We are please to announce the arrival of our new part-time GP Dr Tina Rajapakse from Jan 2011.

We ceased to provide two late evening surgeries a week from mid Feb 2011 as Surrey PCT has withdrawn funding.

Reception desk is open from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

Please note; not all Doctors are available at all times listed.

There are three types of appointments. Routine, Urgent and Next Session. We also do telephone consultations.

ROUTINE

Up to one third of our appointments are "bookable in advance". Usually you can book an routine/advance appointment within one week. However, if you wish to see the doctor of your choice, this may take a little longer (this especially is true during the holiday season - doctors' are entitled to holidays as well!). If a doctor requests that you book a follow-up appointment at the end of a consultation, please book at the time on your way out.

ON THE DAY APPOINTMENTS

Two thirds of Doctor appointments are made available to book On the Day. Please telephone at 8.00am for morning appointments and at 2.00pm for afternoon appointments. Typically these appointments are for urgent medical problems but can be used for routine consultations as well. Less urgent problems may be allocated a "next session" appointments which will usually be the following day.

NEXT SESSION

Less urgent problems that cannot wait until a routine appointment can be allocated a "next session" appointment. Generally these are the following day but can be the next session i.e. the afternoon if you ring in the morning or the following morning if you book in the afternoon. We find these appointment slots allow us good flexibility.

APPOINTMENT DURATION

Appointments are normally booked for 10 minutes duration. Some consultations/procedures take longer than 10 minutes e.g. Post-Natal examination, IUCD fitting Dressings, Immunisations. The Doctor will advise you if you are to make a longer appointment. Our Receptionist may ask you the nature of your appointment to ensure the correct appointment duration is booked.

Please do not present a list of problems to the Doctor that will obviously take longer than one appointment. Your consulation may be terminated before you get to the most important problem on your list and told to book another appointment! It is also a reason for surgeries running late.

Please ensure you arrive on time (preferably before your appointment is due).

IF YOU ARE LATE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

• Less than 5 minutes late and you will be seen, but the duration of your appointment will be reduced.
• If you are more than 5 minutes late you will be deemed to have missed your appointment (just like trains and 'planes) and asked to re-book.

DOCTOR PREFERENCE

We appreciate that you will have a preference for a particular GP. It is fairly standard for some ladies to prefer to see a female GP for an intimate problem. You may have to wait longer or have less flexibility in appointments so satisfy your request.

Please try to see the same GP for a particular medical problem. This aids continuity of care and will save you having to repeat things again and again. We have found that patients chopping and changing GPs leads to less patient satisfaction.

TELEPHONE ADVICE

Not all problems require a face to face consultation. All doctors and nurses are available to give advice after their surgeries. The receptionist will be happy to take your contact details to enable us to telephone you. This may save you having to attend for an appointment.

HOME VISITS

If you are too unwell to come to the surgery, you may request a home visit. Please ring before 11am and give the receptionist as much information as possible. You should ensure that you leave a contact number as it is likely the doctor will ring you before visiting to confirm a home visit is necessary. All visits are done after the morning surgery and administration tasks, which means that the doctor may only be in a position to leave the surgery from 1pm - 3pm. If you feel the condition needs emergency attention you should call for an ambulance. A home visit is at the doctor's discretion and will only be performed for medical, not social needs.