South Lewisham Group Practice

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

Pre-booked appointment - can be booked up to two weeks in advance

Online booking - bookable up to two weeks in advance

On the day am & pm - only bookable on the morning of the day required

Late clinics until 8.00pm - bookable up to two weeks in advance

Saturday mornings - only 1 in 4 - bookable up to two weeks in advance.

We are committed to providing a convenient appointment for you.
You can pre-book a non urgent appointment up to two weeks in advance.
If you are unwell and need to see a doctor more urgently please call or visit the surgery from 8.00am for a same day appointment. These appointments are limited and on a 'first come first served' basis to patients whose medical need is urgent.

We offer a telephone consultation service where a doctor will call you back on a number of your choosing. To request this service you need to call before 11.00am on the day.

APPOINTMENT TICKET MACHINE FOR PEAK TIMES

At peak times (between 8.00 - 9.00am) please take a ticket from our machine located in the waiting area and wait for your number to appear on the electronic display screen before approaching the reception desk. We find this is the fairest way of allocating appointments at busy times as it ensures those who arrive earliest are offered the first appointments.

Appointments for our two late evening and our Saturday surgeries are pre–bookable up to two weeks in advance.

BOOKING IN FACILITY

Once you have arranged your appointment, either in advance or on the day, please use our booking in screen located in the waiting area to alert the doctor or nurse that you have arrived for your appointment. We encourage you to use this facility as it helps to prevent queuing at the reception desk, allowing staff to answer the telephone and deal with general enquiries.

COMMUTER CLINIC

Held on Monday evenings, usually between 5.00 - 7.00pm. These appointments are intended for patients who work and are unable to attend the surgery during the day. Appointments between 6.00 - 7.00pm are pre-bookable.

NURSE APPOINTMENTS

These must be pre-booked.

ADVICE AND INFORMATION BY TELEPHONE

If you wish to speak to your doctor or a nurse, you can leave a message with the reception staff, who will log your message on to our computerised message system. Unless it is an emergency, calls are only taken before 11.30am. The doctor or nurse will call you back before the end of the day.

URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT

At any time, call the surgery on 020 3049 2580. If the surgery is closed you will be given another number to ring for the out-of-hours doctors' service (SELDOC) on 020 8693 9066 . SELDOC is a large professional organisation run by doctors in South East London. If you or someone you know are experiencing a serious problem such as severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding, collapse or unconsciousness call an ambulance (999) before calling your doctor.

MISSED APPOINTMENTS

Every month hundreds of appointments are missed. We ask you for your co-operation in informing us if you are unable to attend an appointment so other patients can be offered the chance to see their GP. The surgery monitors missed appointments as part of its efficiency measures and will withdraw the facillity to pre-book appointments from any patient who persistently fails to attend. Those patients who continue to abuse the system are likely to be removed from our practice list.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?

If a visit is necessary, please telephone the surgery before 10.00am. A doctor or nurse will call you back to discuss the visit. Should you require a doctor as a matter of urgency, contact the reception team who will be able to advise you.

Children with high temperatures will not be harmed by coming to the surgery even in cold weather and will be seen sooner. Please inform the reception staff if you feel you or your child would find it uncomfortable in the waiting area so we can try to fit you in earlier.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?

If you are requesting your result, please be prepared to wait at least a week or longer for some blood tests (x-rays can take up to three weeks). Please call the surgery between 10.30 - 11.30am and 3.00 - 4.00pm for all results. For reasons of confidentiality, results can only be given to the specific patient to whom they apply. Receptionists are instructed only to tell you the doctor's comment on the result. If any test is abnormal or you would like further discussion or interpretation, please make an appointment with your doctor.