Appointments

We have recently changed our GP appointment system. Our receptionists will ask you certain questions to help find out why you need to be seen. This will ensure you get the right care with the right Health Professional at the right time. Your request will be directed to the GP for triaging where appropriate. The GP or someone on their behalf will then ring you back to arrange the most appropriate care. Please note that Reception staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules. Any information given by you is treated strictly confidentially.

Please phone from 8.30am on the day you wish to be seen. Only Emergency appointment requests will be taken after 11.00am or from when we have reached our full capacity for that day so the earlier you ring the better.

An Emergency is the on-set, or exacerbation, of symptoms in the last 24 hours requiring immediate medical attention. Please advise receptionists accordingly. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, the following: acute asthma attack; acute mental health problem; serious injury; serious infection; emergency contraception.

Please note that on days when appointments are in high demand or when we have limited GP's, the decision may be taken to deal with emergency appointments only.

In some cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a nurse rather than a doctor. Our nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly.

Missed Appointments

If you fail to attend appointments without informing us we will write to you asking if there are any specific problems preventing you from letting us know. If you repeatedly fail to attend for appointments you may be removed from the practice list and have to find an alternative GP practice.

"Running Late" - A Word of Explanation

We can understand your frustration when doctors or nurses run late. It is sometimes difficult for medical staff to provide not only the best possible care but also to work strictly to time. If on occasions one of these objectives must by sacrificed, we always put your individual medical care above the smooth running of our timetable. The receptionist will keep the patient informed of the situation.

Telephone Advice

The nurse is available to take phone calls. The receptionist will take your details and the nurse will then ring you back.

Home Visits

If you are too unwell to come to the medical centre we will visit you at home.

Whenever possible please phone before 10:00.

If you request a house call you may be put through to one of the doctors who will take brief details in order to prioritise the call. The doctors tend to make their house calls after the morning surgery, so most of these visits are made in the late morning or early afternoon.

We urge you to come to the medical centre whenever possible. For every single home visit, at least three patients could have been seen in the surgery.

We do not do house calls for children as a rule. Having a temperature does not mean that you or your child cannot attend the surgery. Children who are unwell will always be seen at the surgery on the same day

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)

Training Practice

Doctors and Medical Students

Doctors who have had experience solely in hospital medicine are regularly invited to join the practice. Senior medical students in training are occasionally attached to the practice. Patients will be advised if they are seeing a doctor attached to the practice under this scheme.

All patients have the right to choose whether or not to be seen by these practitioners. During consultations, occasional video or audio recording takes place for teaching purposes. Recordings will not be undertaken without a patient's consent.

Intimate physical examinations will not be recorded and recording equipment will always be switched off at the patient's request. We appreciate your help and co-operation

Online Appointments

We have introduced a new service called Vision Online Services.

You can now book and cancel appointments with our practice and order your Repeat Prescriptions online.

You will need to register with the practice to access this service.

Please send an email to reception.623@foylesidefp.gp.n-i.nhs.uk stating that you wish to register for Vision Online Services giving us your full name, date of birth and contact email address . We will then send you a registration letter with instructions on how to set up your own personal account.

Alternatively you can fill in a form with your details available at reception.

If you have already received a registration letter from the practice, then Please click here to either "Sign in" or Register for the first time at www.myvisiononline.co.uk.