Appointments

E-consult is NOT for urgent health concerns. Online queries should be submitted during normal working hours ONLY.

If you have an urgent health concern - Please call the Surgery.

Outside of normal working hours - You will be notified who to call for advice.

All e-consult submissions will be reviewed by one of our clinical staff, if this is triaged as routine, you will be offered the next available routine appointment for the correct health professional (this may be after 2 working days from you submitting your online enquiry.)

Click the banner below to try e-consult.

We realise that problems sometimes arise unexpectedly therefore we have specifically allocated appointments reserved for the day, if you feel you need to be seen urgently

• Phone us on 01204 462966, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm

In order for the practice to understand the urgency of a medical condition, the receptionists will ALWAYS ask you the reason for the appointment.  The reason for this is so that we can ensure that you are seen by the right person at the right time, and all answers are kept confidential. It is not a case of the receptionists being nosey!

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

• Use our appointment request form, Monday to Friday 8am to 6.30pm. We will respond within 4 hours during opening times
• Phone us on 01204 462966, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

The surgery runs an extended hours service every Monday from 6.30pm to 7pm.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10am.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

To help us deliver the best possible service to all our patients:

• Please arrive on time for your appointment
• Please let us know if you cannot keep an appointment
• Please book separate appointments for each individual
• Please tell the receptionist if you need a longer appointment
• If you arrive ten minutes late for your appointment you will need to rebook as you will not be seen

Patients are asked to keep appointments to ensure effective running of the practice and for the appropriate use of the doctors' time. If a patient misses two or more appointments without letting us know in advance we will send a letter.

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

• by phone
• face to face at the surgery
• on a video call
• by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• phone us on 01204 462966, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

Outside our opening hours you have the following options:

For GP Out-of-Hours Service call 0161 7638940.

If you need medical help now you can also use NHS 111 online or Call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Please tell us:

• if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
• if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
• if you need an interpreter
• if you have any other access or communication needs

The Practice is signed up to an evening & weekend service (Enhanced Access) with the Bolton GP Federation.  Patients can pre-book an appointment in an evening or at the weekend booking in with our reception team.

The Enhanced Access Service is held at the Halliwell Surgery and/or the Health Hive on Chorley Street (used to be Diabetes Centre).

There are appointments available with a GP, advanced nurse practitioner, nurse, healthcare assistant, Mental Health Practioner and MSK practitioner. Our receptionist will book you in with the relevant healthcare professional.

Please note - this is not a walk in service, therefore these non-urgent and routine appointments must be booked in advance. 

What is Pharmacy First?

Pharmacy First enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP.

What are the seven common conditions?

• Sinusitis
• Sore throat
• Earache
• Infected insect bite
• Impetigo (a bacterial skin infection)
• Shingles
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women.

How can I access treatment from my pharmacy?

You can get treatment for these conditions by walking into the pharmacy or contacting them virtually. GP receptionists, NHS 111 and providers of emergency care will also be able to direct patients to pharmacies, that offer the service, if contacted.

For more information, you can visit Pharmacy First: what you need to know – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre (blog.gov.uk)

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.

Evidence that you are sick

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.  If you require a "Statement of Fitness for Work" from your doctor, you can submit an online consultation request (via Econsult, as above).

The doctor will review the request and will either issue a FIT note or ask one of our reception team to contact you to arrange a routine appointment.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note' - 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).