McColl McLaughlin Medical Practice - How to make an appointment to see your doctor or nurse at the surgery

Routine Appointments

Telephone 531 6901 between 08:15am and 18:00. Our reception staff will do their best to offer you an appointment with the doctor or nurse of your choice at a time to suit you. If you are unable to keep an appointment please inform us so that we can free your appointment slot. The first hour of the morning can be busy, especially on Mondays, so if possible leave routine calls until later. To keep the appointment system running smoothly, we ask that you attend appointments punctually and give at least 24 hours’ notice if you have to cancel an appointment.

ON LINE BOOKING - if you wish to to book appointments online please call into our Reception and ask to register.

TEXT REMINDER -please let us know of your mobile number and a text reminder of your appointment will be sent 24hours prior.

Urgent Appointments

If you have a problem requiring urgent attention, phone 531 6901, before 10:00 if possible. Your call may be passed to our triage nurse who will assess your problem so that you can be given the correct treatment promptly. We have appointments available for emergencies each day so that a doctor can always be seen without delay. Please note that you may not always be able to see the doctor of your choice at short notice.

Extended Opening Hours

We are now offering additional appointments from 07:30 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and until 18:30 on Monday evenings. Please note that opening times after 18:00 and before 08:00 are for pre-booked GP appointments ONLY and no reception or nursing staff will be available

Telephone Enquiries

If you feel that your problem could be dealt with over the phone, please call reception between 11:00 and 12:00 and ask to speak to one of our clinicians.

Interpreters

If English is not your first language and you require an interpreter, we can arrange this for you when you are making an appointment. We are advised that it is best practice to use medical interpreters and not family members.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Failure to attend appointments and we may ask you to change to another GP Practice.

Home Visits

Doctor's bag 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 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. 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

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Teaching & Training

gp_and_book We are a training practice for GP registrars. This means that fully qualified doctors who have spent at least 3 years working in hospitals work supervised in the practice for 12 months to gain experience before starting their own practice.