Appointments

Pharmacy First

The new Pharmacy First service, launched 31 January 2024, adding to previously named Community pharmacy consultation service (CPCS)and enables community pharmacies to care and treat 7 common conditions following defined clinical pathways. Most Pharmacies now offer the “Pharmacy First” Service.

The following table shows the 7 additional conditions pharmacists can now manage across various age ranges and includes prescribing antibiotics where they are needed.

Clinical pathway	Age range
Acute otitis media (ear infection)	1 to 17 years
Impetigo	1 year and over
Infected insect bites	1 year and over
Shingles	18 years and over
Sinusitis	12 years and over
Sore throat	5 years and over
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections	Women 16-64 years

If the Pharmacist feels you would benefit from input from a GP rather than them, they will contact us and ask us to arrange a consultation with you.

Please consider contacting the “Pharmacy First” before calling to book an appointment for one of these conditions.

Contact us with Accurx

You can contact a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional online using a website called Accurx. Please be advised this is not for urgent issues.

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment you feel need attention today (Monday to Friday) during opening times: phone us on 01992 450040

Your issue will be triaged by our patient care services team and if the criteria is met you will be placed with a member of the practice team for a same day appointment if necessary.

These appointments are for urgent clinical issue and a rough time guide will be given to patients as we cannot guarantee being seen at a specific time. Currently these appointments are telephone appointments, the GP will then arrange a convenient time for you to be seen face-to-face, should this be required.

Routine appointments

Routine appointments are currently released on the day for GP’s, or up to 2 weeks in advance for nursing appointments during opening times:

phone us on 01992 450040
All requests for appointments are care navigated by our patient care services team to ensure you are booked in with the most appropriate person for your complaint. This means self-booking options are not appropriate. Patients for specific clinics are however, are sent links to be able to access appointments within these specific sessions.
Currently these appointments are telephone appointments, the GP will then arrange a convenient time for you to be seen face to face, should this be required.

Extended access

Appointments with GPs, Nurses, Health Care Assistants, pharmacists and first contact physio’s are now available within our extended access service.

This service operates 6:30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and between 9am to 5pm Saturday in conjunction with our Primary care network.

These appointments may not at the Maples but at another PCN Practice or by telephone. Please speak to our patient care services team for more information and availability.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

by phone
face to face at the surgery
on a video call

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
using the GP online system: SystmOnline
phone us on 01992 450040 during opening times and follow the guidance given on the recording to cancel an appointment

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
if you need an interpreter
if you have any other access or communication needs