Friar Gate Surgery

REGISTER AS A PATIENT?

If you are new to the area and wish to register with this practice, please ask at the reception. If you have your medical card then please bring this along with you. Following your registration you will be required to have a new patient check. An appointemnt will be offered with the practice nurse during the registration process. The practice will only accept registration of patients within the practice boundary.
For patients registerig in the UK for the first time, please present with either your passport or ID card.

SPEAK TO A DOCTOR/NURSE?

If you would like to speak to a doctor or nurse, please contact the surgery in the usual way and ask to speak to the person you need. If the person is in surgery, the receptionist will take your details and ask the doctor/nurse to call you back.

OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?

If you are receiving regular medication it may not always be necessary for you to see the doctor and repeat prescriptions may be obtained by either:

All patients on repeat prescriptions need to be reviewed by the doctor or nurse from time to time. Our practice dispensers deal with the majority of repeat prescription requests and are available each week day morning and for advice regarding medication queries.

Please note: we do not accept prescription requests over the telephone.

Friar Gate surgery accommodates an independent pharmacy - Rowlands.

The pharmacist is available for over-the-counter preparations and will readily advise regarding the self-treatment of common illnesses. Rowlands operates a delivery service for medication dispensed to those people in the community unable to collect their prescriptions. Telephone Derby (01332) 738445.

Prescription Charges

People in the following categories are automatically exempt from prescription charges: children under 16, under 19 and in full-time education and all patients over 60 years of age. Prescription charges are currently (January 2010) £7.20 per item. Season tickets (prescription pre-payment certificates) are currently £28.25 for three months and £104.00 for one year.

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

We have changed the appointment system as part of our aim to develop and improve the service we provide to our patients. Too many of our surgeries have been totally pre-booked, often resulting in a significant number of failed attendances. This has then led to patients who need to be seen on the day of contact not being offered appointments without first speaking to the nurse. Patients who cannot wait until another day for an appointment, especially if they have an acute illness or are in pain, are now being seen after the end of normal surgery time.

We now allow the majority of GP appointments to be released for same-day booking, particularly during the early part of the week. In order to obtain an appointment on the specific morning or afternoon of choice please telephone the surgery and ask for an appointment. The telephone line 0844 815 1056 is open each weekday from 8.00am to 6.30pm (Wednesday until 12 noon). In addition, it is noted that patients are booking appointments with their doctor for problems that could easily be dealt with by another health care professional. As a result we have also introduced nurse-led minor illness clinics to support the existing service we provide.

Should you be unsure as to whether an appointment is required with the nurse or doctor, you will be asked to speak to the practice nurse. This system allows patients with complex medical problems easier access to the doctor. Limited advance bookings of GP appointments are available, mainly during the latter part of the week, early or late in the day for those patients dependent on transport, or who have work/family commitments.

Please note: the system for requesting home visits has not changed. Please call the surgery before 10.30am on 0844 815 1056.

It is often difficult to introduce change and we fully understand those concerns you may have. However, we will do our best to develop the practice in a way that suits the majority of our patients. Please let us have your comments regarding these changes.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A HOME VISIT?

Please ask for a home visit only if your illness prevents you from coming to the surgery. Please contact the practice, if at all possible, before 10.30am as this helps the doctors to plan their visits more efficiently. Late visits will be made by the partner on call for that particular day.Please do not ask for a visit if you are well enough to be transported by car or taxi.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN TEST RESULTS?

Please telephone between 2.00 and 2.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for test results. This helps to keep the telephone lines free for patients who need appointments. For reasons of confidentiality, we can only give results to the patient concerned.

HOW DO I...
CHANGE MY DETAILS?

If you are changing address or have a new telephone number, PLEASE let the surgery know. It is very important to keep your address up-to-date in case you need a home visit or we need to contact you urgently. If the new address is not within our practice area, it will unfortunately be necessary for us to ask you to transfer to a more local doctor.