To schedule an appointment, follow our easy booking process:
Book an appointment
Non-urgent advice: Contact Us
To book an appointment, please call us on 01725 510296. Our friendly reception colleagues and care coordinators are ready to assist you.
During the call, you will be guided through our appointment options to ensure you receive the appropriate care.
Please contact NHS 111, by phoning 111, or use NHS 111 Online when we are closed.
Appointment Types
We offer two types of appointments to cater to your healthcare needs:
Urgent Appointment
If you require immediate medical attention or have an urgent health concern, our duty doctor will address your call.
When speaking with our reception team, please explain the nature of your situation. This information will help us prioritise your call and ensure you receive timely and appropriate care.
Our reception team members are trained in the triage process. They will guide you through the appointment process with compassion and professionalism.
Non-Urgent Appointments
For non-urgent health concerns or routine check-ups, our care coordinators will be happy to assist you.
If you prefer to keep your health matter private, you can book a non-urgent appointment without providing additional details.
We recommend providing as much information as possible, as it allows our care coordinators to advise you more effectively.
Home Visits
We request that every effort is made to attend the practice as more comprehensive care can be given in a clinical setting. Home visits are available and are made at the discretion of the GP.
If you request a home visit, one of our GPs will discuss your condition with you further and arrange for you to be seen. Home visits are also available for those patients who are too unwell to attend the surgery.
Getting the Most Appropriate Care
Our goal is to ensure you receive the most appropriate care for your unique situation. If your situation requires specialized attention, our reception team or care coordinators may direct your call to another member of our clinical team, such as a nurse, pharmacist or specialist.
In some cases, our team may suggest contacting another appropriate service that can address your needs faster and more efficiently.
Your Appointment
Once your appointment is scheduled, you will receive all the necessary information, including the date, time, and any preparation instructions. Our team is dedicated to making your visit as seamless and comfortable as possible.
Missed Appointments
At Downton Surgery, we understand that circumstances may change, and appointments might need to be rescheduled. However, missed appointments can have a significant impact on both our practice and other patients in need of timely care. In 2021/22, 6.7% of all pre booked appointments were missed in England, causing delays and inconveniences for everyone involved.
Cancellations
If You’re Unable to Attend Your Appointment:
We kindly request that if you are unable to adhere to your scheduled appointment, you contact us as soon as possible to reschedule or cancel. This way, we can allocate the appointment to another patient in need and make the best use of our clinical team’s time.
You can cancel an appointment using the NHS App, or by using NHS Online services.
Running Late? Please Inform Us:
If you find yourself running late for your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible. While we will do our best to accommodate you, late arrivals may impact our ability to provide timely care to other patients. Early notification allows us to assess the situation and make suitable arrangements.
In response to the large number of missed appointments, we have implemented a “3 strikes rule.”
Non-urgent advice: 3 Strikes Policy
If you miss three booked appointments within a 6-month period, we may take steps to remove you from our practice list.
This decision is not taken lightly; it is in the best interest of all our patients and our clinical team.
By reducing missed appointments, we can ensure that appointments are available for those who need them most.
Hospital appointments
Did you know you can manage your hospital appointment online?
When you receive your letter from the hospital use this link to manage your appointment. If your appointment is part of the “e-referral” you can choose your appointment time as well as change your appointment.
If your appointment is not part of the e-Referral system you may need to contact the hospital department directly. Use this link to find the department.