Appointment requests are primarily triaged by the GP  via the e -consult system - please see the home page for more details .Appointments can be booked up to 1 month in advance for the GP and up to 2 months in advance for the Nurse. To arrange a pre bookable  appointment please ring the practice and speak to the receptionist during surgery opening hours.

We will always see a patient in an emergency, but you may not be seen by a doctor of your choice, so please inform the receptionist by phone or in person if you think you have an urgent problem.

For routine non urgent matters, you may see any of the doctors, but you may have to make an appointment well in advance if you wish to see a doctor of your choice. As Monday mornings are usually the busiest time of the week, please avoid telephoning for non- urgent appointments.

As part of the extended GP Service, we are also able to offer the services of a doctor at the GP Hub situated in Buckland Hospital.  This service is available from 8am to 8pm seven days a week depending on the availability of a GP.  It is a walk in service or you may be referred by NHS 111.

Please request a chaperone if you require one and the examining doctor will make the necessary arrangements. It may not be possible for a chaperone to be provided immediately and you may be requested to return for the examination at a mutually convenient time.

If you are unwell and unable to come to the surgery please try to ring as soon as possible after 08:30. Nearly always children can be wrapped up and brought to surgery, where there are better facilities for diagnosis and treatment.  

On average it takes four times as long for a doctor to treat you at home than in the surgery, so please use this service ONLY when it is essential, not just for reasons of transport or convenience. The Practice has the services of a Paramedic Practitioner available to undertake some home visits at the request of the GP.  The Paramedic Practitioners communicate fully with the GPs.

If you are uncertain whether you need a visit, the doctor will be happy to advise you on the telephone.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can also text to cancel your appointment once you have had the SMS reminder.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

For our patients needing a translator or interpreter for their appointment please contact reception.

Appointments  can be arranged  for face to face , or telephone/ video  with a translator for your first language or British Sign Language  ( BSL) for our Deaf and  hearing impaired patients.

 For patients with Hearing Aids  Hearing Loop is available at Peter Street Surgery.

We are able to  provide a text relay service for those patients  who are deaf, hearing impaired or have a speech impediment.

Did Not Attend (DNA) Policy

The Practice maintains a strict Did Not Attend (DNA) policy to ensure the efficient use of clinical resources.

Should a patient fail to attend three scheduled appointments with any clinican within a 12-month period, a formal warning letter will be issued for the 1st and 2nd appointment missed and sent via SMS or email , and  if a 3rd appointment is missed a formal warning letter will be sent via Royal Mail and the matter will be referred for review at the Partners’ Clinical Meeting.

In the event of a fourth missed appointment, the patient may be considered for removal from the Practice list, subject to discussion and agreement by the Partners.

 A formal letter of notification will be sent should this action be taken.