Barnard Medical Centre

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

The practice will try to provide you with an appointment

(a) immediately in cases of emergency; or

(b) within 24 hours in cases requiring urgent attention; or

(c) within two working days for routine cases. However, this may be longer if you wish to see a particular doctor. If this were the case, an explanation would be offered.

For routine matters please arrange to see your own doctor, who will know your medical history. Try and make follow-up appointments well in advance.

Other Options

We have a number of appointments that can be pre-booked with your doctor for ongoing conditions. These need to be booked in advance.

We also have a number of appointments available on the day and these can be accessed by ringing in at 8.00am.

A duty doctor is available every afternoon, with 'sit and wait' appointments.

We also offer telephone appointments if you feel that your condition/results can be dealt with advice on the telephone.

An appointment with a doctor/health professional is for 10 minutes. If you want your concerns to be dealt with thoroughly, try to limit each consultation to one problem.

If you feel that your problem may take longer than the allotted appointment slot, please alert the receptionist, so that a longer appointment can be booked.

Emergencies

The Barnard Medical Practice is responsible for medical care between the hours of 8.00am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday.

Outside of these hours Bexley Primary Care Trust is responsible for providing care. This function is currently delegated to GRABADOC.

Outside normal surgery hours you will be given the emergency phone number. This will connect you to GRABADOC who will assess the emergency and deal with it appropriately. The telephone number is 020 8319 3030.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?

These are reserved for patients who are too ill to visit the surgery and for the housebound. If you feel a home visit is necessary please try to phone the surgery before 10.00am as this helps the doctors to plan their day.

The doctor may phone you back to assess if a home visit is appropriate and how urgent it is. Please note that it is usually safe to bring a child with a temperature to the surgery and that several patients can be seen at the surgery during the time it takes for a home visit.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?

There are two ways to obtain repeat prescriptions from the doctors:

• By written application

• By fax to 020 8309 6579

(We cannot accept requests by telephone.)

Please allow us 48 hours (two working days) of notice to prepare your repeat. Note that we are not a dispensing practice.

HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE PRACTICE?

Please report to reception bringing with you your NHS card (if possible) and details of your previous practice. We will ask you to complete a registration form and book you in with our practice nurse to take a medical history, check your blood pressure and also do a urine test. If you are on regular medication you will be requested to make an appointment with a doctor.