Appointments

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

Doctors are available to talk to you on the telephone about urgent matters or to discuss a new problem between 08:30 to 08:55 and at 15:15 to 15:55 for routine matters and/or some results.

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your appointment

When registering with the practice, each patient is allocated a usual doctor. Not all doctors are available at all times, but it is our aim to provide appointments with a doctor as soon as possible. We offer our patients the right to be seen by a practitioner of their choice but if you wish to see a particular doctor you may have to wait a little longer for an appointment.

Dr Prakash & Dr Do attend most of the Howdale surgeries.

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Practice Nurses

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with a practice nurse rather than a doctor. Practice nurses are qualified to deal with many conditions and you may be seen more quickly. The practice nurses are available by appointment and cover both surgeries. Morning, afternoon and evening appointments are available throughout the week: please contact your registered practice for an appointment.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • phone us during our Opening Hours
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

The NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.