Appointments

Appointments

See below for information on booking appointments.

GP Online Services

Did you know you can request non-urgent appointments online?

Using online services makes it more convenient for practice staff and patients, as there’s no need to make a phone call or visit us. Computer, smartphone or tablet users can use our online service – AccuRx Patient Triage – to request any non-urgent appointments or submit non-urgent queries.

You can also download and sign up for the NHS app, where you can book appointments (subject to availability), order repeat prescriptions, view your medical record and more. Alternatively, you can log in through the NHS website to access your account.

Booking Appointments

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

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery

Appointments by phone can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

For face to face appointments, please attend your appointment on time; if you are late you will not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day – except in the event of a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

To request an urgent same-day appointment (Monday to Friday):

Please call the surgery on 02085547111 Monday to Friday from 8am; our phone lines are open from 8am to 6:30pm

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with, and offer the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Urgent appointments are for medical issues which need attention quickly but are not life-threatening. Some examples include:

– Wheezing
– Breathing issues (NOT severe difficulties – for this you will need to go to A&E)
– Any severe pain (e.g. abdominal pains)
– Urgent gynaecological issues
– Infections
– Allergic reactions (for severe reactions, please go to A&E)
– Mental health concerns

Please note that chest pains are classed as a medical emergency, so you will be advised to go to A&E, where you will be thoroughly assessed.

For dental issues, please visit a dentist, or contact 111.
To request a routine appointment within the next 7 days:

– please call the surgery on 02085547111 Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm
– use your NHS account (subject to availability)

Routine appointments are for non-urgent matters, such as general health concerns and monitoring of conditions. This includes:

– Ongoing issues (follow-up appointments e.g. ongoing skin conditions, chronic conditions)
– General health queries
– Review/ monitoring of medications
– Blood test requests
– Referral requests
– Discussion of results/ reports/ clinic letters

You can also contact us online via AccuRx Patient Triage for any non-urgent matters and we will get back to you.

Enhanced Access & other services

We also provide the Enhanced Access (EA) service, which offers pre-bookable out-of-hours appointments at Gants Hill Medical Centre. Appointments can be booked with GPs, nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists – subject to availability. If you wish to book, or cancel any appointments booked by us at Gants Hill Medical Centre – please call us and we can do this for you.

The Pharmacy First service offers a consultation with a local pharmacy for a number of minor illnesses. We can offer a pharmacy referral if you contact us for any issues which can be treated more quickly by a local pharmacy. Some common conditions include: coughs, colds, rash, eczema and hay fever. Click here for more information.

The minor eye care service is another service we offer to patients for any eye-related issues. This includes issues with redness of the eye, itchy eye and more.

Cancelling or changing appointments

Please note that it is the patient’s responsibility to remember their appointments, and to inform the reception staff if they are unable to attend as soon as possible. Please do not leave it to the last minute to cancel the appointment; informing us at least an hour before the appointment time allows us to offer the appointment to another patient.

You can also cancel your appointment via the Patient Access or NHS app.

If you fail to notify the practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the patient list.

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help when the surgery is closed, you can call 111 (for children under 5), or use NHS 111 online (for anyone aged 5 and over).

Please 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 or by video call
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home Visits

You may only request a home visit if you are medically housebound. Any requests for home visits must be made before 10:00am on the day. Please bear in mind that the decision for a home visit remains at the discretion of the GP and is based on medical necessity – the GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it. A member of staff will inform the GP of your home visit request, and will get in touch with the doctor’s decision.

Community Treatment Team

The Community Treatment Team (CTT) is another option for patients who require home visits. You can self-refer to the CTT by phone on 0300 300 1660, and they can arrange for a community nurse to visit you. They are open 7 days a week, 8:00am to 10:00pm and are available to patients aged 19 and over who are housebound or have mobility issues.