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.
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.
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).
Pharmacists play a key role in providing quality healthcare to patients. Working in the community, pharmacists use their clinical expertise together with their practical knowledge to ensure the safe supply and use of medicines by patients and members of the public.
Many pharmacies in the local area offer the ‘Think Pharmacy’ service. This service is an alternative to visiting your GP, making it easier for you and your family to get healthcare and advice on minor ailments at a time that suits you.
Your local pharmacy can offer advice and if necessary, prescribe medication to treat the following ailments under the Minor Ailments service:
Pharmacists can also offer advice on common problems such as coughs, colds, aches and pains as well as healthy eating and stopping smoking.
You can talk to your pharmacist in confidence, even about the most personal symptoms and you don’t need to make an appointment; most pharmacies now have a private consultation area where patients can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard by other members of the public.
Consultations are always free and confidential, regardless of whether the pharmacist gives you any medication.
Please ring after 14:00 for test results.
Your results cannot be given to another person due to confidentiality reasons, unless you have already requested this and it is recorded in your notes. 01270 275600.
Most tests take approximately 2 working days to return, with specialised tests taking longer. X-ray and scan results are usually received by the practice 7-10 days after the test was performed. It is your responsibility to telephone for results, as we process large numbers of tests each day and are unable to telephone individual results.
Extensive exemption and remission arrangements protect those likely to have difficulty in paying charges (NHS prescription and dental charges, optical and hospital travel costs).
The NHS prescription charge is a flat-rate amount which successive Governments have thought it reasonable to charge for those who can afford to pay for their medicines. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) offer real savings for people who need extensive medication.
These charges apply in England only. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales prescriptions are free of charge.
If you will have to pay for four or more prescription items in three months, or more than 15 items in 12 months, you may find it cheaper to buy a PPC.
There is further information about prescription exemptions and fees on the NHS website
How to place an order for a repeat prescription:
Both the above can be hand-delivered:
Alternatively the completed prescription or hand-written list can be:
Please allow 48 hours from ordering your repeat prescription to picking up the medication.
Occasionally the doctor may request that you book an appointment to discuss your prescription request.
All patients receiving repeat prescriptions will need to be reviewed by a doctor at least annually for monitoring and review of their medication.
As the doctors are very busy we ask for your co-operation in attending surgery whenever possible.
If you are too unwell or too immobile to attend, please telephone 01270 275600 before 10:00 Monday to Friday as this assists in the planning of doctor visits in the early afternoon.
It is helpful if you can give the receptionist an indication of the problem so that the doctor can prioritise the urgency of the request. Always ensure there is a contact telephone number in case the doctor wishes to speak with you prior to the visit.
Patients recently discharged from hospital, who need nursing follow up, will routinely be seen by the district nursing team.
Visits take place after morning surgery usually between 11:30 and 15:00.
The practice offers a range of options for making practice appointments for the doctor or nurse. They can be made by:
Telephone: 01270 275600
Call in at reception
Book with Patient Access via the EMIS Patient Access
Please note you need to sign up at reception to use Patient Access for the first time. Read more
To cancel please telephone 01270 275600.
We have a wide range of appointment times available for both doctors and practice nurses.
Seeing the doctor may not always be necessary. Please check the practice team and their roles to see who can deal with your questions best.
Appointments can be booked up to 3 months in advance. Many problems concerning advice can be dealt with over the phone and it may be more convenient for the doctor or nurse to telephone you. If you think this is appropriate please advise reception staff when you call. It might not be your usual GP who will contact you.
We will always deal with urgent requests that day. If surgeries are already fully booked, and you do not feel that your problem will wait until the next available routine appointment, the receptionist will arrange for a doctor or nurse to telephone you to discuss the most appropriate way of managing your request.
If you need an appointment with a nurse, please inform the receptionist of the type of appointment required, (e.g. blood test, ear syringing, cervical smear, travel vaccine, dressing, blood pressure monitoring, new patient medical etc.) so that adequate time can be made available.
GP appointments are routinely set at 10 minutes and nurse appointments at 15 minutes. If you feel you need more time please mention this to the receptionist when making the appointment.