Contact us with Patchs
You can contact a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional online using a website called Patchs.
Urgent appointments
To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) during opening times:
- phone us on 0207 727 5800
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.
Routine appointments
To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:
- phone us on 0207 727 5800
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or SystmOnline to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
Our healthcare team comprises a wide range of professionals.
For day to day appointments you might be seen by either a nurse or a doctor depending on the nature of the problem. Our practice nurse team are specially trained to assess and treat a wide range of health conditions meaning that it will not always be necessary to see a doctor.
We also have pre-bookable appointments for future dates.
Triage service
Our surgery has moved to a triage system, to help deal with patient demand. Not all patients need to be seen, but they will be seen if its needed.
This means that when you call the surgery, you will be ask some details, which will be passed to the doctor.
If the doctor thinks that they can deal with it over the phone, they will call you back within four hours, or send you a text message explaining the outcome. If the doctor thinks that you will need to be seen, they will ask reception to book you an appointment.
On the day appointments
Our surgery has moved to a triage system, to help deal with patient demand. Not all patients need to be seen, but they will be seen if it’s needed. This means that when you call the surgery, you will be asked some details, which will be passed to the Doctor. If the Doctor thinks that they can deal with it over the phone, they will call you back within four hours. If the doctor thinks that you need to be seen, they will ask reception to book you an appointment.
Telephone consultations
You can also make an appointment for a telephone consultation with a GP if you do not think that the doctor will need to examine you.
Nurse appointments
The practice nurses can help you with a range of issues from health management to vaccinations.
Book in advance
You can book 4 weeks in advance with the nurse, HCA, and pharmacist
Make the most of your appointment
- Prepare your thoughts and problems in advance by writing down your problem e.g: When your symptoms started, how they have changed.
- Do your Blood pressure in the waiting room
- Do a urine sample if you have pain passing urine or lower abdominal pain.
- Do not try to add another person in on your consultation. Let reception know you need another appointment for this individual or prioritise who needs the appointment more.
- Be honest with the doctor. It is important to tell the doctor the main reason you are there at the start of the consultation. If you are embarrassed, don’t be, the doctor is there to help and won’t be shocked.
- If you have more than one problem please let reception know and they will try and get you a longer appointment if possible. Otherwise, let your doctor know at the beginning of your consultation. They may be able to deal with more than one problem if they are related. However, your doctor may make you another appointment for your other problems, especially if they are new or complex problems.
- If you have any special needs please inform reception in advance so we can prepare the appointment for you first time (e.g. need an interpreter, visual impairment, hearing impairment, prefer male/female doctor etc..)
- If you know you have difficulty understanding or explaining things bring someone you trust with you or if you require an advocate see NHS choices for available advocacy services.
- Dress accordingly for possible examination. Loose clothing is best and remove any layers in advance.
- Please let reception know if you would like a chaperone.
- All our doctors have a special interest in certain medical areas. Why not consult with a doctor who has an interest in the area of your problem in the first instance?
A consultation is about sharing in decisions about your care and goals. To make a good consultation you should let your doctor know about your goals, hopes, fears and expectations. This is why doctors ask you for YOUR thoughts. At the end of a consultation you should know:
- What is your main problem
- What do you need to do about it
- What to do if it does not get any better
Evening and weekend hubs
In addition to this surgery we are part of the West London GP Federation, a group of practices in the local area that work together to provide evening and weekend appointments. You must be registered with a member practice, such as this one to access these services.
The practice is part of the West London GP Federation meaning our patients have access to GP led services (this will not be your usual GP) via the Extended Hours Hubs for acute problems only.
This excludes:
- Long-term, ongoing conditions, for example diabetes, asthma, etc.
- Referrals to hospitals and other services
- Investigations including blood test, x-rays, scans
- Repeat prescriptions
- Appointments are available Monday – Friday from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm and during weekends. To access appointments from this service, call your normal surgery and request an Extended Hours appointment.
The federation operates extended hours services from two hubs located:
- St Charles Centre for Health and Wellbeing, Exmoor St, London W10 6DZ
- Violet Melchett Health Centre, 30 Flood Walk, Chelsea, London SW3 5RR
Continuity of care
For your safety it is better for you to consult with your registered doctor for ongoing problems or with the doctor who has been dealing with your problem. Therefore, unless it is an emergency and where possible, please ask to consult with the doctor who is dealing with your problem.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, or the health problem for which you booked your appointment has cleared up, please remember to cancel your appointment. Even cancelling your appointment with 10 minutes’ notice will enable us to see other patients in need.
We have a large number of people who do not attend their appointments every single week leading to wasted doctor and nurse time, leading to delays in you being able to get an appointment.
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- use the GP online system: SystmOnline
- phone us on 0207 727 5800 during opening times
Missed appointments and DNA’s
Do you feel frustrated when you cannot get an appointment?
Every year wasted appointments cost NHS £162 million. This can cause serious delays in treatment for other patients. On average approximately 150 patients each month Did Not Attend (DNA) their appointment. This means the patient did not turn up for the appointment and did not contact the surgery in advance to cancel or change the appointment. This currently results in approximately 40 hours of wasted clinical time each month.
Please call ahead if you think you might be late or no longer want your appointment.
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you.
Home visits are for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery. Home visits are not for those who do not have transport.
If you need a home visit please contact the surgery before 10am if possible and give one of our receptionists details to enable the doctor to judge whether a home visit is appropriate and the urgency of your needs. Home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible