Appointments – Tips & More Information

We try our best to see patients at their allocated appointment time as we appreciate how frustrating waiting can be.

Unfortunately, this may not always be possible because of unexpected clinical emergencies that clinicians may have to deal with.

However, there are things that you can do to help us try to run time.

Please help us by turning up on time. To maximise the number of patients we can see, appointments are booked back to back. Arriving late means that your appointment ends late, resulting in all the patients booked after you being seen late.

If you are very late the clinician will do their best to see you but if this is not possible, you will be asked to rebook your appointment.

Please let us know if you are unable to keep your appointment. We understand that sometimes circumstances can make patients late for their appointments.

We therefore operate the following system;

• If a patient is up to 10 minutes late, the clinician will see them.
• If a patient is more than 10 minutes late, the receptionist will call the clinician to inform them that the patient has arrived. They may or may not be seen, it is up to the clinician’s discretion and may only be at a convenient time at the end of surgery.
• Patients do of course have the option of re booking at a more convenient time if they cannot wait and their problem is not urgent.

Thank you for your understanding.

If you have more than one problem please ask our reception team if it is possible to book a double appointment.

We kindly request that if only one appointment slot is available, please inform the clinician at the beginning of your appointment and prioritize the symptoms you are concerned about. This ensures that each issue receives the attention it deserves, allowing for thorough and comprehensive care. While it may not be possible to discuss multiple problems during one appointment, our priority to you is to provide enough time and attention to address each problem safely.

Surgery appointments are also booked with back-to-back and additional problems squeezed in can delay other patient’s appointments and cause clinics to run late.

Please book a separate appointment for each individual.

It is not possible for a doctor to see additional members of the family in a single time slot, due to the need for a full history and examination that may be needed to ensure patient safety.

We are happy for patients to bring someone with them (such as a carer, relative or interpreter). This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.

Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.

If you bring someone who is not a carer, relative or interpreter we might ask for them to leave.

A chaperone is a trained person who accompanies a doctor or nurse during certain medical examinations or procedures. Their role is to provide support, comfort, and reassurance to both yourself and the healthcare provider. Chaperones are particularly important in sensitive or intimate situations, such as during examinations of sensitive body areas. They help maintain a respectful and safe environment, ensuring your privacy, dignity, and emotional well-being are preserved. If you require a chaperone please ask for one when booking your appointment.

If you require an interpreter please let us know in advance of you appointment and we will make arrangements for this.

If you have a medication query one of our practice pharmacist may be able to help. Please contact our reception team to request an appointment.

At Harvey House and Jersey Farm we are able to provide a limited travel vaccination service which includes:

• Cholera

• Hepatitis A

• Poliomyelitis (Polio)

• Typhoid

If you require any other vaccinations for travel please see your local private travel clinic for advice.

Please note there may be a charge for these services

We ask that our patients treat the doctors and our staff with courtesy and respect. Physical or verbal abuse will not be tolerated, this includes swearing.