If you require urgent advice and medical assessment when we are closed, you can access the NHS 111 service by calling 111 or go online
In line with Government advice for all GP surgeries are operating ‘total triage’. This means that from Monday (23rd March) we will assess every patient request by telephone, or online, before we can offer you a face to face appointment.
IMPORTANT PRACTICE UPDATE 20th March 2020
How to access us
Please call, click, DO NOT COME IN. IMPORTANT – If you turn up at the surgery without having an appointment we will be unable to deal with your request.
Call – Telephone 01539 718080 (option 1 for appointments & general enquiries, option 2 for medication queries.
We are experiencing a large number of calls, and it may take us a little longer to answer the phone. As the telephone infrastructure is now under increased pressure, you may experience an engaged tone when you try to contact us. Please be patient and bear with us, if your query is not urgent please try again at a later time, or use AskMyGP during our opening hours.
Click – Register for AskMyGP Online
AskMyGP is now closed when we are closed, and will be open from 7.00am – 6.30pm Monday – Friday, with the exception of bank holidays and training afternoons. We are receiving a large number of queries related to COVID-19; we hope that this will help to reduce the number of requests, helping us manage patients that need us for other reasons related to their health.
DO NOT Come In – From Monday 23rd March you will no longer be able to enter either of our buildings without an arranged appointment. If you need to contact us, please call us on 01539 718080 or use AskMyGP online (https://my.askmygp.uk/?c=A82026#/intro). If you do have a pre-arranged face to face appointment, you will find tape barriers at a 2 metre distance from the Care Navigator; this is to promote a safe aerosol distance between patients and staff on the Reception Desk.
Covid-19 and Routine Face to Face Appointments
Please be aware that all routine face to face appointments have had to be cancelled in line with Public Health guidance regarding the coronavirus situation.
- We are triaging every request for an appointment, before anyone attends the Practice.
- We are reducing the amount of face to face appointments, and increasing the number of telephone appointments available – unless you really need to be seen, you will be offered a telephone consultation.
- We have turned off text message appointment reminders, as this has been causing some confusion for some patients. We will turn these back on when the time is right.
Patients need to tell us if they have either a recent onset of continuous cough (a cough during day and night) and/or a fever or high temperature (greater than 37.8). If you have had either of the above you must self-isolate, for 7 days and your household must self-isolate for 14 days. Only contact NHS111 if you are unwell and in need of medical assistance. DO NOT COME TO THE PRACTICE, OR ANY OTHER HEALTHCARE SETTING
If you deteriorate then you should contact NHS 111 online coronavirus service for further help. Go to 111.nhs.uk or contact NHS 111 by dialling 111. You will get a faster response using the online option. Check online at GOV.UK and at NHS.UK for advice on your travel and contact history and the latest COVID-19 information before attending the practice.
Evening and Weekend Appointments
In partnership with your GP and Cumbria Health on Call (who provide the out of hours service) we are offering evening and weekend appointments at Westmorland General Hospital and Furness General Hospital. You can be seen by a GP, Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant who have access to your medical records and who can provide the same service as your usual GP. To book one of these appointments please call us on 01539 718080 or call them directly on 03000 247 247.
Chaperones
If you wish to be accompanied by a chaperone for any consultation, examination or procedure please let a receptionist or the doctor or nurse involved know. If there is no chaperone available, you may be asked to re-schedule your appointment.
Home Visits
Our Doctors and Nurse Practitioners are happy to see patients at home who are too ill or too disabled to attend the surgery. Any requests for home visits should be made by 10.30am.
No Longer Need Your Appointment?
If you no longer need your appointment, please let us know at the earliest opportunity. Releasing this appointment back into the system, will mean it is available for someone who really needs it.
Please call us on 01539 718080, or text “CANCEL” to your appointment reminder message.
Appointment Reminder Service
We have a free text messaging service to remind you of any appointments that you have made, you will receive a text message the day before your appointment and you can text back to cancel it if you can no longer attend.
If you would like to receive reminders please complete the form below and hand it in to a member of the reception team.
