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Requesting Appointments

Requesting Appointments at Bankfield surgery

Every day, we receive hundreds of requests for help or advice through phone calls, walk ins and online. For each patient request, the practice needs to work out:

• Why they have sought help from their GP
• What kind of help the patient needs
• How quickly the patient needs help
• Who is the best person to help this patient
• Where and when the patient should be seen

The answers to these questions help us to sort patients based on their needs. This process is referred to as triage.

The information provided allows the practice to triage each patient. This also means the right person can help you, based on the nature of your request, regardless of the time of day thus alleviating the 8.00am rush.

The reception team are following strict guidance & direction from the GP’s during the triage process.   

For non-urgent medical or admin requests, patients can submit an online request via our website.  

There will always be patients who can’t use online consultations for whatever reason. Submitting an online consultation is not the only way to contact us and we will still triage phone requests and walk-in requests. However, if more patients go online to contact the practice, it will mean more traditional forms (such as telephone or walk-in) will be reserved for patients who don’t have online access. 

Published on 9th Jun 2025

Behind the scenes of your general practice. Come and meet the team.

 

Did you know that, in addition to your GP, there are other health professionals in general practice who can help you get the right care?

 

General Practice teams are made up of a whole range of professionals, such as nurses, paramedics and clinical pharmacists. But a new survey in England has found that many people don’t realise that many roles, like mental health practitioners (66%), physiotherapists (71%) and social prescribers (89%), could be available at general practice.

 

To help explain the support available, the NHS has released a film that sees three curious children go behind the scenes at a general practice to meet the health professionals working there and learn more about how they help get patients the care they need.

 

In the film, the children are greeted by a member of the reception team, who takes them to meet members of the general practice, including a paramedic, mental health practitioner, social prescriber and physiotherapist.

 

The film illustrates the real-life process patients go through when they contact their local general practice, from the reception team using the information patients provide to getting directed to the right health professional for the care they need. If you need to see a GP you will always be offered an appointment, but there may be other health professionals available who can provide the most appropriate support.

 

Watch the campaign film here: https://youtu.be/5Y-3fLtBu2Q 

 

Having a range of health professionals at your general practice means you can receive the right care for your condition as quickly as possible.

 

Your general practice team is here to help you.

 

To find out about the range of professionals here to help you in our practice, visit: www.penninegpa.co.uk/about-us/primary-care-additional-roles/

 

Contact us today to make an appointment and we will ensure you see the right person for your needs.

Published on 28th Nov 2023

Zero-Tolerance

Please be aware that we operate a zero-tolerance policy and will not tolerate any abuse, this includes abuse received on social media.

Published on 26th Apr 2022