Appointments

Appointments Information

From the 6^th January 2025 the appointment system at Elthorne Park will be changing. You will no longer be able to book an in-person appointment directly without speaking to a GP first, or submitting an on-line consultation using eConsult via the practice website.  We will be significantly increasing our on-line consultation capacity. Please see our eConsult top tips on the website.

Please do not use eConsult for urgent problems. If you have an urgent problem, then a GP will telephone you on that day and if necessary arrange a face to face appointment to see you.

Please be aware that the Practice now has a number of additional staff working with us, and your problem may be better addressed by one of them. For example; we have a large clinical pharmacy team for medication issues, a Physiotherapist and a Social Prescriber. Reception may signpost you to one of these if appropriate.

Please give the reception team as much information as possible so they can guide you to the correct practitioner.

For repeat prescriptions you can email: [email protected]

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Home Visits

It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you; we work closely with Ealing Community Transport to bring patients to the surgery where possible.

Home visits are ONLY 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 as early as possible in the morning, before 10:00, and give one of our receptionists details. 

Our Duty Doctor will call you back to ascertain the clinical nature and urgency of your needs; the Duty Doctor will then arrange a visit as appropriate.

Non-urgent/routine home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible.

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Making the Best of Your Appointment

• Prepare your thoughts and problems in advance by writing down your problem e.g: When your symptoms started, how they have changed.
• Do a urine sample if you have pain passing urine or lower abdominal pain.
• Do not try to add another person in on your consultation. Let reception know you need another appointment for this individual or prioritise who needs the appointment more.
• Be honest with the doctor. It is important to tell the doctor the main reason you are there at the start of the consultation. If you are embarrassed, don’t be, the doctor is there to help and won’t be shocked.
• If you have more than one problem please let reception know and they will try and get you a longer appointment if possible. Otherwise, let your doctor know at the beginning of your consultation. They may be able to deal with more than one problem if they are related. However, your doctor may make you another appointment for your other problems, especially if they are new or complex problems.
• If you have any special needs please inform reception in advance so we can prepare the appointment for you first time (e.g. need an interpreter, visual impairment, hearing impairment, prefer male/female doctor etc..)
• If you know you have difficulty understanding or explaining things, bring someone you trust with you or if you require an advocate, see the NHS choices advocacy services for further guidance.
• Dress accordingly for possible examination. Loose clothing is best and remove any layers in advance.
• Please let reception know if you would like a chaperone.

A consultation is about sharing in decisions about your care and goals, to make a good consultation you should let your doctor know about your goals, hopes, fears and expectations; this is why doctors ask you for YOUR thoughts.

At the end of a consultation you should know:

• What is your main problem.
• What do you need to do about it.
• What to do if it does not get any better.

Useful Links

NHS Choices – Get the most from a doctor’s appointment

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Cancelling your Appointments

We do understand that sometimes you may forget your appointment, or that other important life incidents happen and that you sometimes no longer need the appointment.

We do ask that if you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel it or notify the practice why you did not attend at your earliest convenience.

We have a large number of people who do not attend their appointments every single week leading to wasted doctor and nurse time, leading to delays in you being able to get an appointment.

You can telephone us on 0208 567 0447, cancel via online services, reply CANCEL to the text reminder or come in and speak to Reception.

Please let us know well in advance if you cannot make your appointment so that it may be allocated to another patient.

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eConsult