Appointments

The surgery can be contacted by telephone during opening times except on Mondays between 1.00 and 2.00pm and Wednesdays after 1.00pm.

We offer evening appointments outside of our opening hours to improve access to seeing a GP. These appointments are on Monday and Thursday evenings between 6.30 and 8.30pm. These are routine appointments that must be booked in advance. The practice will be closed and only patients with booked appointments will be allowed into the practice during these times.

On-The-Day Consultations

For urgent on-the-day consultations we ask that patients arrive at the surgery between 9.00 and 10.30am. Patients' names will be added to the doctors' lists on a first-come, first-served basis and will be seen at the earliest opportunity. Priority is given to patients with a booked appointment and therefore it may sometimes be necessary to wait until the end of surgery to be seen.

For children under the age of five years we have urgent appointment times available. Please call the surgery as early as possible on the day and you will be given a time to attend. On-the-day consultations are only for patients who are ill and are not able to wait until the next available routine appointment. These appointments are not for any urgent non-medical requests (ie sick notes, non-urgent referral requests) and patients are advised that doctors will refuse any such requests and patients will be asked to book a routine appointment.

Home Visits

Home visits are at the discretion of the doctor.

Please do not request a home visit unless the patient is genuinely too ill to come to the surgery. A rash or temperature does not prevent patients coming to the surgery and if there is any concern about endangering other patients simply inform the receptionist on arrival.

Where the condition of a patient does require a home visit please try to let us know before 10.30am each day. Your request will be passed to the doctor on-call who will assess your needs and respond accordingly.

In life-threatening emergencies such as severe bleeding, collapse, unconsciousness and severe chest pain please call 999.

Telephone Advice

The duty doctor and nurse can be contacted by telephone between 12pm and 1pm daily. If, for any reason, the doctor/nurse is not available at the given time, our receptionist will take your details and arrange for the doctor/nurse to return your call at their earliest convenience.

Vision Online Appointments

We would like to introduce you to a new service called Vision Online Services. This lets you book & cancel appointments at Maida Vale Medical Centre using the internet.

You need to register with the practice to access the service, and once registered you will be given information that will enable you to create your username and password. When your account has been created and activated you can book appointments with available doctors & nurses, view existing appointments and cancel appointments if required.

If you are interested in this service, please complete the form and return it to the practice.

You can:

·  print it out & bring it to the surgery,

·  fax it to us on 020 7266 1017 or

·  email it to us at wms-pct.admin-mvmc@nhs.net

We will then contact you with details of how to register.

The BMA's Doctor Patient Partnership offers the following advice to help you use your consultation time effectively:

Be Prepared:

Make a list of any questions / problems you wish to discuss before hand.

Take a pen & paper as you may want to note down important points.

Wear loose clothing if it's likely you will need to be examined.

Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking.

You can bring someone with you for support.

During The Appointment:

Don't be afraid to ask questions.

If you don't understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.

If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember pharmacists are experts in medication and a very useful source of advice.

Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don't leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.

One problem at a time:

If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.

Be on Time:

Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.

Separate Appointments:

Make a separate appointment for each member of the family.

Under 14 Year Olds:

Accompany under 14 year olds. If however, a young person strongly wishes to be treated without his/her parent's involvement, his/her confidentiality will be respected.