Appointments

Making an Appointment

If you require a routine appointment please ring the surgery on 01606 544644 to make this appointment.  It would help us if you could avoid ringing between 8am and 10am as this is the busiest time for us as we are dealing with requests for urgent appointments. 

If you feel your appointment is of an urgent nature (i.e. new acute illness) you should ring the surgery on 01606 544644 and explain to the Care Navigator that you have a health issue you would deem to be urgent, you will then be offered either a telephone consultation with a clinician or you may be offered an appointment on the same day you are ringing in.

If you feel your problem is not urgent and you do not need to be examined you can request a telephone consultation with a clinician.  Please ensure you give an up to date contact phone number to the Care Navigator and that you will be available when they call you back.  The doctor will call you back as soon as necessary or in the next few days.  Alternatively they will suggest that an appointment is made. 

Important:

You do not have to make an appointment in order to have forms completed (for example, a letter from a GP). Please select option 3 when calling the main number (01606 544644) and speak with the Secretaries for advice. There are charges for certain forms/letters which will be explained to you when you hand over your form.  There are also certain forms/letters we are unable to complete.  The average time for completion is between 6 and 8 weeks, this is due to the 'private administration work' not being undertaken in NHS hours.

THE HUB

Limited appointments are available on Friday evening and Saturdays at the Hub, Dene Drive.  Please ask the reception team if these appointments are available should you prefer.

Chaperone Policy

Our doctors will request a chaperone to be present in certain circumstances in order to protect the interests of both the patient and themselves. If this has not been offered and you consider it necessary please ask.  

Home Visits

Home visits will only be made for persons TOO ILL TO ATTEND the surgery.

If a home visit is necessary, PLEASE CALL BEFORE 10.00 am and you will be placed on the GP Duty List, the GP will know it is a Home Visit request and will ring you back within the hour.

Home visits use a large amount of the doctors time, please come to the surgery if at all possible.

Test Results

If we don't contact you via text message or telephone, you can assume the blood results are all satisfactory.

The easiest way to obtain test results is via the NHS APP.

If you want to know the results, please telephone the surgery to see if results are available. Please also allow time for the results to be received (3-7 days for blood or urine tests or 10 - 14 days in the case of an x-ray)

Results will only be given when calling AFTER 11.00am.

You will be advised by the Care Navigator if you need to make an appointment to see the Doctor for the results.

Please see the link below which highlights a national problem with blood sample bottles.

https://www.cheshireccg.nhs.uk/news/news-stories/national-blood-bottle-shortage/

Telephone Advice

If you feel it would help to speak to a doctor or one of the nurses over the telephone regarding a problem please ask a Care Navigator.

It would help the doctor or nurse to respond appropriately if you could outline the nature of your problem to the Care Navigator.

Please ensure you give an up to date contact phone number to the Care Navigator.

The doctor or nurse will call you back as soon as necessary or in the next few days.

Alternatively they will suggest that an appointment is made.

We are also able to offer the Social Prescribing service at the Practice.

It is not necessary to book an appointment with a doctor for medical reports or forms to be completed.

Please email swanlow.surgery@nhs.net with your request or call reception and select option 3 for the secretarial team.  Please be aware it can take up to 8 weeks for forms to be completed and there may be a charge.

PIP/ESA Claims

Swanlow Practice no longer provide additional letters of support for PIP or ESA claims. The additional information we are generally asked to provide is included in the report completed by the clinician and sent to the DWP. You may request a summary of your medical records if you feel this may help your case.

There is no need to see a GP now if you feel you need a physiotherapy referral!!

We employ our own Physiotherapist

Do you have pain/aching/stiffness/swelling?

Is it your back/knee/shoulder or other musculoskeletal pain/aching/stiffness/swelling?

If you want to be seen prior to referral please ring the surgery and ask for an appointment with the Physiotherapist.

If you don't want to see the physiotherapist first please call in at reception to pick up one of our self referral forms or you can download the form.

Physio Self-Referral Form

There is absolutely no need to get it checked out with a doctor first unless you have any of the following symptoms:

Changes in bladder and bowel habits

A hot swollen joint

Constant severe pain and you are unable to find relief

Weakness, pins and needles, loss of feeling

Unexpected weight loss

NHS APP

One of the easiest ways to contact your GP, read test results and view consultations is via the NHS App.

You can obtain the App through the App store or via the link below.

NHS App and your NHS account - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

You are able to use the e-consult service to request medical advice, request sick/fit notes, request administrative help such as doctors letters etc.

Please log into your NHS App or click on the link below:

Contact us online