Making Appointments

New improved booking system – Systmconnect

Please be aware we have introduced this system whereby GPs are assessing appointment requests based on clinical need.

A doctor will look at all appointment requests to make sure you see the right person at the right time

How to Make an Appointment

Online Form: We will ask you to fill in an online form.

Phone Help: If you can't use the online form, please call us for help.

In the practice: One of our patient care advisors can complete the form for you or you can use the laptop provided in the waiting area.

What If We Are Full for the Day?

Although this change aims to improve our access we do not have additional resources or staff to provide more appointments so there may be times where we reach capacity. This is for safety reasons of both clinicians and   patients.

 Why the New System?

• no more morning rush: We will make sure that same-day appointments go to those who need them most.
• shorter wait times on the phone: By using the online form, we can keep phone lines free for those who need them.
• see the right person at the right time: We want to make sure you get the care you need when you need it.
• better continuity of care: You will have a better chance of seeing the same doctor.

What Happens After You Fill in the Form?

A doctor will review your form on the day and decide the best way to help you. This might be an appointment with a doctor, nurse, or another health professional or being   signposted to another service.

Why Use the Online Form?

Using the online form helps us help you better. It makes more appointments available and keeps the phone lines free for those who need to call us.

If you are unable to use the on-line for, please telephone 01273 606006 between 08:30 and 18:00.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. 

If you have an on-line account, you can cancel your appointment by using systmconnect. You can also reply to the text reminder you will receive about your appointment or alternatively call 01273 606006.

Nurse Practitioners & Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians with extended skills that enable them to see, diagnose and treat patient presenting with a wide range of conditions. They can:

• Examine you and make a diagnosis, start and review treatment
• Prescribe medication when appropriate
• Order tests and investigations
• Provide lifestyle and general health advice
• Refer you to secondary care or other services
• If it is more appropriate for you to see a GP, the nurse practitioners will refer
• you to them.
• The Nurse Practitioners at St Peter’s also have additional specialist skills

The nurses are qualified and registered. Nurses are an important part of delivering care in general practice and assess, screen, treat and educate patients.

They can help you with a range of issues:

• Health management
• Advice on chronic disease
• Vaccinations

Their appointments are all pre-bookable.

The clinical pharmacist is available for pre-booked appointments to carry out medication reviews. Clinical pharmacists are health professionals who train for many years to become specialists in medicines.

• They can work directly with you as part of the GP team to make sure your medicines help you to get better and stay well.
• If you have a long-term condition, the clinical pharmacist can talk to you about the medicines you are taking to make sure they are working for you.
• If your medicine is making you feel bad, the clinical pharmacist can help by changing your medicine or changing how much medicine you are taking.
• If you take a few different medicines, the clinical pharmacist can help you make sure they are all working well together.
• If you are taking medicines for a long time, you will need to have them checked at least once a year.

It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you.

Home visits are for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery. Home visits are not for those who do not have transport.

If you need a home visit please contact the surgery before 10 am and give one of our receptionists details to enable the doctor to judge whether a home visit is appropriate and the urgency of your needs. Home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible.

Through our partnership with Brighton and Hove Federation, patients now have access to additional appointments from 18.30 to 20.00 weekdays and 09.00 to 17.00 Saturday and Sunday.  

For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer (a “Chaperone”) will be required. This impartial observer will be a practice nurse or healthcare assistant or patient care advisor who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf.  You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.

Interpreter

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see the clinician, please notify the receptionist and she will arrange this for you.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.