The Practice has a hybrid model for patients, which include Face to Face appointments, telephone and online consultations.  This is to meet the needs of our patient population.  Your preferred option may not be available but if you are given a telephone appointment, you will be seen face to face if  required.  

All services within the NHS are under extreme pressures and it is important when accessing the services that patients have an appointment with the most appropriate clinician.   

Receptionists will ask a few basic questions to enable them to book the correct clinician. All receptionists have received Care Navigation training. 

For more information on signposting, please watch: Right Care First Time #RightCareFirstTime (youtube.com)

Many patients feel that if they do not see a GP then they will not get the correct care. However, this is not true. All the listed clinicians below are available to the practice and are highly qualified within their field. They are able to refer on to the hospital if required or discuss a treatment plan with you. They also have access to a GP should this be required.

The Practice have a number of clinicians available:

• Paramedics
• Mental Health Practitioners
• Pharmacy Technicians
• Clinical Pharmacist
• Social Prescribers
• Nursing Associates
• Advanced Clinical Practitioners
• Advanced Nurse Practitioners
• Trainee GPs and FY2 Doctors
• First Contact Practitioners
• General Practitioners   

• These appointments are booked on the day over the phone, our phone lines open at 8am 
• Phone or visit us to speak to a receptionist during our opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and /or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.

If you are unsure, please follow NHS advice on when to call 999.

These are telephone appointments/face-to-face appointments that are booked for a later date and depend on availability. 

How to Book:

• Book an appointment online via Patient Access, via the NHS App or request an appointment or advice via PATCHS
• Phone or visit us to speak to a receptionist during our opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm.
• Call our automated line on 01706 335 331 at any time of the day.

Our Nursing Team see patients for multiple appointment types, including:

Patients can cancel appointment via the appointment text message they received (must be more than 24 hours prior to the appointment) or contact the surgery via telephone. 

Please do let us know if you are unable to attend an appointment as this appointment can then be free for someone who needs it. 

If you need help when we are closed, please call 111 if it is not a life threatening emergency. 

If you are experiencing a genuine emergency, please call 999 or go to A&E. 

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

Would you like an appointment with a GP, Nurse, or Health Care Practitioner in the evening or at the weekend when we are closed?

If so, you can book your appointment now by contacting us.

Access Services are an extension of our usual service, it is not a walk-in service, and you will need to make an appointment through the practice reception. The service gives you more flexibility in where, when and how you use local health services. It helps those who struggle to get to the doctors during the week because of work and family commitments.

Please note that whilst you may not get to see your own doctor during these hours, and it may not be at your own practice location, the GP or Nurse you see will have access to your medical record, subject to your consent.

APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE:

Monday to Friday - Daytime & Evenings
Saturday and Sunday - Daytime
Bank Holidays – Daytime

APPOINTMENT TYPES:

Face to Face – You will see a clinician in person and be required to go to the service location

Telephone Consultation – You will be called by one of our clinicians during your appointment time. This will be from a withheld number and you will not be required to go to the service location unless offered at the time

Outside the Practice within Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale we have access to a number of services which patients can self refer. 

• Podiatry (0161 206 0067) or visit Podiatry Direct)
• Physiotherapy (0161 206 0067 or visit Physio Direct)
• Minor Eye Conditions Service (Please contact your local optician or visit MECS)
• Midwives (01706 517 223 or visit Badger Notes)
• Living Well (01706 751190 or visit Living Well)
• Thinking Ahead/Talking Therapies (01706 751180 or visit The Big Life Group)
• Pharmacy First (Please contact your local pharmacy) They can see and prescribe for patients with Ear Infections, Impetigo, Infected Insect Bites, Shingles, Sinusitis, Sore Throats and uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections for women

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 01706 393 000 before 10:30am.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound . 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 old.

You can contact us online using this form.  Here you can ask us about any non-urgent queries.

Alternatively, you can contact us online via PATCHS, which is an easy way for patients to contact their GP from their practice website.

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.

Complete our SMS Reminder Form

We are a Training Practice therefore you may see the following:

• Student Nurses
• Student Paramedics
• Medical Students
• Trainee Physicians Associate
• Foundation Year Doctor
• Specialist GP Trainee

All of the above are supervised by a number of our experienced clinicians.  Training is very important within General Practice to future proof its service.