Changes in requesting GP appointments

As a result of patient feedback regarding the current difficulty in accessing appointments, and to enable our patients to receive a high standard of care from the right clinician at the right time, we are implementing a new appointment system from 9th December 2024. This system is used widely across the Guildford area and the country and is very successful.

The key points to this system are as follows:

Patients requesting an appointment or advice will be required to complete an online form which can be found on our website or by logging into your NHS account on the NHS APP or NHS website. If you are unable to complete the form yourself our reception team will be happy to help you complete this on your behalf. All completed forms will go directly to the Triage GP

• The Triage GP will review each request on the same day to determine the most appropriate course of action. We will respond to you the same day.

• Where appropriate, an appointment with a GP, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Physician Associate, Clinical pharmacist or First Contact Physiotherapist will be offered.

• This appointment will be either by telephone or face-to-face depending on the clinical problem.

• For urgent requests a patient needs to be available on the day for either a call or face-to-face appointment.

• We still offer pre-bookable appointments through the triage system and patients can still request to see their named GP.

• Our triage forms will be available between 7am and 3pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. It may be necessary to amend these timings occasionally due to capacity.

• The triage system seeks to match the daily patient demand with practice capacity. The doctors have a responsibility to ensure safe and effective clinical care at all times. There will be occasions when patient demand exceeds practice capacity.  On these occasions, patients may be signposted to suitable alternative providers of primary care services, such as the minor injuries unit, 111 or a pharmacy.

Our aim is to offer a safe and effective level of care to all our patients according to need.

Thank you for your support

Dapdune House Surgery Partners

Published on 3 December 2024