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Need to see a Doctor?

How to make an appointment
Please call our main switchboard number on 01892 863326 to book an appointment at either our main practice or at our branch surgery at Hartfield. Urgent cases are seen on the day. If your condition is non-urgent, you can expect to see a GP within two working days, though you may have to wait longer if you want to see a particular GP. If you don’t need an appointment within two working days, you also have the option to book up to 6 weeks in advance if this is more convenient for you. Nurses based in our practice treat patients for a wide range of common conditions. You can expect to see a nurse within two working days.

Routine appointments
If you need to book a follow-up appointment with a particular GP you can make an appointment up to six weeks in advance. Please phone after 10.30am as the phone lines should be quieter then. Many follow-up appointments are for patients who have a long-term or chronic condition that needs monitoring on a regular basis.

At Groombridge and Hartfield Medical Group we offer all our patients on long-term medication or who have a long-term condition an annual review, around the time of their birthday. We send you a letter to suggest which review is required and ask you to arrange appointments at a convenient time. It is important to continue your regular check-ups, even if you are feeling well. Routine appointments are available during normal surgery hours with the Practice Nurse and/or Doctor.

Role of reception
Our receptionists are usually the first point of contact and are here to help you. They have a lot of information to hand and in most cases will be able to help with your enquiry, ensuring you see the most appropriate clinician. Nonetheless, it is your right to request to talk only to the doctor. Anything that is discussed with the receptionists or any other member of the team is treated in strict confidence. You have a right to be treated courteously, and our receptionists also have a right to be treated courteously by you. Please respect the privacy of other patients by standing well back from the reception desk until it is your turn your turn.

How do I arrange a home visit
Our doctors typically see three patients at the practice in the time it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients to come to the practice if at all possible. However, we can visit you at home if your condition means you cannot attend one of our premises. Please ring the main switchboard before 10.30 am to arrange a visit. Please be prepared to tell the receptionist about your condition so that we can visit the most urgent cases first. The doctor may wish to speak with you to see if it would be better for you to come to the surgery to be seen immediately. Home visits are normally made between 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm.

What do I do in an emergency
If you need urgent medical advice during surgery hours, please phone the surgery on 01892 863326.

If you need to see a doctor urgently when the surgery is closed please phone the surgery on 01892 863326 and follow the instructions. At lunch time you will be put through to MEDOC (01634 891855) who provide the ‘out-of-hours’ service on behalf of East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

Between 6.00 pm and 8.30 am plus weekends and bank holidays emergencies are dealt with by South East Health Ltd (03000 242424) which is staffed by Doctors and Nurses. You might be asked to attend the out-of-hours clinic or receive a home visit.

Alternatively, you can phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or visit their website at www.nhsdirect.co.uk. NHS Direct offers free expert health information and advice 24 hours a day. It can advise you whether you need to go to the nearest A&E (Accident and Emergency) or if there is an alternative such as visiting an NHS walk-in centre. For deaf people and those hard of hearing, a telephone service is available on 0845 606 4647.

The nearest Minor Injuries unit is at Crowborough War Memorial Hospital (01892 603100), open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day. They provide advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses and injuries.

Whatever the day or time, if you or someone else experiences severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency unit at the Kent and Sussex Hospital.

Why might it be difficult to get an appointment ?
The surgery is particularly busy on Mondays and Fridays especially during the winter months. If your appointment is not urgent, try to book on a less busy day after 10.30am. Last month 36 patients failed to turn up for their appointment. If you let us know as soon as possible that you can't attend your appointment, we can then make it available for another patient. If we can’t offer you an immediate appointment, we may phone back to offer you a cancellation slot.

You can arrange to have a telephone consultation with a Doctor or Nurse if you wish. He or she will ring you on the telephone number you have given sometime later that day. Unless you inform the receptionist otherwise the doctor or nurse will assume that, should you be unavailable, you are happy for a brief message to be left either on an answerphone or with another member of the household.

How to get travel vaccinations
For routine protection against Tetanus and Polio please make appointments with the practice nurse.

We offer a full range of vaccinations for foreign travel. For advice and information regarding foreign travel please contact the surgery 4-6 weeks before departure to request a Pre Travel Screening Form. When you've completed the form you will need to return it to the surgery and make an appointment to see the nurse for her advice re necessary vaccinations

Please note that not all travel vaccinations are free of charge.