Non-urgent advice: Making an Appointment
Our healthcare team comprises a wide range of professionals.
For day to day appointments you might be seen by either a nurse or a doctor depending on the nature of the problem. Our practice nurse team are specially trained to assess and treat a wide range of health conditions meaning that it will not always be necessary to see a doctor.
Guide to Appointments
| On the day | Patients can book an appointment on the day from 8am by calling 020 7349 7330 or by calling into the practice for an urgent medical problem |
| Commuter Surgeries | Not able to see the doctor outside of working hours? Early Bird surgeries are available by pre-booked appointment to see the Doctor or Practice Nurse. |
| Telephone Consultations | For help and advice, call us on 020 7349 7330. |
| Nurse Appointments | The Practice Nurses can help you with a range of issues from health management to vaccinations. |
| Book in Advance | Please phone the practice on 020 7349 7330 to book an appointment or via your online access. |
| Out of Hours | If you have an urgent health problem which cannot wait until the surgery is open please call 111. |
| Online Services | Patients can book appointments up to 2 weeks in advance and from 8pm the night before using our online booking system. |
Non-urgent advice: How to Cancel an Appointment
If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, or the health problem for which you booked your appointment has cleared up, please remember to cancel your appointment. Even cancelling your appointment with 10 minutes’ notice will enable us to see other patients in need.
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 use our online system, call us on 020 7349 7330 or come in and speak to Reception.
On average there are 60 missed appointments per month.
Please let us know well in advance if you cannot make your appointment so that it may be allocated to another patient.
Extended Hours
If you are registered with a local GP you can access evening, weekend and bank holiday GP and Nurse Appointments at West London’s extended hour’s Hubs.
Extended Hours Hubs are staffed by local and experienced GPs and Nurses and offer assessment and treatment for adults and children.
Appointments are available after your registered GP has closed to ensure that patients have access to a GP during week day evenings up to 9pm and weekends when most local practices are closed
To access the service
- Call your GP practice and ask for an extended access appointment
- Call NHS 111 and they can book you an appointment at one of the hubs
The Extended Access Hubs locations and opening hours are:
| Violet Melchett Clinic, 30 Flood Walk, London, SW3 5RR | St Charles Centre for Health, Exmoor Street, London, W10 6DZ | |
| Monday to Friday | 6.30pm-9.00pm | 6.30pm-9.00pm |
| Saturday | 8.00am-4.00pm | 8.00am-8.00pm |
| Sunday & Bank Holidays | 8.00am-2.00pm | 2.00pm-8.00pm |
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.
The Doctor can generally see 4 patients in the time of a home visit so we usually ask that you come in if you can. Home visits are 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 before 10am and give one of our receptionists details to enable the doctor to judge whether a home visit is appropriate and the urgency of your needs. Home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible.
Make the best out 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 NHS choices for available advocacy services.
- 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
Triage Service
If you need an urgent appointment please call us as close to 8.00am or 2.00pm as possible. Urgent appointments are only released at the start of the session to which they relate.
The Reception team will ask you what the medical problem is and with advice from the GP either book you in for an appointment to be seen or offer you further advice from the GP. If you do not want to discuss your medical problem with a Receptionist please let them know that you do not wish to disclose this information.