Appointment protocol
- Receptionists will be required to ask the below information to be able to provide the best care:
- Patient Name
- DOB and/or Address (Brightlingsea or Alresford)
- Reason for the Call / Symptoms
- Best Contact Number
Appointment availability may vary depending on clinical resource
Same day face to face appointments
Can be booked by presenting at the practice as near to 8.30am Monday to Friday (exc bank holidays). Patients are given the option of returning home after being given an estimated appointment time. Once these clinics reach capacity patients will be signposted to appropriate alternative services.
Same day telephone appointments
Can be booked online or by calling reception. Please note you may be asked
to attend for a face to face appointment following a telephone consultation.
Pre-bookable telephone/face to face appointments
Afternoon routine appointments can be booked via telephone or online from 08:30am Monday to Friday (exc bank holidays). These appointments are released 2-4 weeks in
advance depending on capacity and staffing levels.
Follow up appointments
Requested by the GP will be booked for you directly by the reception team in the next
available appointment slot.
Extended Access appointments
Can only be booked via telephone for appointments at external hubs within the
Colte Partnership. These appointments may be in evenings, weekends or on bank holidays.
Home visit requests
Can be made by telephone. These are only for patients who are housebound. We ask that
requests are made before 11am. Pharmacies are also available to help during their working hours. Pharmacists can help with a variety of symptoms including but not limited to: sickness/diarrhoea, bites/stings, ear ache, medication queries. NHS find a pharmacy – https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy.
111 / 111 Online
Can help 24/7 to provide medical advice and assistance. You may then be referred back to your
usual GP.
999 / A&E
Is available 24/7 for medical emergencies.