- Please call our main switchboard number (Valley Surgery: 0115 9430530, Chilwell Meadows Surgery 0115 9462767) to book an appointment.
- Medically urgent cases are seen on the day.
- If your condition is not medically urgent, we aspire to give you an appointment with a GP within five working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP. Appointments are usually 10 minutes in length which means that we may not have time to deal with more than one issue.
- You are free to consult with any doctor within the practice but it is obviously an advantage to see the same doctor with the same problem so that continuity can be maintained.
- Please let the receptionist know whom you would like to see. If you don’t need an appointment within five working days, you also have the option to book up to 8 weeks in advance if this is more convenient for you.
- Nurses based in our practice treat patients for a wide range of common conditions. You can expect to see a nurse usually within 3 working days, or 1 day if urgent.
- You can book up to 12 weeks ahead for clinics – please see the ‘Clinics and Services’ section.
- Please note at Valley Surgery, Monday evening and Tuesday/Thursday morning early opening is on alternate weeks only. A guide to our appointments system can be downloaded here.
The practice offers a system for booking your routine GP appointments online, from the comfort of your own home. To take advantage of this system please click on this link.
Same day appointments
We are a busy practice, and providing some same day appointments makes it easier for you to see a doctor quickly if your need is medically urgent. You can phone from 8.00am for same day medically urgent appointments only.
Getting the most from your appointment
You may be able to help us work more efficiently if we could work together to help to solve your problems.
If you could offer information about the following areas when you see us we would be very grateful. It would help us work more effectively within the current time constraints:-
1. Please tell us what you think may have caused the clinical problem -
2. If you have concerns or worries about a serious underlying disease such as cancer or meningitis please tell us -
3. If you have discussed the problem with anyone else such as relatives, other health workers or pharmacists and they have suggested tests or treatment which you now expect please tell us -
4. If the effect of the problem is disruption of your life or work and you may need a 'sick note' or other support we need to know please -
5. If you are feeling unusually sad or worried please tell us -
Please remember that being asked to deal with more than one problem in a consultation is a common reason for us being unable to keep the appointment system running smoothly.
Role of reception
- Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help with your enquiry, ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician. Nonetheless, it is your right to request to talk only to the doctor.
- Anything that is discussed with the receptionists or any other member of the team is treated in strict confidence.
- You have a right to be treated courteously, and our receptionists also have a right to be treated courteously by you. We can offer a degree of privacy in a separate room if your enquiry is sensitive. Please respect the privacy of other patients by standing well back from the reception desk until your turn.
Why might it be difficult to get an appointment?
The surgery is particularly busy on Mondays especially during the winter months. If your appointment is not urgent, try to book on a less busy day after 10.30am. If you let us know as soon as possible you can't attend your appointment, we can then make it available for another patient. You can book to have a telephone consultation with a doctor if you wish. He or she will ring you on the telephone number you have given.
What if I can't get an appointment
The surgery is particularly busy on Mondays especially during the winter months. If your appointment is not urgent, try to book on a less busy day after 10.30am. If you let us know as soon as possible you can't attend your appointment, we can then make it available for another patient.
Routine appointments
If you need to book a routine follow-
