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Appointments

Self care

Choose the most appropriate clinician for you

Appointments can be conducted in person, by phone or online triage. The practice employs and collaborates with a range of clinicians who can help you with your healthcare needs.

General practitioner (GP)

GP’s treat all common medical conditions and refer patients to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment.

GP registrar

We often have GP registrars attached to our practice for general practice training as we are a training practice. A GP registrar is a fully qualified doctor undertaking further training in order to practice as a GP.

Advanced nurse practitioner (ANP)

ANP’s are able to assess the history of a patients and interpret the results of different investigations in order to make a diagnosis, and plan and deliver care. They are often able to substitute for GPs, which can help to alleviate pressures within primary care teams. All fully qualified ANP’s can prescribe medication for any condition within their competence.

Practice nurse

Practice nurses are can be responsible for obtaining blood samples; electrocardiograms (ECGs); minor and complex wound management including leg ulcers; travel health advice and vaccinations; child immunisations and advice; family planning & women’s health including cervical smears; men’s health screening; sexual health services; smoking cessation; screening and helping patients to manage long term conditions.

Healthcare assistant (HCA)

HCAs are typically responsible for observing, monitoring, and recording patients’ conditions. Communication with patients, relatives, and carers including providing valuable health promotion; education and health checks.

Physician associate (PA)

PA’s work within a defined scope of practice and limits of competence. They take medical histories from patients; carry out physical examinations; see patients with undifferentiated diagnoses; see patients with long-term chronic conditions; formulate differential diagnoses and management plans; perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; develop and deliver appropriate treatment and management plans; request and interpret diagnostic studies and provide health promotion and disease prevention advice for patients.

Paramedic

Paramedic specialists in primary or urgent care settings conduct clinical assessments and develop a clinical impression or diagnosis that will ensure most effective management and referral if needed. This includes identifying the need for and requesting appropriate investigations and tests. Paramedics who have successfully completed an independent prescribing course may prescribe any licensed medicine.

Clinical pharmacist

The clinical pharmacist can check all your medicines and talk to you about how the medicines are working for you.

First contact physiotherapist (FCP)

FCPs are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners who can assess, diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems and undifferentiated conditions and – where appropriate – discharge a person without a medical referral.

Health and wellbeing Coach

A health and wellbeing coach can support you to improve how you manage your physical and mental health. They work with you through a series of sessions to help achieve your personalised health and care plan goals, offering support and advice about diet and lifestyle.

Contact us with Klink

You can contact a general practitioner (GP), GP registrar, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), physician associate (PA), practice nurse, healthcare assistant, clinical pharmacist, first contact physiotherapist (FCP) health and wellbeing coach or paramedic online using a website called Klink.

Contact us online

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment with a general practitioner (GP), GP registrar, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), physician associate (PA) or paramedic for today (Monday to Friday) during from 8am:

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 general practitioner (GP), GP registrar, advanced nurse practitioner (ANP), physician associate (PA), practice nurse, healthcare assistant, paramedic, clinical pharmacist, health and wellbeing coach, phlebotomist or first contact physiotherapist (FCP) in advance during opening times:

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.

Social prescriber

Social prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.

You can self-refer to the social prescribing service by:

Phlebotomy

Phlebotomists are responsible for taking blood samples from patients which are examined in a laboratory and the results can be used to quickly diagnose diseases and conditions.

All blood tests must be requested by a clinician.

If you are 16 years or older, you can schedule a blood test with one of our phlebotomists by:

  • Contacting reception to request a pre-bookable appointment.

Blood tests can also be booked at Gilbert Hitchcock House in Bedford by:

  • phone 01234 607075
  • registering and booking an appointment online at www.bedford.sangix.co.uk (you will need to collect a blood test request form from reception and take this with you to your appointment)

To book an appointment for a blood test for a child aged under 16 years:

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel 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

To book a home visit, please call the office on 01767 682525 option 2 before 11:30am.

Home visits are only bookable for patients who are too ill to attend the surgery. If possible, please try to visit the surgery as it is generally better to be seen within the surgery where equipment and medical records are available.

The call handler may ask for details of the patient and the problem to help assess the urgency of the situation.

Clinicians undertake daily home visits between 12:30pm and 2pm. You may be called prior to a home visit so please keep your phone with you ready to answer.

Emergency home visits are only undertaken if you require urgent medical attention. You will often require a phone call from the duty doctor if requesting an emergency home visit.

Lack of transport is not considered a suitable reason for requesting a home visit.

Related information

Health A to Z

Sick notes

Test results