

Home visits are solely for those patients who are too ill or infirm to attend the Surgery. If you require a home visit please ring us before 10.30 am if possible. This will allow the doctors to plan their rounds and avoid unnecessary delays. The receptionist will ask you for your telephone number and some information about your condition to help the doctor to prioritise their visits. Please use the service wisely.

Tel: 084 4477 3396

Explaining our appointment system

The surgery runs an appointment system which operates for both morning and afternoon surgeries. Appointments may be made at reception in person or by telephone. Please make appointments as soon as possible. Do not leave it until the last minute unless it is genuinely urgent, in which case please explain to the receptionist, giving as much information as possible - remember this is all treated in confidence.

  If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible, so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. A separate appointment is required for each person to be seen. When you come to the surgery please check in at reception so that your details may be confirmed. Please remember each booked appointment is for 10 minutes only. We have tried to design the system to balance the needs for continuity, patient choice, and speedy access. When making an appointment you have 4 choices: -

You may book an appointment with a doctor of your choice, usually up to 1 month in advance . Sometimes around holiday periods we restrict the numbers of booked appointments to allow more space for urgent and semi urgent appointments. For ongoing care of a condition it is usually better to see the same doctor if possible. If you wish to see a specific doctor of your choice you may have to wait a little longer for an available slot.

If you need to be seen (for medical reasons, not just for a repeat prescription or sick line etc) within 2 working days you will ALWAYS be able to get an appointment with a doctor but it may not be your first choice of doctor. We will always try to facilitate your choice of doctor where possible but this cannot be guaranteed with the 2 working days.

If you need seen on the same day for an urgent medical reason you will be offered an emergency slot that day.

Sometimes it is not necessary to see a doctor if you just want advice or have a question to ask. Alternatives to appointments are either leaving a message with a receptionist, speaking to a doctor on the phone, (if you leave contact details we will return your call when we are free but please give as much information as possible to the receptionist), or you may wish to speak to one of the practice nurses especially if it is about a chronic condition like diabetes, cardiac disease, asthma or travel vaccinations etc.

  Make an appointment with our Minor Illness Nurse

We have a specially trained nurse available at Priory Surgery each morning who is able to diagnose and treat a range of minor or self-limiting illnesses.  The Reception staff may ask you to tell them the nature of your illness and this is designed to help you access the right person to help you.  Patients using this service can usually be seen the same day or within the next 24 hours.

In many instances it may be possible for the doctor to deal with your problem over the telephone; e.g. to discuss test results, review medication, extend sickness certificates etc.

If you would like to book a telephone consultation please speak to the receptionist who will be able make a booking for you between 2 - 5 days in advance. However, if you want to speak to a particular GP you may have to wait longer.

The GP may telephone any time between 8.30am and 6.00pm so make sure you are able to take the call as the doctor will not be able to try again that day if you miss the call.

If you feel you need to speak to a doctor urgently please advise the receptionist and they will pass your call to the appropriate person. All requests must, where possible, be made before 11.00 am each day.