Contact us with Accurx
You can contact a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional online between using a website called Accurx.
By using Accurx you’ll be able to state the type of appointment you feel you need. Please provide as much information as possible to help our GP triage your form.
We would advise all patients to use Accurx as much as possible to minimise delays and to ensure that we are able to triage all requests effectively.
Please be aware this triage assessment form is intended to be completed by the patient. If being completed on behalf of the patient, if they are unable to do this themselves, then a response from the practice to advise of the next steps will be sent directly to the patient via email or text message, depending on their preferred contact method.
For patients who aren’t able to use the online consulting platform, receptionists will complete the triage form for you over the phone (or in-person).
Phone us on 01225 789100 (option 1) to speak to a receptionist
Please reserve this service for those who are genuinely not able to access the internet and/or need additional support.
Face to face and telephone appointments
Appointments are available as in person face to face consultations or as telephone consultations with one of our healthcare clinicians at the University Medical Centre.
Telephone consultations may either be a conversation on the telephone or on some occasions, and where appropriate, they may be via a video consultation link with the doctor, nurse or paramedic that you have your appointment booked with.
It is very important that when you book a telephone appointment that you are going to be available for the doctor, nurse or paramedic to contact you by telephone. If you have provided us with a mobile telephone number you must make sure your phone is kept on during the time you have been given so that you can be contacted.
If the clinician has tried to make contact with you but you have not been able to take the telephone call, or if your phone is off or not available at the time of being called, then you may need to make another appointment booking with our reception team.
If the doctor, nurse or paramedic that you have your telephone or online video consultation with feels that you do need to be seen in person they will arrange for a face to face appointment to be booked with you to be seen at the medical centre.
Treatment rooms
The nurses run our treatment rooms, which are available daily.
They can help you with: blood tests, dressings, removal of stitches, contraceptive pill repeats, asthma reviews, diabetic reviews, smoking cessation advice, immunisations (including flu, MMR and Meningitis ACWY), travel vaccinations and advice.
The nurses at the University Medical Centre have a mix of skills and reception staff will book you with the most appropriate member of staff.
Routine nurse clinics offer immunisations to adults and children (including travel vaccines), blood tests, dressings and stitch removal, asthma and diabetic reviews, smoking cessation and contraception pill repeats and cervical smears.
We have nurses available if you wish to discuss starting contraception (oral, injectable, implants and intrauterine systems and devices (hormonal and copper coils) or are having problems with your present method and wish to obtain advice.
Our practitioners with more advanced skills can manage your minor illness or mild mental health problems.
Appointments with pharmacy first
Some problems can be managed by pharmacists who are paid by the NHS to provide a service called pharmacy first and if the doctor feels your condition can be managed by a pharmacist we will send a referral and they will contact you directly.
If the outcome of your triage request is appropriate for referral to the pharmacy first scheme, please be aware your contact details will need to be shared, along with the nature of your request. You will then be contacted by a member of the Pharmacy First team for assessment, advice and the next steps. Please contact us on 01225 789100 if you have concerns about this.
For information and a comprehensive guide visit our new appointment system page.
Your appointment
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 find out about how you can make the best of your appointment please visit the NHS website where they have useful tips to help you.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to attend an appointment you have booked please let us know.
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- use the GP online system: Patient Access
- phone us on 01225 789100 during opening times
Failure to attend
It is frustrating both for the staff at the medical centre and other patients if you book an appointment and do not attend. If you miss an appointment you may be asked to explain why, and if this happens repeatedly you may be removed from the patient list and will have to find another practice.
Please do not become another ‘Did Not Attend’ (DNA) statistic.
If you need help when we are closed
There is always a nurse and doctor available for emergency problems when the surgery is closed. The out-of-hours service is provided by B&NES doctors urgent care (BDUC) please call 111.
An urgent care centre situated next to the emergency department at The Royal United Hospital (RUH) in Bath, GP-led and open 24 hours a day.
If you need urgent care in the first instance call your GP. If your GP practice is closed, call 111 and you will be directed to the most appropriate service for your need.
Minor injuries unit
Trowbridge Community Hospital
Adcroft Street
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8PH
Open 7 days a week from 7am to 11pm
Phone
01225 711300
If you need help with your appointment
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
Home visits
Patients are requested to telephone before 9am if a home visit is necessary that day. Emergency visits only will be arranged after that time.
Please give the receptionist as much information as possible to enable the doctor to allocate priority to home visits. Please remember that several patients can be seen at the surgery in the time that it takes to do a home visit.