For your convenience all face to face consultations with doctors, nurses and specialist staff are by appointment. A separate appointment must be made for each person.
Routine appointments
A routine appointment is a scheduled meeting with a healthcare professional for non-urgent medical issues.
You can request a routine appointment in advance during opening times.
We will respond to requests within 2 to 3 working days.
You can also:
- phone us on 0161 272 5656
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
- use our nurse or healthcare assistant appointment request form and we will respond within 4 working hours
- visit the surgery and speak to a receptionist
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.
Important Considerations
- Routine appointments are not suitable for urgent medical issues. If you require immediate attention, please contact NHS 111 or visit your nearest urgent care centre.
- If you are unable to attend your appointment, please inform us as soon as possible so we can offer the slot to another patient.
Urgent appointments
You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) during opening times.
An urgent appointment is a same-day or next-day consultation with a healthcare professional for medical issues that need prompt attention. These appointments are reserved for conditions that, if left untreated, could worsen or cause significant discomfort.
We will respond to requests within 2 to 3 working hours.
You can also:
- phone us on 0161 272 5656
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.
How the practice deals with urgent medical problems
- same day appointments – if you have a genuine urgent problem, we will see you that day
- your problem will need to be assessed, please give clear details to the receptionist
- you may be asked to speak to a doctor/nurse
- if after assessment, your problem is not deemed urgent you will be given an appropriate alternative appointment
Important Considerations
- Urgent appointments are not for routine or non-urgent issues. Please use routine appointments for ongoing or less pressing health concerns.
- If all urgent appointments are filled, you may be directed to alternative services such as NHS 111, a local walk-in centre, or an urgent care centre.
Named GP
When you register at the practice, you will be allocated to a named GP. This doesn’t mean you have to see that particular GP when you visit. You are free to book in with any GP you choose, although it can be better for your care to see the same one each time.
We understand that at times an appointment with a certain GP may not always be available but continuity of care is very important so we will do our best to help you with this.
You are free to consult any GP or nurse regardless of which GP you are registered with although it is better for your care if you try to see the same one every time. The practice will endeavour to help you with this but appointments with a particular GP may not always be available.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- on a video call
- by text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
If you are 20 minutes late for your face to face appointment, there is a possibility you may not be seen and you will be asked to rearrange.
If you have a phone appointment, the GP will make two attempts to call you at the agreed time and if you do not take the call, you will be asked to rearrange.
Appointments over the phone
The surgery offers appointments over the phone with a doctor or nurse
- if you have a problem you think could be resolved over the phone, let the receptionist know
- please give clear details to the receptionist of your problem to ensure the phone is the most appropriate way to deal with it
- some problems cannot be dealt with by phone and you may be asked to attend the practice
- the doctor/nurse will need to phone you back so give up to date contact details and when you will be available to receive a call
Phone consultations will usually take place between 8am to midday and 2pm to 5:30pm. Please ensure you are available to speak to during this period.
Enhanced access
You can see a GP, nurse or health care assistant at one of the local hub surgeries:
- Monday to Friday, 6pm to 8pm
- Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Please ask reception for more information or if you would like to book an appointment.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you cannot attend your appointment, please let us know 24 hours before so we can cancel it and use it for somebody else. If you are more than 20 minutes late for an appointment, it is possible you may not be seen.
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using our cancel an appointment form
- phone us on 0161 272 5656 during opening times
- visit reception
- via our text messaging service
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
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, by video call or by text or email
- if English is not your first language an interpreter can be used for appointments. As this needs to be organised in advance please let us know when booking, indicating your preferred language
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10am.
Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.
