Your rights and responsibilities

Patients should make every attempt to attend their appointment at the time arranged. If this is not possible patients should inform the practice at least an hour in advance, so another patient can be offered the appointment slot.

We expect that patients will understand that appointments are for one person only. Additional appointments should be made for more than one person.

Routine appointments are for 10 minutes, there is a limit to what can be achieved in that time. If you feel you need longer, discuss this with the receptionist in advance. If you come in with a schedule of items for review, the doctor may ask you to select the most urgent matter, then may send you away and ask you to return for another appointment. For more information, please visit our Appointments page.

Patients are responsible for their own health, and the health of their children, and should co-operate with the practice in endeavouring to keep themselves healthy. We give you professional help and advice, please act on it.

Requests for help and advice for non-urgent matters should be made during normal surgery hours only.

Home visits should only be requested for patients who are seriously ill, or physically housebound. It is important to bear in mind that most medical problems are dealt with more effectively in the clinical setting of a well equipped surgery or hospital. Please see the Home visits section on our Appointments page.

Patients should appreciate that home visits are made at the doctor’s discretion.

Requests for visits and advice outside normal surgery hours should only be made for genuine emergencies.

Many problems can be solved by advice alone, therefore patients should not always expect a prescription or a face to face consultation.

We ask that patients treat the staff and doctors with courtesy and respect. Bear in mind that the reception staff have a very difficult job to do, juggling with limited resources and without detailed medical knowledge. They are trying to do their best for you.