Albert Road Medical Centre

The doctors are happy to discuss straightforward matters over the phone. Please be prepared to give brief details to the receptionist. A doctor will ring you back during the course of the day. The best times to ring for services are:

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

The surgery is open from 8.30am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday, except on Friday when it is closed from 12.30 to 2.00pm.

The switchboard is open from 8.30am to 6.00pm, but closed from 12.30 to 2.00pm; however, a doctor can be contacted in an emergency during this time.

All consultations are by appointment. Times vary from day to day.

Doctors will only see one patient per appointment, so please do not ask receptionists to fit extras in at the last minute!

We have a 'Touch Screen' in reception for patients to book in for their consultations on arrival at the surgery.

There are three types of appointment:

Same Day
These appointments are requested when a condition/problem cannot wait until the next available appointment (see below). Examples of conditions requiring a 'Same Day' appointment would be a sudden onset or worsening of severe symptoms.

Next Available Appointment With Any Doctor
These appointments are to be used when a condition/problem cannot wait until the doctor of your choice is available. Examples of conditions requiring 'Next Available' appointments might be joint pain, indigestion, anxiety or sprain/strain/ache.

Next Available/General Appointment With The Doctor Of Your Choice
These appointments should be requested when you wish to see a doctor for a problem which does not need attending to quickly, for the continuing review of an ongoing problem, or if you wish to see a specifidoctor. As the doctor of your choice may not be available at short notice, it is important that you plan ahead. Our appointment books are made up four weeks in advance to help you.

ONLINE BOOKING

Please speak to our receptionists about signing up for this convenient booking method.

HOW DO I...
CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT?

Many appointments are wasted each week through non-attendance. If you cannot keep your appointment please ring and cancel as soon as possible. Patients who come to the surgery without an appointment may be asked to come back to a later surgery.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?

Doctors do home visits after morning surgery, so please ring for a home visit before 10.30am wherever possible. You will be asked for details of the patient's condition. This is to help the doctor assess and arrange the order of visits. Visits requested after morning surgery will be done by the doctor on duty that day.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?

Please ring for these after 10.30am. You may be asked to identify yourself, as results can normally only be given to the patient to whom they belong.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?

Repeat prescriptions are taken by WRITTEN request only. All repeat prescriptions take TWO FULL WORKING DAYS to process. Requests received after 5.00pm will not be printed until the next working day morning, and will be ready for collection two working days after that. You can request your repeat prescription by the following means:

• In Surgery - tick boxes for medication required on the right hand side of last prescription, or complete the prescription request form and place in prescription box at reception. See * below.

• By Post - please allow extra time for the request to reach the surgery! Enclose an SAE if you want the prescription posted to you; if you would like a chemist to collect your prescription see * below.

• Online - please speak to reception for details.

Please remember if the chemist is collecting your prescription, you need to allow more time before you pick up your medication from the chemist.

• By Fax - on 01743 233198 - allow two working days to process. See * below.

• By Email - to 'a.albertroad@nhs.net' - allow two working days to process. See * below.

• Chemist - you can take your request to a chemist who has agreed to collect prescriptions from us.

The chemist will bring your request to us and collect the prescription - again you will need to allow extra time for this.

* If you would like a chemist to collect your prescription from the surgery write the name of the chemist on your request and RING the chemist to ask them to collect - allow extra time for this.

HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE PRACTICE?

All newly registered patients are requested to have a registration medical within three months of joining the practice, even if you have already seen a doctor for another reason. Please make an appointment at reception for this. We feel this is very important in order to introduce ourselves and get background details of your medical history.