Appointments

Booking an Appointment at the Surgery

All registered patient have a named doctor who is responsible for overseeing their care. We think that this allows us to develop and maintain better relationships and better continuity of care for our patients. If you are unsure who your named doctor is then please ask the reception staff.

While it is preferable to see the same doctor regularly we realise this is not always possible. Patients are able to book an appointment with any doctor within the practice. Reception staff will try to arrange an appointment time to suit you where possible. For urgent appointments for medical conditions that cannot wait until the next working day you may be asked to wait for a call from a doctor to discuss how best to help you.

We ask that you give a reason for your appointment when you book. This allows us to make the most appropriate appointment.

Booking an Appointment as a Home Visit

We are only able to visit patients who are unable to leave their house for any reason. Please phone before 10.30am if you require a home visit. The reception staff will ask you about the reason for the visit and a doctor may phone you back to discuss the urgency of the request.

If You Require Medical Assitance When The Surgery Is Closed
Please call 111 for advice

There are several ways of booking an appointment with the Surgery.
These are given below:

Telephone
Telephone the surgery on 01284 753008.
The surgery phone lines are open 8:00am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday.
Outside these hours you will be directed to either ring when the surgery is open or if urgent to contact 111.

Please note that calls both into the surgery and also out from the surgery may be recorded.

Internet
The surgery uses a website called SystmOnline. This will allow you to book an appointment, order repeat medication and see aspects of your medical records held by the surgery. You will need to register before using it. Please speak with Reception.

In person
All appointments can be made at Reception

Appointments are available to book at various stages; with some available as soon as the clinics are available, normally 6 weeks in advance, others are available 24 hours in advance, others at 6 a.m. on the morning of the appointment and some from 8 a.m. when the surgery opens.

If you require so see a doctor that day and no appointments are available, you can request the duty doctor to contact you and discuss your condition. They can make a decision with you when they have understood your symptoms on the best way to manage your condition. This may be an appointment in the surgery, collection of a prescription or any other alternative that is appropriate.

GP+ Appointments

Suffolk GP+ is for people who urgently need a doctor’s appointment or are unable to see their GP during normal GP hours.

Appointments can be made via Reception during our usual opening hours. Please note: patients cannot refer themselves to this service.

The service is staffed by local Suffolk GPs and Nurse Practitioners in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Leiston, Wickham Market and Mildenhall is an NHS Service delivered by the Suffolk GP Federation.

You will be given a booked appointment and will be seen by a suitable local GP or nurse who will have access to your medical records (once consent is given).

Sickness Certificates

Please note that you do not require a certificate if you are off work for one to three days. If you are off for four to seven days inclusive, you should complete a self certificate form. Please click here to download.

If you are off for eight or more consecutive days your doctor will complete a Social Security form Med 3 or Med 5. Medical certificates for illnesses less than eight days are not required by law. A private certificate can be supplied, but a charge will be made for this service.

Chaperones

A trained member of the practice staff can accompany you into an appointment if you so wish, or be with you during an examination. Please let either a member of Reception staff know on arrival or the doctor or nurse during your consultation if you wish for a chaperone to be present.

Private/Non-NHS Examination and Reports

A number of examinations and reports for special purposes are done privately and a fee will be payable. Examples of these are: insurance forms, letters to solicitors, life insurance/assurance, HGV medicals, holiday cancellation, firearms and private sick notes.