How Do I...
Obtain Telephone Advice?

In an emergency, a receptionist will take a patient's details, ask about the problem then immediately alert the patient's GP, or the duty doctor if their own GP is not available, so that the doctor may speak directly to the patient or their representative on the telephone.

In a more routine situation, a receptionist will take a patient's details, ask about the problem then record the information in the day book. She may then alert the GP or nurse via the internal computer system but she will not disturb the clinician if they are in consultation with another patient. The GP or nurse has a responsibility to check the day book and will then telephone the patient at a more convenient moment. If the relevant clinician is not available, the information will be carried forward to the next time that person is in the building, unless urgent, in which case the duty doctor will be alerted.

How Do I...
Make An Appointment?

Patients may choose which practitioner they wish to see. New patients will sign an application form to be included in the practice list. We run an appointments system to facilitate the smooth and efficient running of the practice and believe that delivery of high quality care is best served by forming good, knowledgeable relations with our patients. Therefore, we encourage you to see your own doctor whenever possible though, of course, this will not always be practicable. In emergency situations, if your own doctor is not available, you will be offered an appointment with another doctor. Please book time for each patient and avoid trying to squeeze another patient into the same slot as your own. Similarly, please do not save up problems expecting the doctor to deal with several different complaints in one appointment.

We have all felt the frustration of not being able to see our own doctor when we wish but continually many appointment times are wasted when a booking is made but the patient, without notification, does not turn up. This deprives someone else, perhaps feeling quite ill, of the opportunity to be seen. If you cannot keep your appointment, please let us know at the earliest opportunity.

To make an appointment please ring the telephone numbers as indicated:

Harpenden patients telephone 763951
Wheathampstead patients telephone 832258

How Do I...
Obtain A Home Visit?

We have far better facilities for examination and treatment in the surgery compared to what can be done in the home. We look after approximately 15,000 patients who live across a large area of Hertfordshire as well as parts of Bedfordshire. Time, a scarce medical resource, spent travelling around in cars is very wasteful. For both these reasons, facilities and time, we expect patients to come to the surgery in almost all cases so that the doctors can be most usefully employed to provide patients with better service. Please do not ask the doctor to call unless the patient is genuinely too ill to come to the surgery. If a house consultation is unavoidable please telephone before 11.00 to enable us to allocate your call to your own doctor.

Harpenden patients telephone 712021
Wheathampstead patients telephone 833446

How Do I...
Obtain Test Results?

Results of blood tests, cervical smear tests, x-ray reports etc may be obtained by ringing reception after 14.30 (Wheathamstead patients) or 11.30 (Harpenden patients).

Harpenden patients please telephone 712021
Wheathampstead patients please telephone 833446