Appointments

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):

  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
  • To book an urgent appointment please fill out an online request : Southgates Medical or The Woottons Surgery

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

The surgeries operate a total triage model which means that all requests for an appointment will be assessed by our triage team. This team includes experienced Care Navigators, Nurse Practitioners and a GP and ensures we utilise our limited appointments in the best way possible.

As well as offering GP appointments, some patients will also be directed to other clinicians in the practice if appropriate such as our Mental Health Practitioners, Clinical Pharmacist, Social Prescribers or Health and Wellbeing Coaches.

Mental Health Practitioners: Supports patients with complex mental health needs whose main need is not anxiety or depression (who would be seen in the local NHS Talking Therapies service)

Clinical Pharmacist: Conducts structured medication reviews (SMRs), Independent prescribing/deprescribing, Provides medication advice to healthcare professionals and patients, Optimises medication (e.g. antibiotic stewardship), Translates medicines national policies into local implementation, Adopts a whole system approach to medicines management

Social Prescribers: Connects people to non-medical community-based activities, groups and services that meet practical, social and emotional needs, including specialist advice services and the arts, physical activity and nature, Helps people identify issues that affect their health and wellbeing when co-producing a personalised care and support plan

Health and Wellbeing Coaches: Uses coaching skills to support people to make conscious and informed health choices, change behaviours and encourage proactive management and prevention of illness. Works closely with MDT colleagues, including link workers, to provide access to self-management education, peer support and social prescribing

By ensuring that patients reach the right person in a timely manner, you will receive appropriate care and our doctors will have increased capacity for those patients who clinically require a GP assessment.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system – SystmOnline
  • phone us on 01553 819477 or 01553 631469, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by completing a request online before 10.30am: Southgates Medical or The Woottons Surgery.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. A nurse or GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details, to enable the medical team to schedule house calls.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are housebound and referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under 5 years.

Late Night Pharmacies

As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.

If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.

Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.

You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website. Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.

Find a pharmacy

Extended Access Service

We also offer an extended hours service for routine appointments only on Wednesday evenings until 8pm and one in three Saturdays. To book an extended access appointment, please contact reception.

Please be aware that you will not be able to collect prescriptions during these times.

Chaperones

We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required. 

This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained interpreter who is familiar with the procedure and will be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time. 

You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined. 

Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations. 
Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability. 
Provides emotional comfort and reassurance. 
Assists in the examination. 
Assists with undressing patients, if required.