Appointments/Who Should I See
Appointment System
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 this is 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.
Receptionist will ask a few basic questions to enable them to book the correct clinician.
All Receptionist have received Care Navigation training.
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
Many patients feel that if they do not see a GP, then they will not get the correct care, this is not correct all the above clinicians are highly qualified within their field and 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.
Outside the Practice within Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale we have access to a number of services which patients can self refer.
- Paediatric Nurses ( 01706 676 777)
- Podiatry (01706 603 500)
- Physiotherapy (01706 261 818)
- Minor Eye Ailments - Please contact local opticians
- Midwives (01706 517 223)
Extended Access
Patients who require appointments outside normal core hours can be seen using our PCN extended access. This service is provided by Rochdale Health Alliance on behalf of the Pennines PCN. This includes GP and nurse appointments as well as other allied health professionals.
Appointments can be made by contacting the surgery and asking to be seen in the extended access clinic. Clinics run 18.30 - 20.00 daily and Saturday 08.00-17.00. A clinic is available on Sundays however this is held in Rochdale not Littleborough.
We are looking into a way in which these appointments can be booked online and will keep our patients updated.
Home Visits
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 10:30.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. 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.
Contact Us Online or by Phone
You can contact us online using this form. Here you can ask us about any non-urgent queries.
We also have a 24/7 Automated phone service in which you can book, change or cancel an appointment.Call 01706 335 331.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.
If you need help when we are closed
[Include information about 111, urgent treatment centres, extended access and late night pharmacies.]
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
Text Reminder Service
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.
Training Practice
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.