Brierley Park Medical Centre - How to make an appointment to see your doctor or nurse at the surgery

Noticeboard

EMERGENCIES

If you need urgent medical advice during practice opening hours, please phone the surgery on 01623 550254.

If you need to see a doctor urgently when we are closed, please phone 111. An operator will take some details and pass you through to our local out of hours GP service.

APPOINTMENTS

You DO NOT NEED TO CALL AT 8 o'clock in the morning for routine appointments. If your problem is urgent, please call reception as early as you are able to and you will be seen in our Urgent Care Clinic. Routine appointments can be booked up to 4 weeks in advance. Some appointments can be booked online - please speak to reception to obtain a username and password.

CANCELLING AN APPOINTMENT

If you no longer need your appointment, it helps us and other patients if you can cancel your appointment as soon as possible. This way, we can make sure the appointment can be offered to another patient. You can cancel at reception, by telephone (01623 550254) or online.

STAFF TRAINING

The practice will be closed on the 3rd Wednesday of the month for essential staff training.

Access the online appointment system

Appointments

There is no need to ring at 8:00am to book a routine appointment. All GP appointments are available to book online. You need to register for online services, ask at reception.

If your GP wishes to review you they will give you a slip to take to reception to book this appointment.

We aim for: one phone call, one appointment

We want to accommodate your appointment request in one phone call. Therefore, when you ring for an appointment, the following will be offered by our reception staff:

Next available appointment with the GP of your choice. (within next 2 weeks)
If this appointment is not soon enough, the next available appointment with any GP will be offered.
Urgent appointments are available on the day.
Minor Illness appointments are available with our Nurse Practitioner.

Urgent Care Clinic

We will accommodate everyone who needs to be seen on the day for urgent problems.

Routine Appointments

For routine appointments, we encourage you to call ANY TIME during opening hours.

Notes on Appointments

To book an appointment please call 01623 550254.
The appointment time is generally 10 minutes.
If you have several problems to discuss, please ask reception to book a longer appointment which will help to keep waiting times down.
Please make a separate appointment for each person needing to be seen.

Telephone Appointments

Telephone slots are available with each GP every day. These appointments can be used to discuss any queries with the GP if you feel that you don’t need to be seen.

Please advise reception of the best number to contact you on.

The GP will call you as near to the booked time as possible.

Examples of things that can be dealt with in a telephone consultation are:

Test results
Medication queries
Questions about your hospital care etc.

Cancellations

Please help us by telling us as early as possible if you do not require your appointment any more. This allows us to to offer these appointments to other patients who need them.

You can cancel an appointment by either phoning reception or coming in to the practice. You can also cancel your appointment by logging in to Systm-Online.

Book online

If you're a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

If you already use SystmOnline you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well. For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp

If you do not have access to a smartphone but do have access to a computer, you can still access our online services. For more information visit our Online services page

Urgent Care Clinic (UCC)

We introduced the Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) to increase the availability of pre-bookable appointments whilst still seeing patients with urgent problems in a timely manner. This has led to more advance access bookings from 48 hours to 4 weeks for planned, routine care and long-term conditions management. Patient satisfaction with the new system has been excellent.

Here are some FAQs to explain the new system:

1. What is the clinic for?

The Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) is run daily Monday-Friday, for same day treatment of urgent problems, minor illness and minor injury. A comprehensive but not exhaustive list of problem that can be seen is given in the table below.

2. When are the appointments?

Slots are available from 08:30 - 18:30 and are booked in time order.

3. How do I book an appointment?

Telephone the Surgery as soon as you know you need to be seen that day.

4. What should I do when I arrive at the practice?

You will not be able to use the self check in. Please see the receptionist who will check you in and give you a brief questionnaire to complete about the reason for your appointment today. This is very helpful to the GP seeing you. If you need help filling the form out the receptionist will be more than happy to assist.

5. Will I be seen straight away?

You will be seen in order of arrival. We anticipate that you will be seen within 30 minutes of your appointment time but this will depend on the daily demand.

6. If my problem is not urgent, will I still be seen?

If your problem is not urgent you will be asked to return to the desk to book a routine appointment when adequate time can be given to your problem.

7. Are there specific problems that cannot be seen in the UCC?

The clinic is not intended for multiple issues, chronic disease management, medication reviews or requests for fit (club) notes.

We do not count late medication requests or continuation fit notes as urgent work. These are generally turned around within 48 hours. Please be prepared and order early.

8. Can I help myself before seeing the GP?

Remember you can also see your Pharmacy First for minor illnesses, and we have a wide range of self-help materials and leaflets in our Information Area in the waiting room. This website also has a lot of self help information.

Conditions Suitable for Urgent Care Clinic
Same Day problems
Chest pain	Palpitations	Slurred Speech	Cellulitis	Severe anxiety
Short of Breath	Weakness	Confusion	Joint pain	Severe depression
Abdominal pain	Visual problems	Severe headache	Infection	Self-harm
Bleeding	Red eye	Fever	Childhood infection	Palliative care
We give priority to babies and children < 1 year
We will deal with queries from our palliative care/unplanned admissions care plan patients
We cannot guarantee you will see your named/a particular Doctor
Minor Illness
Cold sores	Cold/flu	Ear symptoms	Mouth Problems	Threadworms
Abscess	Conjunctivitis	Eczema	Nappy rash	Throat symptoms
Athlete’s foot	Emergency contraception	Eye symptoms	Nose bleed	UTI/cystitis
Back pain	Cough	Fever	Nappy rash	Vaginal discharge
Bites	Cuts and Bruises	Fungal infection	Shingles	Warts/verrucca
Boils	Burns	Hay Fever	Sinusitis	Wound infection
Diarrhoea &Vomiting	Headache	Sore eyes	Dizziness	Sunburn
In-growing toenails
Minor Injury
Burns	Sprains	Bites	Foreign bodies
Scalds	Strains	Cuts, bruises	Minor accidents
Cellulitis	Swelling	Skin infection

Home Visits

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We prefer to see patients at the practice where possible as more comprehensive examinations and tests may be carried out there.

Home visits are generally reserved for housebound or terminally ill patients.

If you feel too unwell to come to the surgery, please telephone reception (before 10:00 if possible). Your details will be taken and a doctor may call you back to assess your problem.

Transport problems are not felt to be a reason for requesting a visit. Please try to make arrangements with a family member or friend to bring you, or consider getting a taxi.

For patients who require a home visit for a problem with is of an acute onset, the practice may refer you to the Acute Home Visiting Service ran by PICS. This service is to assess patients earlier in the day and is commissioned by Mansfield & Ashfield CCG and is a nurse led service and has been designed to assist GPs. A Full report is sent back to the practice on completion of the visit and appropriate follow up will be arranged where indicated and visits are carried out during the course of the day.

Visits by the Doctors at the practice are carried out between 12:00 noon and 3:00pm, except in unforeseen circumstances. Late visit requests are assessed by the on-call doctor; these might be appropriate to be deferred to the following day. If the need for a visit is a true emergency the more appropriate service might be via 111 or 999.

No patient in genuine need of a home visit will be refused.

Pharmacy First

Pharmacy First aims to improve patient access to GP appointments by encouraging patients with certain minor ailments to use the pharmacy for treatment rather than making an appointment at the surgery.

This will relieve the pressure on current appointment schedules and allow those patients with more urgent or serious needs to see the GP sooner. The scheme covers the whole of the NHS Nottinghamshire county area including community pharmacies and all GP practices.

Patients can self-refer to any NHS Nottinghamshire County community pharmacy or referral can be made by the GP or practice staff or by any other healthcare professional.

Download the Pharmacy First patient leaflet for more information.

What minor ailments can be treated at the pharmacy?

Athlete’s foot
Bacterial conjunctivitis
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Earache
Haemorrhoids
Hay fever
Head lice: 'Head lice - what happens in the pharmacy' Head lice - the treatment'
Insect bites and stings
Sore throat
Teething pain
Temperature or fever
Threadworm
Toothache
Vaginal thrush
Warts and verrucas

Who can use Pharmacy First?

Patients must be registered with an NHS Nottinghamshire GP.
The scheme treats patients over three months old with no upper age limit. Children under three months should always be treated by their doctor.
The scheme includes all children up to 16 years old.
Patients should be exempt from prescription charges.
The patient should always be present at the consultation in the pharmacy.
Medicines will not be provided for the ‘store cupboard’ or ‘just in case’.
The pharmacist may not always provide medicines.
Any treatment or medicines provided will always follow the guidance laid down in the agreed protocols.
Pharmacists can only provide medicines that are listed in the agreed formulary under the Pharmacy First scheme.
Patients who are referred to their GP by the pharmacist do not automatically ‘jump the queue’. They should receive an appointment in line with the practice’s reception protocols.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to make an appointment to use the scheme?

No. It is possible to walk into any community pharmacy (chemist’s shop) and ask to join the Pharmacy First scheme. You will then be able to have a consultation with the pharmacist if necessary. Most pharmacies have consultation areas you can use to provide privacy.

Why do I have to bring my ill child to the pharmacy to receive treatment?

The scheme is intended for patient with minor ailments. If your child is not well enough to attend the pharmacy then it is advisable to seek advice from your surgery.

If the patient is not present at the pharmacy the pharmacist is unable to supply any treatment under the Pharmacy First scheme.

Medicines will not be provided for the store cupboard, or ‘just in case’. Only patients who present at the pharmacy with existing symptoms will be treated.

What happens when I need head lice treatment for my children?

There will be an initial consultation with the pharmacist where you will be given advice on using a head lice detector comb, provided with a leaflet about head lice, and given a free head lice detector comb.

You should then go home and follow the combing method described in the leaflet to see whether there are head lice present in the hair.

If you do find head lice, you should capture one on a piece of sellotape as evidence of infection. This is to prevent over usage and unnecessary treatment, which may lead to the head lice not responding to the products.

Return to the pharmacy with the evidence to show to the pharmacist, who will provide you with the necessary treatment.

You will receive two bottles of head lice lotion, one to use immediately, and one to use in seven days' time. This should clear up the infection.

It is good practice to comb your hair regularly with the detector comb, using the method advised in the leaflet. This can help to prevent future infection with head lice.

Why can’t I use the scheme more than twice in a month?

You may access the Pharmacy First scheme twice in any one month with the same symptoms. A third visit with the same symptoms will trigger an automatic referral to your GP for further investigation. A third visit with different symptoms would be allowed.

If you need continued treatment for a condition, it is safer to ensure your GP is aware of the situation and advise you accordingly.

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'

If you require a 'Fit Note' for the first time you do need to see your GP. For continuation 'Fit Notes' please ring the surgery to request a further note. Please Note that we can not pre date notes only back date. PLEASE ALLOW 24 HOURS FOR YOUR FIT NOTE TO BE ACTIONED!

If a note is required for less than seven days this will attract a fee.

For more information see the GOV.UK website

GP Access Scheme

Monday - Friday 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Saturday morning 9:00am - 12 noon

Sunday & Bank Holidays 9:00am - 1:00pm

Ashfield North Federation of practices includes, Willowbrook Medical Practice, Woodlands Medical Practice, Brierley Park Medical Centre, Skegby Family Medical Centre and Kings Medical Centre. We are a group of practices who are working together to offer our patients access to GP pre-booked appointments evenings and weekends.

You can now have pre-bookable appointments Sunday & Bank Holidays at Forest Medical, Rosemary Street, Mansfield, NG19 6AB (near civic centre).

These appointments can only be booked through your own GP practice. There will be a GP and sometimes a nurse on duty at each surgery. Your appointment will be 15 minutes long. There are no emergency appointments available during extended GP Access Surgeries. Should the GP you see like to refer you for further investigations or procedures, this information will be passed on to your usual GP practice to process.

Extended GP Access service is now accessible 7 days per week. If you require an appointment on a Sunday please enquire with the reception team. For further information https://www.mansfieldandashfieldccg.nhs.uk/our-services/doctors-surgeries/did-you-know-you-can-now-book-gp-appointments-in-mid-nottinghamshire-on-evenings-and-weekends/