Appointments

Urgent appointments

On the day Telephone Appointment are limited, for the morning appointment, call at 8am and afternoon appointments call at 4pm.

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. Urgent appointments are not for Repeat Prescriptions, fitness for work certificates or for signing forms.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment:

• use our online consultation (eConsult), Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm
• use your Patient Services account
• phone us on 01708 447747, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your appointment

A range of healthcare professionals work at your practice and in the wider community to help you get the right care when you need it. This means you might be seen by a GP, but you could also be seen by another trained professional such as a practice nurse, community pharmacist, physiotherapist, or social prescribe. Many local pharmacies are also open late and at the weekend to help with minor illnesses and you don’t need an appointment to be seen.

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

• by phone
• face to face at the surgery
• by text or email

Appointments by phone, by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• using the GP online system – Patient Services
• phone us on 01708 447747, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, 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.

If you need help with your appointment

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 text or email
• if you need an interpreter
• if you would like a chaperone
• if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

Please try to get to the surgery or get someone to bring you, you will generally be seen sooner. If you are too ill to travel and require a home visit, please telephone the surgery before 10am if possible.

It would help if you could say what the problem is the duty doctor can then plan the visits as efficiently as possible.

The NHS has decided that it is the doctor and not the patient who should decide where a consultation should occur. On occasions this may mean the doctor telephoning you and after discussing your problem asking you to attend surgery.

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 may be referred to the community treatment team if deemed appropriate by the doctor.

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.

Mental Health

If you need urgent mental health support contact your local mental health crisis line for free on 0800 995 1000. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Out of Hours

Evening and weekend appointments are offered at Rush Green Medical Centre, 261 Dagenham Road, RM7 0XR. GPs, ANPs (Advanced Nurse Practitioners) and Nurses are available.

Please contact reception for further information or to book an appointment; you can also book an appointment here.