HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

an appointment can be made by ringing 01430 430318 or calling into the practice in person.

The medical centre makes 50% of available GP appointments to be booked up to four weeks in advance. Every effort is made by the practice to arrange the appointment with the doctor of your choice.

the remaining 50% of available GP appointments are to be booked on the day. This ensures any acute cases are seen on the same day. You must be prepared to see the available doctor on the day should your normal GP not be available.

It is adviseable to ring between 8.30 am - 10.00am to normally expect a same ay GP appointment.

When possible please make your appointmentsfor a morning surgery as it is easier to organise tests and refferals. It also leaves time in the evening for those who are at work during the day.

Due to the unpredicatable nature of our work there are times when a surgery may run behind schedule and you may have to wait. We are sorry for these delays and try our best to prevent them.

Home Vists

The decision as to whether a home visit is required is made by the doctor and based on a clinical road.

A request for a home visit can be made by telephone on 01430 430318, or by calling into the practice, preferably before 11am. Please give the full name , address and telephone number of the patient with some details of the condition.

If you are ringing on behalf of a friend or a relative please state your name and contact number if you feel this to be appropriate. You will be telephoned or visited by a doctor.

Repeat Prescriptions

Patients that are on repeat prescription are asked to use the re-order slip and place in the box provided in reception, please allow 2 working days before collection from the medical centre.

Requests for a repeat prescriptions can also be made by post. If you need the prescripition returning to you please supply a stamped addressed envelope. Please allow extra time for the postal method.

Prescriptions can be requested via fax on 01430 432050.

Telephone requests can be made by dialing 01430 430318 and leaving your request on the medical centre's 24 hour automated telephone line. Please listedn and follow the instructions given carefully. Please speak clearly and have your medication list to hand.

We ask that you do not ring and request repeat prescriptions between 8.0 and 11.00am as the telephone lines are extreemly busy arranging patient appointments.

Prescription re-order slips can also be left at the chemist in Howden. A collection service is offered by the chemist in Howden and a chemist in Goole. Please state clearly if you plan to collect your prescription from the practice or state the name of the chemist of your choice.

Test Results and hospital letters

Results can take anything from a week to three weeks to arrive at the Medical Centre. If you need to see a doctor regarding the result of a test, please check that we have recieved it before making an appointment.

We ask that you contact the practice in person one week after the test has been taken and to ring, preferably between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. To protect confidentiality, we can only give test results to you personally.

It can sometimes take several weeks to recieve a letter from a hospital consultant. If you need to see the doctor, following a hospital attendance, please check that we have recieved the relevant letter before making your appointment.

Register with a General Practitioner

As from the 1st April 2004 all patients are registered with Howden Medical Centre not an individual GP. You wil still be able to see a GP or health care professional of your choice as you do now.

On arrival at the medical centre you wil be asked to complete a registration form and new patient questionnaire. An appointment will be made for you to attend a new patient health review with a doctor or practice nurse.

Registered Patients

If you are over 75 and have not been seen within the last year, or between 16 and 75 years and have not been seen within the last three years you may request a consultation for a health review with the support nurse.