Appointments

We will always try to arrange appointments for you to see the clinician of your choice but obviously this may not always be possible particularly with urgent problems when you might have to see someone else.

Urgent cases are seen on the day.

Appointments can be booked online via link at the top of this page - please ask at reception for details.

Appointments are normally 15 minutes long but you can ask for a longer appointment if you feel it is necessary.

Telephone consultations are also available on request; please contact reception who will relay a message to the GP or practice nurse.

Booking Appointments

Please be aware when booking appointments the receptionist may ask for further information. This is to ensure you are booked in to see the most appropriate healthcare professional.

Extended Hours Service

The practice provides patient appointments at times outside the normal core hours. The appointments are available at Rillington Surgery every Tuesday morning from 07:00 with a nurse, 7.30am with a GP and Thursday morning from 07:30 with the GP and phlebotomist for blood tests.

Chaperone Policy

You are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure. This could be a family member, friend, or a member of our team. If you would like to see a copy of our Chaperone Policy please ask at reception.

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

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 calling reception as early as possible on the day.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your 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 doctor to schedule house calls.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are 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 five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)