How our GP appointment system works
We understand that many patients want different things from our appointment system. Many patients have more routine matters to discuss whilst some patients have potentially life threatening health issues that need prompt attention.
We try our very best to meet these varying needs within the limitations of the number of GPs and appointments available. Like most GP surgeries, the demand for GP appointments here at The Upstairs Surgery is very high. Therefore our clinicians have requested that our receptionist team ask patients a few questions to help them find the most appropriate point of care.
We have three types of appointments available:
**PLEASE NOTE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE ALL APPOINTMENTS WITH A GP ARE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION. ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN TELEPHONE TRIAGED IF THE GP FEELS YOU NEED TO BE SEEN FACE TO FACE THEN AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE GP.**
Booked in advance
Bookable routine telephone consultations up to 2 weeks ahead, these provide choice and flexibility as to when and by whom patients are booked in with. Other appointments are released 2-4 working days ahead to make it easier for patients to see a GP with a problem that is not urgent but needs to be dealt with within a few days.
Available on the day – Urgent medical problems only
Monday-Friday at 8.00am a limited number of appointments become available if patients have an urgent and/or serious problem, enabling them to speak with one of our GPs on the day. At such short notice there is much less flexibility over the time of the appointment and choice of clinician.
Nurse Appointments
We are offering nurse appointments both via face to face and telephone consultation. To ensure the safest practice we are reducing the number of available appointments and increasing the time of each appointment to ensure more time for infection control and continue social distancing. Please be patient if you have to wait a little longer to book a nurse appointment.
You can call the surgery to book any of the following:
Cervical Smears
Immunisations
Family Planning
Wound Care
Diabetic/COPD/Asthmatic Reviews
Ear Syringing
Health Checks
Blood Pressure Checks
If you have a face to face appointment booked you will either receive a telephone call or receive a text with a link to a Covid-19 questionnaire. This is not a hoax. All patients must be assessed for Covid-19 symptoms before attending surgery. Please complete and submit. Again do not come to the surgery if you have symptoms.
SERVICES
OUT OF HOURS
When surgery is closed please call our number (0208 597 1840) where patients will be transferred to our Out of Hours Service paid for by ourselves.
Patients will be advised as to what further action to take.
HUB SERVICE
This is another service paid for by the surgery which offers an overflow of appointments 7 days a week at either North Street Medical Care or Rosewood Medical Practice (see below addresses). Patients shall be able to speak with a GP locally from 6.30pm-10.00pm on weekdays and 12.00pm-6.00pm on Saturday and Sunday
Please call 0203 770 1888 from 2.00pm-9.00pm Monday-Friday and 9.00am – 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday to book an appointment. You can also book through NHS 111.
The patient must be registered with a Havering GP (The Upstairs Surgery is).
The patient will be given a time slot for attendance.
The doctors advise if patients are ill over the weekend or out of hours to please use this service rather than wait until we re-open.
Hub Sites:
North Street Medical Care - 274 North Street, Romford, Essex RM1 4QJ
Rosewood Medical Practice – 30 Astra Close, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 5NJ