Top tips for using your GP practice
We understand that it is not always easy to get an appointment at your GP practice. Practices are making lots of changes to make it easier, but you can also help them make sure everyone gets the care they need by following these top tips.
What can you do to look after the problem yourself?
Before contacting your practice, think what you could do to try to look after the problem yourself.
Visit our minor ailments section for advice first .
Alternative ways to use your practice
- Consider whether you could contact your practice using an online service rather than by telephone.
- If you need to contact your practice but you don’t need an appointment, if possible, try ringing outside of the busier times – avoid calling first thing in the morning.
- If you no longer need your appointment, please cancel it so it can be made available to other patients. If you use online services at your practice, you can cancel appointments online.
- It might be more convenient for you to have your appointment via telephone or video rather than face-to-face.
Never delay contacting your practice.
If you still need help, never delay contacting your practice if you have a health concern.
This includes attending routine appointments for blood tests, long term condition checks and screening, e.g. cervical smear test.
If you have an appointment but it is some time away and your condition has deteriorated, do get back in touch with your practice.
The practice team
- When you contact your GP practice for an appointment, the receptionist might ask you to tell them a bit more about why you are calling. This is so they can make an appointment for you with the most appropriate person.
- Receptionists are trained to arrange an appointment with the most appropriate member of the practice team to ensure you are seen in a timely manner.
- Members of the practice team work closely together so you may not need to see a GP.
- You will not usually need to see the same GP each time, because your medical record can be seen by every professional in your GP practice. If you really need to see a particular GP, it might take longer before you can get an appointment with them.
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