Appointments

Consult With Your Doctor Online

Did you know you no longer have to wait on the phone to get the health advice you need? Now, you can use eConsult to assess your symptoms using online forms and send a message to the practice at any time, day or night. We’ll then review this so that we can advise you on the most appropriate next steps. Please allow us 48 hours to respond.

If a patient contacts the surgery and feels that their medical condition is urgent but there are no available bookable appointments left for that day, we endeavour to ensure that the patient will either be seen by a clinician or will have a telephone assessment that same day.  In order for the practice to understand the urgency of a medical condition, the receptionists will ALWAYS ask you the reason for the appointment.  The reason for this is so that we can ensure that you are seen by the right person at the right time, and all answers are kept confidential. It is not a case of the receptionists being nosey! Please contact the surgery on 01204 523813.

We offer routine face to face or routine telephone consultations.

• If you have more than 1 problem to discuss please book a double appointment.
• If you require an interpreter, please book a double appointment.
• Appointments to see the Nurses can sometimes be longer due to their workload which involves looking after patients with chronic diseases.
• Tell us if you are in a telephone box, we can then call you back if we need to.
• Let us know straight away if you want an appointment for more than one person in the family then our Reception staff can look for a suitable time slot.
• You can book to have a telephone consultation with a doctor or Nurse. He or she will ring you as near as possible to an agreed time slot. This is not for re-ordering medication or more complicated medical matters, but can be useful for general advice or opinion.
• You can also book and cancel appointments online via our website. To register for this please pick up a form from reception.

If possible please try to telephone reception on 01204 523813 before 11am if you require a home visit.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

The Practice is signed up to an evening & weekend service (Enhanced Access) with the Bolton GP Federation.  Patients can pre-book an appointment in an evening or at the weekend booking in with our reception team.

The Enhanced Access Service is held at the Halliwell Surgery.

There are appointments available with a GP, advanced nurse practitioner, nurse, healthcare assistant, Mental Health Practioner and MSK practitioner. Our receptionist will book you in with the relevant healthcare professional.

Please note - this is not a walk in service, therefore these non-urgent and routine appointments must be booked in advance.

To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• using the GP online system via the link at the top of this page
• phone us on 01204 523813, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

What is Pharmacy First?

 Pharmacy First enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP.

What are the seven common conditions?

• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Earache
• Infected insect bite
• Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection)
• Shingles
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

How can I access treatment from my pharmacy?

You can get treatment for these conditions by walking into the pharmacy or contacting them virtually. GP receptionists, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies, that offer the service, if contacted.

For more information, you can visit Pharmacy First: what you need to know – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre (blog.gov.uk)

Sickness Certificates (now known as FIT Notes)

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.  If you require a "Statement of Fitness for Work" from your doctor, you can submit an online consultation request (via Econsult, as above). 

The doctor will review the request and will either issue a FIT note or ask one of our reception team to contact you to arrange a routine appointment.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note' - The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).

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

If you need a doctor in an emergency when the surgery is closed, please phone Bardoc, 0161 763 8940 which offers patients registered with our practice a full GP service when our practice is closed or 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.

Accident & Emergency

Whatever the day or time, if you or someone else experiences severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, go to your nearest Accident and emergency department or call 999.

Accident and emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can assess serious injuries and provide emergency treatment.