Appointments (01425) 272203
You can call to book appointments on Monday to Friday at any time between 8.30am to 5.45pm, after which our telephone line automatically diverts to the emergency out-of-hours team.
Appointments with doctors are available to book from 8.30am to 6.00pm on weekdays and there is an extended service for working patients until 7.15pm on selected evenings.
If you would like a same day appointment, please try to call us before midday.
We will of course prioritise genuine medical emergencies at any time during our opening hours.
You can book ahead appointments several days in advance either to see your preferred doctor (subject to availability) or have that doctor call you by phone.
In most circumstances, the doctors prefer initial consultations to be by telephone and will call you back as close to the appointed time as possible.
You can book this some days in advance for a time that will fit your daily routine. You can leave your home, mobile or another phone number for the doctor to call.
If you would like a same day appointment, then the duty doctor for the day will call you back that day. Usually the call back will be within a couple of hours.
It is helpful if you let us know of urgent problems before midday, if possible, so that the duty doctor has time to sort things out for you.
It is difficult to give an exact time for the duty doctor to call you back, because that doctor needs to respond to patients according to their clinical priority in the first instance.
About speaking to doctors on the telephone:
Many problems can be resolved over the telephone, but if it is decided that you need to see a doctor after all, then that can be booked ahead for a mutually convenient time with your preferred doctor (subject to availability), or on the same day with the duty doctor, if that is the better option for you.
If you would like your problem dealt with on the same day, then the duty doctor will always call you first to make those arrangements, because it allows the doctor to take into account how sick you are when organising urgent appointments.
If you are sure that speaking to the doctor on the telephone will not help, please let the receptionist know this and appropriate arrangements can be made.
You will always be able to see the duty doctor today, if needed.
You can always book ahead to see or be phoned by your preferred doctor directly, or via the duty doctor if you need advice in the meantime.
Since the introduction of greater availability of doctors on the telephone there has been a 15% increase in the number of patients able to access a doctor. Less than 50% of patients who speak to a doctor on the phone need a subsequent appointment with the same problem. This has allowed more appropriate booking of appointments with preferred doctors and it has given doctors opportunity to be more efficient: for instance, arranging tests and collecting information prior to face to face appointments. | |
Medical Emergencies
Medical emergencies are dealt with as soon as they are apparent, according to need.
However, we advise that you – Dial 999
in the event of life-threatening emergencies, such as:
- chest pain
- collapse
- possible stroke
- heavy bleeding
- severe breathlessness
- injuries possibly resulting in broken bones or concussion
This triggers an immediate paramedic response and can be life saving.
Children
There is a walk-in children's surgery in addition to the usual appointment system.
It runs between 4.00pm and 4.30pm and no prior appointment is required: just turn up!
Working patients
Working patients may request book ahead appointments outside the normal business hours and can be accommodated within the Extended Hours System*.
This allows the Medical Centre to remain available between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on two evenings each week, and one Saturday morning each month.
Extended Hours System* in conjunction with the Dorset Primary Care NHS Trust.
Mudeford Surgery
Appointments with doctors are booked in the same way as for the Highcliffe Medical Centre.
Weekday appointments with a member of the nursing team are available daily between 9.00am and 12.30pm.