Booking appointments
You can book an appointment:- over the phone (contact 0161 225 6699)
- in person at reception.
We offer a variety of different types of appointment to be as flexible as possible in meeting the different needs of our patients.
What's the problem?
When you ring to book an appointment, the receptionist may ask for a brief idea of the problem. This allows us to book the most appropriate type of appointment with the most appropriate person. This helps to avoid wasted appointments and improves the overall waiting time. If you prefer not to say your problem, that's fine, just let the receptionist know.
Who to see?
You don't always need to see a doctor. We offer a wide range of services provided by our nurses and nurse practitioners. They often have more appointments available. If in doubt the receptionist can advise.
Whenever possible, we recommend that you see the same nurse or doctor each time for help with continuing care.
When to book?
- Most types of appointment can be booked up to 2-4 weeks in advance.
- Some of our appointments are reserved for 'same-day appointments' and can only be booked on the day.
- If you would like to see a particular nurse or doctor, it's always advisable to book ahead. Our nurses and doctors are not all in surgery every day or they might be fully booked.
- Nurse practitioner appointments are only available on the day.
- If you would like to book an appointment on the day we recommend that you phone as early as possible. Only a certain number of these appointments are available each day. The practice opens at 08:30 every Monday to Friday.
- If you would like to book ahead, we recommend that you phone after 09:30 to avoid our early morning busy period.
How long?
Routine appointments with doctors and nurse practitioners are ten minutes. If you think you will need longer, please let the receptionist know. Emergency appointments are five minutes and are for one problem only. The length of nurse appointments depends on the reason for the appointment, which the receptionist will need to know.
Telephone appointments
Some problems can be dealt with by simply speaking to the doctor. Every day each doctor has a number of appointments for telephone consultations. The doctor will phone you at the time of the appointment at a phone number of your convenience (home, work, mobile, etc). Please book a 'telephone appointment' with the receptionist.
Urgent medical problems
There are times when a medical problem can't wait for the next routine appointment, but it's also something that's not suitable for A&E. For these situations, we have an 'emergency surgery' each morning and afternoon. Emergency appointments are five minutes and are for one problem only. Sometimes the emergency doctor has to deal with very ill patients and this can cause a delay, so please be prepared to wait.
For information about other services that can offer urgent help, see: In an emergency.
Arriving at the practice
When you arrive for your appointment you need to either:
- use the 'arrivals touch screen' in the waiting room - just type in your gender and birthday
- or check in at reception
If you do not let us know you have arrived then you will miss your appointment.
