Appointments

We offer different types of appointments depending on your needs.

Most appointments are 10 minutes and for one problem only. This gives the GP, or other health professional enough time to understand your concern and provide the right care.

Please note we do not book GP appointments at the front desk. 

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

• Use GP Triage, available Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6.30pm. If you are unable to use GP Triage, call us on 0117 966 3149 and a member of our team can complete the details on your behalf.

• GP Triage will assess your symptoms and, where appropriate, offer you an appointment.

• If you cannot book an appointment through GP Triage, a member of our team will receive the information you have provided and contact you to arrange an appointment if needed.

In some cases, your condition may be treated by a local pharmacy, so you may be directed there.

To request a routine appointment in the next two weeks:

• Use GP Triage, available Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6.30pm. If you are unable to use GP Triage, call us on 0117 966 3149 and a member of our team can complete the details on your behalf.

• GP Triage will assess the information you provide and, where appropriate, offer you an appointment.

• If you cannot book an appointment through GP Triage, a member of our team will receive the information you have provided and contact you to arrange an appointment if needed.

In some cases, your condition may be treated by a local pharmacy, so you may be directed there.

However you choose to book an appointment, 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.

We will try to contact you at least twice. If we cannot reach you, your request may be closed.

Arrive on time for your appointment. If you are five minutes late, your appointment will be treated as a Did Not Attend (DNA).

To cancel your appointment:

• Use our check and cancel service by phoning 0117 966 3149. If you call from a telephone number registered with us, the service should recognise you.

• You can also cancel your appointment through your NHS account using the NHS website or NHS App.

• You can reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message.

If you need to rearrange your appointment, please cancel your existing appointment and submit a new appointment request through GP Triage.

We encourage continuity of care, so where possible, you should choose the same doctor, nurse or other health professional for your appointments.

When using GP Triage, you will be offered the most appropriate appointment options based on your needs. If the option you think you need is not available, please phone us on 0117 966 3149.

Please also let GP Triage know if:

• you need an interpreter for your appointment

• you have any other access or communication needs

If you are ‘housebound’, and unable to leave your house to go anywhere, you can request to have a home visit.

Please contact us on 0117 966 3149 to request this.

We will phone you first to understand what you need. A home visit may not be needed. In some circumstances, a telephone consultation may be more appropriate. 

Pharmacists are qualified health professionals who can offer advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses, including:

• coughs and colds

• sore throats

• tummy problems

• aches and pains

They can also advise you about medicines you can buy without a prescription.

Pharmacy First is an NHS service that allows community pharmacists to assess and, where appropriate, prescribe treatment for certain common conditions without you needing to see a GP.

The service is free to NHS patients in England and can provide a quicker and more convenient way to get treatment for some common conditions.

We may refer you to a local pharmacy through Pharmacy First.

You can also access an online pharmacy service offering video consultations with a pharmacist and delivery of treatment to your home:

Online pharmacy service – video consultations and home delivery

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. Most have a private consultation room where you can discuss your health needs confidentially.

Find a pharmacy

More information about Pharmacy First can be found on the NHS website.

A missed appointment is called a Did Not Attend (DNA).

This includes when you:

• do not attend a face to face appointment
• do not answer a scheduled telephone appointment after we have tried to call you twice
• are not at home for a planned home visit

Missed appointments are a waste of time. Another patient could have had this appointment.

If you repeatedly miss appointments, we may contact you to discuss this.

Read our Did Not Attend (DNA) policy

If you need medical help now:

• Use NHS 111 online (for people aged 5 and over) or call 111.

For minor illness, sprains or suspected broken bones, there is the Urgent Care Centre which is:

• located at South Bristol Community Hospital. The postcode is BS14 0DE. The phone number is 0300 124 6260.
• open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm including bank holidays.

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