Appointments
Appointment System Explained
After
consultation with Dartmouth Patient Participation Group our
appointment system has been reviewed to enable patients with
urgent
problems to be seen as soon as possible, and also offering
additional
bookable times for routine appointments, aimed at those
needing
fuller assessments or follow up care, and review and support
for long
term problems.
The appointments are of 3 types.
Please consider which type is more appropriate for you when
requesting
an appointment. You will not be asked for information
regarding
your problem but should you wish to give the receptionist
more detail
regarding your issues this is invaluable in helping them to
allocate you
the most appropriate slot.
Type 1
| Ten minute allocations - bookable in
advance. Please let the receptionist know if you need
more time, e.g. smear, counselling or multiple
problems. |
Type 2
| Five minute allocations - 'Duty Doc' slots.
This Doctor is allocated multiple 5 minute slots to
address the acute complaints of the day and can be
accessed on the day. These slots are not appropriate
for the management of on-going conditions, nor
multiple problems. This Doctor is responsible for
treating emergency medical cases if needed and
provides cover for ill patients in the community and
Dartmouth Hospital. This can occasionally cause a
delay in being seen. |
Type 3
| 'Wait and See time' - This is an end of day
service where the emergency doctor offers a mop up
surgery between 5 - 5.40pm for those solely needing a
quick diagnosis, treatment or prescription before
chemist closure at 6pm. Turn up at 5pm. Wait to be
seen in the queue. |
Help us to help you. You
can ask your doctor to book a follow up appointment in
advance if they are seeing you for an ongoing problem.
Please, if you cannot make your appointment, telephone
01803 832212 or text us between 9am and 5pm on 07773
817443 because we lose approximately 4 surgeries worth of
appointments each month through non-attendees.
Please give us feedback. Please consider a trained
nurse as an alternative to a Doctor for acute complaints.
Thank you,
Dr Fiona Mackeachan.
|
|
|
