The Finchampstead Surgery

CONSULTATION TIMES

The Finchampstead Surgery is open from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday for all routine matters and patients are seen by appointment only.

You may visit or telephone the surgery between the above times. A few times a year the surgery is closed on particular afternoons for in-house education, training and development. These dates will be displayed at the surgery well in advance so not to inconvenience patients.

Consultations are at 10 minute intervals and our clinicians hold their core surgeries between the following times: (Actual appointment times are subject to change and surgery sessions may vary to start and end later)

When not consulting, the doctors carry out their other duties and responsibilities. These are attending to their administration, making appropriate home visits, dealing with triage and message calls to patients and liaising with other health professionals such as hospital consultants and community staff, to enable them to provide the best care for their patients.

Minor Illness Nurse and Nurse Appointments

Our minor illness nurse is specially trained to advise and treat both children and adult patients who have common or minor ailments. It is more appropriate for patients to book an appointment with our minor illness nurse in this regard. Appointments are at 10 minute intervals.

Our team of specialist practice nurses provide appointments for patients who require chronic disease reviews. These specialised appointments include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (IHD).

Our practice nurses also provide appointments for cervical smears, childhood vaccinations, family planning, travel vaccination and advice and well woman checks. The duration of a consultation will vary according to the speciality. Please check with reception when you book your appointment.
Further details of services provided by our clinicians and community staff are found in this booklet.

EMERGENCY Medical Assistance

• RING OUR MAIN SURGERY NUMBER: (0118) 973 2678

• WHEN YOUR CALL IS ANSWERED PRESS THE NUMBER '9' ON YOUR TELEPHONE.

• A CALL HANDLER WILL ASK FOR THE PATIENT'S DETAILS AND SYMPTOMS AND ARRANGE FOR THE DOCTOR ON CALL TO CONTACT YOU.

• IF THE PATIENT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION TO SAVE THEIR LIFE, DO NOT CALL THE SURGERY BUT DIAL 999 AND ASK FOR AN AMBULANCE.

Our ‘medical emergency only’ service is available 24 hours a day even when the surgery is closed. However, it must not be used inappropriately as occupying the line may put other patients at risk who genuinely require emergency help. If your call is deemed not to be an emergency, please do not be offended if the call handler asks to end the call. Please be considerate and think of how urgent your needs are in relation to the service you are requesting.

NHS DIRECT

NHS Direct is a national 24-hour accessible health advice service.
Call 0845 4647 or visit NHS Direct online at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Fully qualified nurse and health advisors provide confidential healthcare advice and information on:
• What to do if you are feeling unwell
• How to treat minor ailments
• Health concerns for you and your family
• Local health issues
• Self-help and support organisations
Patients should utilise this service when your health query is of a general nature and does not require the valuable time of a consultation by a clinician at the surgery.