How do I register as a patient?

If you wish to join the practice please bring your Medical card, completed and signed to the surgery. If you do not have a medical card, do not worry you will need to complete a registration form instead. You will also be asked to complete a new patient health questionnaire form. The map above shows the area from which we accept new patients. You can apply to register in person by attending either surgery between 8:45 and 17.50.

You will be registered with a GP within the practice and are free to see which ever GP you prefer on the day you attend.

The practice may refuse an application to join its list if you do not reside in our area. We will not refuse to accept you on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.

Disabled access

Both practice premises have suitable access for disabled patients.

How do I see a Doctor or Nurse?

You will need to make an appointment by telephone or by calling in to reception. Please remember to make a separate appointment for each person to be seen. When you arrive – let the receptionists know you are here by booking in at the desk. The doctor or nurse will call you from the waiting room when it is your turn.

Cancellations

On average, 20 appointments are wasted each week because patients do not turn up. If you have been unable to get an appointment it may be that it was taken up by somebody who then failed to attend! If you have made an appointment and no longer need it, please help us and other patients by letting us know, as it can then be given to someone else.

If your first language is not English

The Practice has access to Language Line, which is a telephone service that aids us in the interpretation of different languages. Please indicate to a receptionist if you need this sort of assistance.

Can I talk to the Doctor or Nurse on the phone?

Yes, we offer a telephone advice service. For problems or advice which may be dealt with in this way, please contact the surgery, leaving your name, address and contact telephone number and the doctor or nurse will telephone you.

Will the Doctor see me at home?

It is important that you try to come in whenever possible. If a patient is too ill to attend the surgery the doctor may decide to visit at home. Home visit requests should be made before 10am to enable us to plan our day’s work. When a request is made later in the day a delay may be unavoidable. Please remember that in the time it takes for the doctor to see one patient at home, four patients can be seen in the surgery. We can give you a much better service at the surgery, as in your home it is often difficult to carry out tests without the necessary equipment.

Do I have to make an appointment for my prescription?

Sometimes your treatment can be continued by means of a repeat prescription. However the doctor will still wish to see you every so often to monitor your progress.

How do I get my repeat prescription?

There are several ways to order your prescriptions. Always give us the following information:

• Patient’s name and address
• A contact telephone number
• Patient’s date of birth
• Medication required and any message.

You can:

• fax us on your surgery’s fax number, or
• place your request in the box provided in our waiting area (you can use your prescription counterfoil by marking the items required) or put it through the letter box after closing hours, or
• telephone your surgery after 2pm.

All prescriptions take at least 2 working days before they are ready for collection. If your prescription will run out over the weekend or bank holiday, please allow extra time for this.

How do I find out about test results?

If you have had any investigations performed such as blood or urine tests or X-rays, it is your responsibility to contact the surgery for the results. You can call in person or telephone between 2pm and 6pm. To maintain confidentiality, results are ONLY given to the patient concerned. You may be asked to provide some means of identification. The administration staff are not qualified to interpret results and will only tell you what has been authorised by the doctor. If you wish to discuss your result, you will need to see or speak to the GP or Nurse who ordered the test. Please allow 7days for the blood results to come through and 3 weeks for x-rays and telephone after 14:00.

Temporary Residents

If you have friends or relatives staying with you and they become unwell during their stay, the Doctors are able to provide treatments. If they are from a country which does not have a reciprocal health care agreement then there may be a private fee for consultations and medications. Please ask at the reception desk for further information.

I have moved – who do I tell?

If you change your name, telephone number or address (even for a short time), let us know immediately. You can do this by calling in and filling in a form.

Training Practice

Certain doctors’ practices are specially selected as places where newly qualified doctors can gain experience in a good practice before becoming fully fledged GP's. These doctors, called registrars, work in the practice for a year under the supervision of Dr Geoff Lewis or Dr Tim Wood. We believe our practice and our patients gain a lot from our registrars who bring to the practice up to date knowledge and techniques, as well as a friendly enthusiasm. Occasionally you may be asked for your consent in taking a video of your consultation in order to assist them with training.

Violent patients

The practice will not tolerate violent or abusive patients to its staff or persons present on the practice premises. Should a patient be abusive or violent they will automatically be removed from the practices list.

Confidentiality and your Health Records

As a GP Practice, we have computer and paper records for all our patients. We are registered under the 1998 Data Protection Act and we make every effort to keep patient information confidential and secure. When you register with us, we create a new health record for you. We also obtain your past health records from your previous GP Practice. Patient health records include personal details, details of consultations and other contacts, test results and correspondence.

The Primary Health Care Team use your information to provide healthcare and administer the practice. The Practice may also share personal information with other people involved in your care, such as hospital doctors. We also use your information to help us improve the type and quality of service that we offer. In addition, we provide information to the NHS for financial and monitoring purposes.

The Practice sometimes uses personal information to assist in teaching medical and nursing students and we occasionally use information from health records for research purposes. The research will have been approved by an Ethics Committee and personal information that could allow a patient to be identified will not be removed from the premises. We will not disclose personal information in any other situation without your explicit permission, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as when the health and safety of others is at risk or if the law requires us to pass on information.

You have the right to see your health records. There may be a charge for this service. Ask at reception for details of how to apply. You also have the right to tell us if you would prefer that your information is not used in a particular way. Speak to your GP or Practice Nurse if you have any concerns about how your information is used. North Dorset Primary Care Trust is a party to the contract and from whom details of primary medical services in the area may be obtained.

Gillingham Medical Fund

Any donations that are made to the surgery are put into the Gillingham Medical Fund and will contribute towards new items of equipment for the benefit of all at the practice.