Appointments

 

If you are familiar with our appointments process and want to request an appointment online please click on the AccurX link below. Otherwise please read the information below.

AccurX

Appointment Requesting Process - please read

The practice reviews all appointment requests before an appointment is offered. This is done to ensure that you are directed to the right person to help with your problem. For more information please read the section below on what happens after you ask for an appointment. It's quickest and easiest to ask for an appointment online. Whether you call, visit, or go online, we'll handle your request the same way. 

Before asking for an appointment, please read the information on pharmacy first and self-referrals. These allow you to check if seeing a GP is necessary and whether you can refer yourself directly to the service you need.

If you require an interpreter or have any communication needs or disabilities please let us know. View our Disability Access information

Request an appointment

Life Threatening - Go to A&E

If you or someone you know has a life-threatening illness or injury go to A&E or call 999.

A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

Adults - call 999 or go to A&E now for any of these:

  • signs of a heart attack
    chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest
  • signs of a stroke
    face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking
  • sudden confusion (delirium)
    cannot be sure of own name or age
  • suicide attempt
    by taking something or self-harming
  • severe difficulty breathing
    not being able to get words out, choking or gasping
  • choking
    on liquids or solids right now
  • heavy bleeding
    spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle
  • severe injuries
    after a serious accident or assault
  • seizure (fit)
    shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up)
  • sudden, rapid swelling
    of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue

British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.

Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.

Find your nearest A&E

Children - call 999 or take your child to A&E now for any of these:

  • seizure (fit)
    shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up)
  • choking
    on liquids or solids right now
  • difficulty breathing
    making grunting noises or sucking their stomach in under their ribcage
  • unable to stay awake
    cannot keep their eyes open for more than a few seconds
  • blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, tongue or lips
    on brown or black skin, grey or blue palms or soles of the feet
  • limp and floppy
    their head falls to the side, backwards or forwards
  • heavy bleeding
    spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle
  • severe injuries
    after a serious accident or assault
  • signs of a stroke
    face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking
  • sudden, rapid swelling
    of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue
  • sudden confusion
    agitation, odd behaviour or non-stop crying

British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.

Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.

Find your nearest A&E

Pharmacy First & Self-Care

You may be able to get help (including prescriptions) for minor illnesses from your local pharmacy without needing to see a GP.

Pharmacy First

Now you can go to a pharmacist for advice and treatment for some simple illnesses instead of going to your doctor. This is called the Pharmacy First scheme. Depending on your age, pharmacists can prescribe medication for the following problems:

  • Earache – 1 to 17 years
  • Impetigo – 1 year and over
  • Shingles – 18 years and over
  • Sinusitis – 18 years and over
  • Sore throat – 5 years and over
  • Uncomplicated Urinary tract infections – women 16-64 years
  • Infected insect bites – 1 year and over

Anyone not within these age ranges should contact their GP. Find more details about Pharmacy First here

Usually, you can just go to the closest pharmacy and ask for an appointment. Sometimes, you might hear about this service by calling 111, 999, or your GP. Pharmacists can help with lots of other problems too and tell you about medicines you can buy without needing a prescription.

Locate your local pharmacy

Self-Care

Help and support available from many National and Local Organisations

Visit our Self Help Zone

Self-referrals

You may be able to directly refer yourself to the service you need without needing to see a GP.

A wide range of services are available without needing a referral from your GP.

See the Self-Referrals page

Request an appointment

Request an appointment for urgent or non-urgent medical problems

Patients requiring urgent medical attention will usually be contacted on the same day. For non-urgent problems, the practice will respond to you within 24 hours of your request. For more information please make sure you’ve read about  what happens after you ask for an appointment.

Please mention if you'd prefer a face-to-face appointment when you submit your request. If you are offered a telephone call and would like to change this, please contact us.

Ways to request an appointment

  1. Request an appointment online - this is the easiest and quickest way. It can avoid a potentially long wait on the phone.
  2. Request an appointment on the NHS app
  3. Call us on 01865 597023 (lines open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 6pm)
  4. Come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. See our opening hours

Practice nurse/healthcare assistant appointments

Request an appointment with a practice nurse or healthcare assistant

To request an appointment with a nurse/healthcare assistant please contact us using one of the options below. Our nursing team offer reviews of contraception, diabetes, asthma or COPD. They also provide immunisations, health checks, blood tests and smear tests.

If you ask for an appointment online or through the NHS app, we'll usually get back to you within 24 hours to confirm your appointment. We'll contact you by text (usually), email, or phone call. If you send your request after 12:30 pm on Fridays, you'll probably hear back from us the following Monday (or Tuesday if it's a bank holiday).

  1. Request an appointment online - this is the easiest and quickest way. It can avoid a potentially long wait on the phone.
  2. Request an appointment on the NHS app 
  3. Call us on 01865 597023 (lines open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 6pm)
  4. Come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. See our opening hours

Clinical pharmacist appointments

Request an appointment with a clinical pharmacist

To request a pharmacist appointment, use one of the methods below. Pharmacists can help with medication queries or reviews. Requests are handled in the same way as routine appointment requests and are responded to in the same timeframe. For further details, refer to the section 'What happens after I request an appointment?'

  1. Request an appointment online - this is the easiest and quickest way. It can avoid a potentially long wait on the phone.
  2. Request an appointment on the NHS app 
  3. Call us on 01865 597023 (lines open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 6pm)
  4. Come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. See our opening hours

Social prescriber appointments

Request an appointment with a social prescriber

Social prescribers can help you with many non-medical problems that impact your health and wellbeing. They know a lot about local support services and can help you with:

  • Housing or financial problems
  • Loneliness
  • Practical or emotional support
  • Providing information about local groups, activities or courses

You can request an appointment with our social prescribers using one of the following:

  1. Request an appointment online - this is the easiest and quickest way. It can avoid a potentially long wait on the phone.
  2. Request an appointment on the NHS app 
  3. Call us on 01865 597023 (lines open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 6pm)
  4. Come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. See our opening hours

Usually, someone from the team will call you within 2 to 3 working days after you send your request. They'll talk to you more about your problem and suggest any services that could help. If needed, they will then set up another call, meeting, or visit to your home.

Please contact the practice if you haven't heard back in 5 working days. Contact us sooner if your problem becomes more urgent.

Cancel or change appointments

How to cancel or change your appointment

If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please let us know as soon as you can. This way, we can give your slot to another patient who needs it. When you ask to change your appointment, please check our opening hours and tell us which days work for you. Due to high demand, appointments may not be available at the exact time or day you want but we'll do our best to find a time that suits you. Thank you for being patient and understanding.

How to cancel or request a change of appointment

  1. Cancel your appointment directly using the NHS app or cancel using your Patient Access account. This is the quickest and easiest way to cancel your appointment
  2. Request a cancellation or change of appointment by submitting an online form.
  3. Telephone us on 01865 597023
  4. Come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. See our opening hours

Visit a Minor Injuries Unit

If you have an injury that is not serious, you can get help from a minor injuries unit, rather than going to A&E or your GP surgery.

Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) are open till late and at weekends. No appointments are necessary and you can access the help you need quickly.

MIUs can treat:

  • sprains and strains
  • suspected broken bones
  • traumatic wound infections
  • minor burns and scalds
  • minor head injuries without loss of consciousness
  • insect and animal bites
  • minor eye injuries like scratch/foreign body

Find your nearest Minor Injury unit

Covid or flu vaccinations

Book your covid or flu vaccination

Please visit our covid and flu vaccination page for more information and to book your appointment.

Sickness Certificates (Fit Notes)

Request a sickness certificate if you have been off work for more than 7 days

If you've been sick and taken more than 7 days off work in a row (including weekends and holidays) you need to give your employer a doctor's note. This is sometimes called a 'fit note' or 'sick note.' If you're off work for 7 days or less, a doctor's note is not needed but your employer may need to complete a self-certification form (SC2).

Visit our Sickness Certificates page

Home visits

How to request a home visit if you are housebound and unable to come to the surgery

Home visits are for patients who can't leave their house and need to see someone in person. If you think you need a home visit please explain why this is needed.

Request a home visit

  1. Request an appointment online - this is the easiest and quickest way. It can avoid a potentially long wait on the phone.
  2. Request an appointment on the NHS app
  3. Call us on 01865 597023 (lines open from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 6pm)
  4. Ask a nominated relative or carer to come to Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery​ and speak to one of our receptionists. We must have your consent to speak to this person on your behalf. See our opening hours

Try to contact us before 10am if you can. If it's urgent, we'll get back to you on the same day, and if it's not urgent, we'll respond within 24 hours. Depending on the problem you have, either a paramedic or a GP will come to see you.

Travel vaccinations

How to access travel vaccinations

The surgery does not currently offer a travel advice service. We ask that patients visit their nearest private travel clinic. We may be able to offer some vaccinations for free on the NHS however.

Please see our Travel Vaccinations for more information

What happens after I have requested an appointment?

Urgent problems

For urgent medical problems, our acute team will typically call you before 6pm on the same day. Please ensure you are available to receive the call. If you contact us in the late afternoon, you may receive a call the following working day. If the acute team cannot safely help you over the phone, they will set up a face-to-face appointment at Bury Knowle surgery.

Routine problems

For non-urgent matters, expect a response from us by text, email, or call within 24 hours of your request. If you make a request after 12:30pm on Fridays, you'll hear back on Monday (or Tuesday if it's a bank holiday).

Upon response, you may receive:

  • Information on how to deal with your concern
  • An appointment with the most appropriate member of the team to help you. This will either be a GP, nurse, pharmacist, social prescriber or paramedic. Visit our surgery staff page for details
  • Requests for further information
  • Confirmation that your request has been forwarded to the relevant team member.

Appointments offered will be either by phone or face-to-face. Face-to-face appointments are available at Bury Knowle or Barton Surgery. If you need to change the type of appointment or where it is, check out the change or cancel appointments section.

We aim to see you within the national standard of 2 weeks, but often appointments are available much sooner. The wait may be longer in some cases. This is especially true if you prefer to see a specific staff member.

Please visit our appointments frequently asked questions page for more information

Interpreters

If you require an interpreter please let us know when you request your appointment and this will be arranged for you. The service we use is provided by Language Line.

Learn more about Language Line

There is a wide range of health information available in other languages on the following websites which you may also find helpful:

 

Chaperones

You are very welcome to bring a friend or relative to your consultation. They may help if English is not your first language, if you have difficulty expressing your needs or memory problems.

If you want, you can ask for another professional to be there during any clinical examinations. This is called chaperoning. Your clinician might also ask for a chaperone to be present during intimate examinations.

If we can't provide a chaperone when you ask, we'll schedule your examination for another time.

Out of Hours

Extended Hours

The practice offers some early morning, evening and weekend appointments for certain services.

Early morning, evening and weekend appointments are available at the practice for certain services such as vaccinations, health checks, smear tests and blood tests.

There are also some GP/paramedic appointments available in the evenings and on Saturdays. Please see our opening hours for more information.

Life Threatening - Go to A&E

If you or someone you know has a life-threatening illness or injury go to A&E or call 999.

A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

Adults - call 999 or go to A&E now for any of these:

  • signs of a heart attack
    chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest
  • signs of a stroke
    face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking
  • sudden confusion (delirium)
    cannot be sure of own name or age
  • suicide attempt
    by taking something or self-harming
  • severe difficulty breathing
    not being able to get words out, choking or gasping
  • choking
    on liquids or solids right now
  • heavy bleeding
    spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle
  • severe injuries
    after a serious accident or assault
  • seizure (fit)
    shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up)
  • sudden, rapid swelling
    of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue

British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.

Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.

Find your nearest A&E

Children - call 999 or take your child to A&E now for any of these:

  • seizure (fit)
    shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up)
  • choking
    on liquids or solids right now
  • difficulty breathing
    making grunting noises or sucking their stomach in under their ribcage
  • unable to stay awake
    cannot keep their eyes open for more than a few seconds
  • blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, tongue or lips
    on brown or black skin, grey or blue palms or soles of the feet
  • limp and floppy
    their head falls to the side, backwards or forwards
  • heavy bleeding
    spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle
  • severe injuries
    after a serious accident or assault
  • signs of a stroke
    face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking
  • sudden, rapid swelling
    of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue
  • sudden confusion
    agitation, odd behaviour or non-stop crying

British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.

Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.

Find your nearest A&E

Urgent But Not Life Threatening

How to access help for urgent medical problems (that are not life-threatening) when the practice is closed.

Visit an urgent care centre if:

  • You have an urgent medical issue requiring on the day attention

Find Urgent Care Services

Non-urgent

How to access help for non-urgent medical problems when the practice is closed.

Use NHS 111 if:

  • You need help now, but it’s not an emergency

There will be someone to provide you with advice and to direct you to a clinician if it is necessary.

Visit NHS 111 Online