Making Appointments

 Systmconnect

Please be aware we have introduced this system whereby GPs are assessing appointment requests based on clinical need.

A senior clinician will look at all appointment requests to make sure you have contact with the right person at the right time

How to Make an Appointment

Online Form: We will ask you to fill in an online form.

Phone Help: If you can't use the online form, please call us for help.

In the practice: One of our patient care advisors can complete the form for you or you can use the laptop provided in the waiting area.

What If We Are Full for the Day?

Our online service platform will remain open during our core hours for NON URGENT PROBLEMS.  If you are experiencing an urgent medical issue when we have reached safe capacity, we will signpost you to 111 or the walk-in centre.  This is for the safety of both the patient and the clinicians.  For non-urgent matters, whilst we remain open during our core hours, there may be a need to add your name to a waiting list when we have filled all ouir capacity. 

 What Happens After You Fill in the Form? 

The practice team will consider your request for an appointment or medical advice and tell you within one working day what will happen next.  Please note that this does not mean that you will necessarily get an appointment with one working day

The appointment you may get could be an appointment with a doctor, nurse, or another health professional or being  signposted to another service.

Why Use the Online Form?

Using the online form helps us help you better. It makes more appointments available and keeps the phone lines free for those who need to call us.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. 

If you have an on-line account, you can cancel your appointment by using systmonline. You can also reply to the text reminder you will receive about your appointment or alternatively call 01273 606006 and press Option 2

Nurse Practitioners & Clinical Practitioners are experienced clinicians with extended skills that enable them to see, diagnose and treat patient presenting with a wide range of conditions. They can:

• Examine you and make a diagnosis, start and review treatment
• Prescribe medication when appropriate
• Order tests and investigations
• Provide lifestyle and general health advice
• Refer you to secondary care or other services
• If it is more appropriate for you to see a GP, the nurse practitioners will referyou to them.
• The Nurse Practitioners at St Peter’s also have additional specialist skills

The nurses are qualified and registered. Nurses are an important part of delivering care in general practice and assess, screen, treat and educate patients.

They can help you with a range of issues:

• Health management
• Advice on chronic disease
• Vaccinations

Their appointments are all pre-bookable.

The clinical pharmacist is available for pre-booked appointments to carry out medication reviews. Clinical pharmacists are health professionals who train for many years to become specialists in medicines.

• They can work directly with you as part of the GP team to make sure your medicines help you to get better and stay well.
• If you have a long-term condition, the clinical pharmacist can talk to you about the medicines you are taking to make sure they are working for you.
• If your medicine is making you feel bad, the clinical pharmacist can help by changing your medicine or changing how much medicine you are taking.
• If you take a few different medicines, the clinical pharmacist can help you make sure they are all working well together.
• If you are taking medicines for a long time, you will need to have them checked at least once a year.

Our team answers hundreds of calls everyday, some are very distressing or challenging, and some can leave them feeling upset. 

Please be patient when you call our practice. 

You don't know what happened on the call they just took.

It is clinically better for you to be seen at the surgery where we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting to assess you.

Home visits are for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery. Home visits are not for those who do not have transport.

If you need a home visit please contact the surgery before 10 am and give one of our receptionists details to enable the doctor to judge whether a home visit is appropriate and the urgency of your needs. Home visits will be directed to your own GP where possible.

Through our partnership with Brighton and Hove Federation, patients now have access to additional appointments from 18.30 to 20.00 weekdays and 09.00 to 17.00 Saturday and Sunday.  

For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer (a “Chaperone”) will be required. This impartial observer will be a practice nurse or healthcare assistant or patient care advisor who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf.  You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.

Interpreter

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see the clinician, please notify the receptionist and she will arrange this for you.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.