Appointments Advice

You can now request an appointment with a GP, paramedic or physiotherapist through our Rapid Health system. This is available online from 12:01am Monday to 6:30pm Friday, with no limit on the number of requests we can receive.

To book:

• Click on the Rapid Health link on our website homepage and complete a short online form — it only takes a few minutes.
• Once you have answered the questions, you will be offered a suitable appointment within the appropriate timeframe for your issue.
• If you are unable to complete the questionnaire yourself, please call our care navigators and they will be happy to help.

If you need an appointment with a nurse or for anything not available via Rapid Health, please call us on 01749 601333 or come in to the surgery between 8:00am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.

We answer several lines on our main telephone system, but please be aware it’s very busy first thing in the morning and after lunch — if your call is not urgent, you may find it easier to get through later in the day.

Monday is our busiest day. If your request is routine and not urgent, calling later in the week may help us help you more quickly. You can also use Rapid Health for routine admin queries such as fit note requests and test results.

You can book GP, Physiotherapy or Paramedic appointments — whether urgent or routine — online via Rapid Health, by phone, or at the front desk.

Appointments with other healthcare professionals (such as Nurses or Healthcare Assistants) can be booked by phone or at the front desk.

 

 

Please have a look at the campaign video below that highlights how to get access to to the most appropriate healthcare professional in the practice and explains why you don't always need to see a GP.

 

 

01749 601333 - APPOINTMENTS AND ENQUIRIES

Choosing who you see
You are free to request any doctor of your choice, and we’ll do our best to accommodate this. It’s sensible to see the same doctor for follow-ups or ongoing problems when possible, as this helps with continuity of care.

How same-day and urgent requests work now
If you feel you need to see or speak to a GP urgently, please use our Rapid Health system. This is available online from 12:01am Monday to 6:30pm Friday, with same-day appointments made available daily for urgent needs.

When you submit a request through Rapid Health, the system will triage your information and offer you the most appropriate appointment automatically — there’s no need to call us separately in most cases. If you have a current email address on your record, you’ll be able to book the appointment directly once it’s offered.

Phone advice
Some issues can be sorted over the phone. If you’d prefer this, just indicate it in your Rapid Health request — the system will take this into account and offer telephone appointment slots.

Minor illnesses
Many minor illnesses like coughs, colds, sore throats, stomach bugs and insect bites often get better on their own. Your local pharmacist can help with advice and treatments for many of these — often more quickly and without needing a GP appointment.

Home visits
Home visits must be reserved for patients who are housebound or too unwell to come to the surgery. If you do need a home visit, please phone the surgery before 10:30am if possible — this helps the doctors plan their rounds.

If you have a sick child, it’s usually quicker and more reassuring to bring them to the surgery, where they can be seen promptly, rather than waiting at home for a visit.

 

 

Urgent appointments

Urgent appointments can be made for the same day but may not be with the doctor of your choice and may mean you waiting until a doctor is available.

Please use our Rapid Health service where possible. If you are unable to complete the questionnaire please give us a call.

 

Home visits

Home visits are for patients who are too ill or infirm to come to the Surgery. If you need the doctor to visit you at home please telephone the Surgery on 01749 601333 before 10:30am if possible and give the receptionist as much information as you can to help the doctor assess the urgency of the visit.

 

Out of hours

After 6:30pm and before 8:00am, Monday to Friday, weekends and public holidays:

Emergency out of hours and night cover is provided by Dorset and Somerset Unscheduled Care Service.

If you need to be seen by a doctor you may be asked to go to the Primary Care Centre at Shepton Mallet Community Hospital.

If you are too unwell to attend, you may be visited at home
If you need urgent medical assistance please phone: 111

 

Infrequent attendees

Patients aged 16 to 74 who have not attended the surgery in the previous three years may request an appointment for a health check-up.

Patients over 75 may request such a check-up if they have not attended the surgery in the previous 12 months.

This may be carried out at home if the patient's condition makes them housebound.

 

How to book

 

 

For GP, physio and paramedic appointments, please use Rapid Health

We will always try to book you with your preferred doctor whenever possible. Our Rapid Health system allows you to request the clinician of your choice and will offer an appointment with them if available. Please note this may not always be possible, for example if that particular clinician is on annual leave. 

Our appointment system is now designed to make sure you’re seen in a clinically appropriate timeframe:

• Stable, routine issues: within 14 days
• Routine, lower urgency: within 7 days
• Moderate needs: within 24–48 hours
• Urgent or acute problems: within 0–24 hours

When you submit your request through Rapid Health, it will be triaged automatically and you’ll be offered an appointment that matches your clinical need — often without needing to call us at all, as long as we have your up-to-date email address.

Our appointments are all for 15 minutes. If you have multiple or complex problems you may need a further appointment.

For all other appointments such as blood tests, cervical screening, vaccinations etc. please call 01749 601333.

 

Telephone consultations

As an alternative to an appointment you may be offered a telephone consultation. If you have a problem that could be dealt with over the phone (e.g., for advice, medication, follow-up, repeat sick note) you should be able to specify this in Rapid Health. 

 

Doctors on leave

You are welcome to book an appointment with any other doctor in your own doctor's absence.

 

Practice Nurse appointments

Practice Nurse appointments should always be booked in advance as these clinics get very busy.

 

Private Medical Examinations.

Private Medical examinations should be booked in advance. Please tell the receptionist if you need to book either of these, as we follow separate guidelines for these types of appointments.

 

Any questions

If you are unsure about any of the above information please ask a receptionist for clarification.

If you need medical assistance after 6.30pm, at weekends or bank Holidays, you should telephone the Out of Hours service on 111.