Appointments

Appointments can be made by calling at the reception desk or by telephone request.

If your condition is urgent we will try and see you the same day, otherwise you will be offered a choice of appointment times. Emergencies take priority at all times.

We operate a "personal list" system, which means that each patient normally sees the doctor with whom they are registered.

Every doctor has a number of appointments on each day, some of these are "pre-bookable" and some are only bookable "on the day". This is to try and balance our appointments between patients who wish to book an advance appointment and those who need to be seen on the day.

The "pre-bookable" appointments can be booked up to one month in advance.

It is our aim to offer all patients an appointment within 48 hours.

Please make a separate appointment for each person to be seen and inform reception if you have more than one problem to discuss with the Doctor.

Please keep your appointment. If you are unable to attend, please notify the reception desk.
On arrival please report to the reception desk before being seated.

Training Practice

The Hiscock & Partners Practice is a Training Practice. We train GP Registrars, Medical students and Nursing students.

Home Visits

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.

We ask that requests for home visits are received by 11.00am on weekdays. After this time emergency requests for house calls will be referred to the duty doctor. Requests for home visits may be made by calling at the surgery or telephoning whereupon the receptionists will assess their urgency with referral to your own doctor or his deputy.

Parking and Access

A car park is provided. There is access for disabled patients and also facilities for ambulance attendance. Please leave the disabled place for people that need it.

Do not park in the hatched area or on the double yellow lines. (This needs to be clear for Emergency vehicles). If the car park is full, please park on Rushbottom Lane and only in the laybys outside of 08:30 - 09:30 and 14:45 - 15:45

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)