How To Make An Appointment
All consultations are by prior appointment. Appointments to see a doctor or a nurse can be made by telephone or calling at the reception. For the same day appointment, please ring at 8.00am for the morning and evening appointments. Please do not call at the reception to make same day appointment.
When booking an appointment you will be asked to give the reason for seen the doctor/nurse. This is to enable receptionists to slot the patients into the appropriate clinic and save you time and inconvenience of being in the wrong clinic.
Please call our main switchboard number on 020 8590 1169 to book an appointment. Urgent cases are seen on the day.
If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP.
If you don’t need an appointment within two working days, you also have the option to book up to two weeks in advance if this is more convenient for you.
In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a advanced nurse practitioner rather than a doctor. Advanced nurse practitioners are qualified to deal with many ailments (over the age of 12 years) and you may be seen more quickly.
Patients under 16 are seen preferably accompanied by an adult or guardian.
Serious injury, including head injury, should be taken to your nearest Accident & Emergency (Casualty) department.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you can not make your appointment let us know as soon as you can so another patient can book the appointment time. You can cancel or change your appointment:
Role of Reception
Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help with your enquiry, ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician. Nonetheless, it is your right to request to talk only to the doctor.
Anything that is discussed with the receptionists or any other member of the team is treated in strict confidence.
You have a right to be treated courteously. In return our receptionists also have a right to be treated courteously by you.
Please respect the privacy of other patients by standing well back from the reception desk until your turn.
Try the NHS App
You can now use the NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services and your GP account on your smartphone or tablet.
You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record, access your Covid vaccination status and more.
If you already use online access you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp
Chaperone
Our Practice is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of every-one is of paramount importance.
All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member or friend.
On occasions you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present. This will usually be a member of practice staff. Please let reception or your doctor know.
Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.
Home Visits
Doctor’s consultations are best held in the clinical setting of the doctors’ surgery. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the practice if at all possible.
For the patients unable to get to the surgery for medical reasons, home visits can be offered.
If you feel you may need a home visit, please telephone the surgery 020 8590 1169 before 10.30am. Please be prepared to tell the receptionist about your condition so we can visit the most urgent cases first. Doctor may wish to speak to you before making a visit. Please remember to leave a contact telephone number. If you are calling on behalf of somebody else, please leave your name and relationship with the patient.
HUB Service
Please use the Hub Services, Walk In Centre's and the 111 Service depending on the urgency of your need. Please choose well and attend the relevant locations. All details are below.
Walk-in centres
Loxford polyclinic is at 417 Ilford Lane, Ilford IG1 2SN; tel 020 8822 3800. It is open 8.00am to 8.00pm, 7 days a week.
Barking Community Hospital Walk-in Centre, at Upney Lane, Barking IG11 9LX; tel: 020 8924 6262. It is open 7.00am to 10.00pm weekdays; 9.00am to 10.00pm weekends and bank holidays; closed 25 December.
Harold Wood polyclinic is at The Drive (off Gubbins Lane), Harold Wood, RM3 0AR; tel 01708 792000. It is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm every day of the year (including weekends and all public holidays).
Need to see a doctor in the evening or at the weekend?
Call 020 3770 1888
The appointments line is open at the following times:
- 2.00pm to 9.00pm Monday to Friday
- 9.00am to 5.00pm Weekends and Bank Holidays
Appointments will be made in one of the centres at the following times:
- 6.30pm to 10.00pm Monday to Friday
- Saturday: 9.00am to 5.00pm
- Sunday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Outside these hours please call 111.