Available between 8am to 6.30pm Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays)

Kingsmead Healthcare runs a duty doctor appointment system. Our GPs take turns in being the duty clinician, dealing with urgent matters and problems you feel cannot wait until a routine appointment. We don't like keeping patients sitting in the waiting room and so ask that in the first instance you phone with any urgent problem. The duty doctor will make a prompt initial phone contact to discuss the nature of your medical problem.

1. For patients with an urgent medical need, the duty doctor service is available Monday to Friday (excluding weekends and bank holidays) between the hours of 8am and 6:30pm
2. Patients will receive a call back from the duty doctor within 2 hours of contacting the surgery

If you believe you have an urgent problem, please telephone the surgery. Please tell the receptionist a little about your problem in order that we can prioritise any serious illness.  Please make sure you are easily contactable in return. The duty doctor will endeavour to ring you back within two hours. If the matter is deemed urgent, you call may be passed on directly to the duty doctor.

Depending on the nature of your problem, the duty clinician may offer telephone consultation, or a face-to-face consultation with a GP, practice nurse or the healthcare assistant at the Practice. If you and the doctor agree that you have a serious health problem that prevents you coming to the surgery, they may offer a home visit. They may also suggest a more appropriate health care provider such as the Minor Injury Unit, A&E in emergency cases, a dentist or an optician.

Here's how you ask for a duty doctor appointment

• Phone the surgery and explain to reception that you have an urgent problem
• Reception can then put you on the Duty Doctor list
• The Duty Doctor will ring you back within 2 hours
• The Duty Doctor will decide with you what you need, which could be:
  • Advice over the phone
  • An appointment at the surgery
  • A home visit if you are really not well
  • A referral to another service

This service offers you quick access to your GP practice, where they know you and have your full medical record. We recommend this service instead of going to A&E at the hospital.

Do you need an Urgent Appointment?

It will help considerably if you can observe the following when seeking an urgent appointment:

Please be advised that this list is just a guide. If unsure, please ask reception staff for advice, who will check with a clinician.