Changes to Same Day Appointments

Dear Carterknowle and Dore patient,

I’m sure you are aware of the unprecedented wider challenges facing the NHS at present and in our case, in General Practice. Winter is upon us with an unusually very high rate of acute infective illnesses hitting us at a time when we are still working hard to manage routine patient demand in the face of multiple staff vacancies and staff illness. In this context, and to prioritise care for you, your family and the most unwell and most vulnerable patients, we ask for your understanding and co-operation in managing demand as efficiently as possible by considering the following:

1. If your query is urgent requiring the attention of a clinician on the same day please try and ring as early as possible to allow appropriate scheduling of any appointments. We can only offer a very limited same day service after 1600 and you may be directed elsewhere after this time. On exceptionally busy days when we cannot safely manage the number of calls this may happen earlier in the day.
2. If you have a routine/non urgent query, consider using our online forms via the website or ring us in the afternoons – Click here for link to online forms
3. Try and use community pharmacies and NHS website for advice where appropriate
4. If your request is administrative, such as insurance medicals etc then please be aware they may take longer than usual to complete during this peak of winter illnesses
5. Please bear with our staff when handling and directing your call. They will try their best to get appropriate access for you even if it does not meet your ideal or first choice preference.

Please be assured of our determination to continue to offer the best service we can in the face of the current challenges, and please don’t ignore or neglect any health concerns. Please be as flexible as possible so we can work collaboratively to find the best available care options for you.

Kind regards

The partners and team at Carterknowle and Dore Medical Practice