Changes to appointment system - effective from the 20th September 2021

Appointments

This is a group practice and you can choose to see any of the doctors here. All consultations at the Health Centre are by appointment which can be either by telephone or face-to-face. 
The standard appointment is 15 minutes long. Your problem may need longer in which case the doctor may ask you to book a further appointment. The clinician will only be able to deal with one matter during your appointment.  If you have other matters you need to discuss, a further appointment will need to be made. 

Chaperone

You may request a suitably trained chaperone for any procedure, test or examination.  Friends and family are not considered as impartial observers, and are unable to act as chaperones.  If you know at the time of booking you wish for a chaperone, please inform the receptionist and your booking can be noted. Both male and female clinical team members work within the practice, if you have a preference, please ensure you discuss this when booking your appointment.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

If you are too ill to come to the surgery and you require a visit at home, please call the surgery before 11am. Home visits take up much more of a doctor’s time than a consultation in the surgery, so if you are mobile please come into the surgery to be seen. Doctors usually do home visits between morning and afternoon surgery although this does not mean that they will get to you straight after the end of surgery. The receptionist will ask you for some basic details and the doctor may speak to you on the telephone to assess your needs.

Emergency Visits

If you need an emergency visit during the health centre opening times, for instance if you are suffering severe chest pain, please make the situation clear to the receptionist and they will transfer you to the duty doctor. They may also advise you to call 999, or do it for you. Emergencies such as suspected fractures that might need an X-ray or wounds that need stitching are best dealt with in a hospital accident and emergency or minor injury department and you will be advised to go to Bridgwater or Musgrove Park Hospital.

There are times of the day when we may not have any medical staff here at the health centre so it is always advisable to telephone first.