We strive to balance appointments that can be booked in advance and appointments available for urgent and unforeseen problems that arise on the day.  

We review this balance regularly.  We encourage patients to book in advance wherever possible and not to rely on ringing back to get an appointment released on the day.

In a consultation, the GP will:

• listen and examine you as appropriate,
• identify possible diagnosis in order of risk,
• order laboratory tests if required
• provide advice, prescribe medication and/or refer you to hospital clinics and other health services if appropriate.

GP consultations are booked in 10 minute slots. If you have more than one problem, or if more than one family member needs to see a doctor, please book more than 1 appointment.

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception as early on the day as possible. Visits normally take place between morning and afternoon 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. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also 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.

While our doctors aim to be as accessible to patients as possible, they are not normally comfortable to give advice without seeing the patient in person.

In addition, except for medically urgent cases, we do not disturb face to face consultations for telephone calls.

If a GP refers you to a hospital consultant they will dictate a letter for the medical secretary. The medical secretary will arrange the paperwork, and can keep you informed about the progress of your referral. 

Referrals are routinely reviewed and, very occasionally, are returned to the GP as not appropriate. You will be informed if this is the case.

For private referrals, after you see the GP, please e-mail the secretaries on weccg.thaxtedsurgery@nhs.net. to inform them which consultant you are seeing, and when and where you are seeing them. As long as we have this information, the letter will normally be ready 2 working days after the consultation for collection or posting. We do not charge for private referrals.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.