Appointments

Doctor's Appointments

We offer a large number of 'book on the day' appointments.

Please note the following:

• One appointment is for one patient.
• Each appointment is for 10 minutes, but sometimes a longer consultation is needed. Please be patient if you have to wait, and make provisions for this when booking your appointment.
• If you know in advance that you have a lot to discuss, ask for a longer appointment, thus avoiding delays to other patients.

Nurse Appointments

All nurse appointments can be booked up to six months in advance. Antenatal checks can also be booked in advance.

Chaperones

We offer chaperones for all intimate examinations when required. However, if a nurse is not available this may necessitate a return visit when a nurse is able to act as a chaperone.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

Home Visits

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 before 11:30.

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.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Training Practice

We are accredited as a training practice. This means that we sometimes have  doctors working with us, normally for six months at a time. These doctors are fully qualified and have experience in hospital medicine. They will be gaining experience to make the transition to general practice.

Video recording of consultations will be taken on occasion for educational purposes.

No recording will be taken without the written consent of the patient.  Nor will any recording be taken of intimate physical examinations.

Improved Access

Patients from the South Waveney Area Primary Care Network (SWAN) encompassing Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Kessingland and Southwold GP Practices, will now be able to book a small selection of evening and weekend appointments following the introduction of the new Improved Access Service.

The service, which will be provided by the Bungay Medical Practice, Sole Bay Health Centre and Beccles Medical Centre on behalf of the network, will offer a range of evening and weekend routine appointments outside the usual 08:00-18:30 core hours.

To book an appointment, please contact your registered Longshore Surgery site and a Receptionist will be happy to assist you.