Appointments

Urgent appointments

If you have a genuine urgent medical need to see a clinician, there are appointments reserved for this during the morning and evening sessions.

An urgent medical need is something that cannot wait until the next day. Urgent medical need does not include minor illnesses such as sore throats, colds, repeat prescriptions, or sick certificates.

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

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

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Appointments available on the day

You can request to see a GP on the day by calling the practice. These appointments are released at 8am.

Routine appointments

You can book an appointment with the GP of your choice in advance. The waiting time is generally about three to five working days but may be longer during holiday periods.

To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:

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

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Get medical advice from a doctor or nurse

To ask a non-urgent medical question:

We will respond within 2 working days during opening times.

Minor illness clinics

These appointments are released at 8am. The nurse prescriber also triages appointments using a telephone consultation and, after discussion with you, will decide your best care pathway.

Phone advice

The doctors and practice nurses are always happy to give telephone advice. We prefer not to be interrupted when we are with patients and so, unless the problem is very urgent, you may be asked to phone back at a more convenient time.

Your appointment

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.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

Did not attend appointments

The healthcare team at Fishermead Medical Centre would like to say thank you to all our patients who attend their appointments. You may have on occasions, experienced difficulty booking an appointment. This may not have been the case if patients who fail to attend their appointments had informed us in advance and cancelled.

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

Home visits are for housebound patients and those genuinely too ill to travel to the practice. It is perfectly safe to bring a child with a rash or temperature to the practice.

Home visits take up a lot of the doctor’s time, as we can see four or five patients at the practice in the time it takes to make one call.

It would be helpful if requests for home visits could be made before 10am. The receptionist will ask for brief details of your problem and for your telephone number. Please try to get to the practice if you can.

Related information

Health A to Z

Sick notes

Test results