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Appointments

Urgent appointments

If you require an urgent appointment or a longer appointment, please inform the receptionist at the time of booking. Urgent appointments are available twice daily, usually at the end of booked surgeries.

You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) during opening times.

We will respond to requests within 2 working hours.

You can also:

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.

Same day appointments

The practice is committed to same day booking and we endeavour to give our patients an appointment on the day they ring. There are occasions owing to holidays and illness when we may have to offer an appointment on the following day.

Severe injuries

The surgery is equipped to treat minor injuries like small cuts and joint sprains. If the injury is more severe or may involve a broken bone then you should attend the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department at James Paget University Hospital.

Phone
01493 452200 or 01493 452436

Also, in the event of poisoning or overdose, please attend A&E.

NHS walk in centre

There is an NHS walk-in centre at:

Norwich Practices walk-in centre
Rouen House
Rouen Road
Norwich
NR1 1RB

Phone
01603 677 500

Website
www.norwichwalkincentre.co.uk

Open 7am to 9pm, 7 days a week.

Telephone advice and consultations

Phone advice

Phone advice may include queries about a prescription, a test result, a hospital appointment, a referral, a form that needs to be completed or advice about a minor ailment. Please call and ask the receptionist who will be able to help you.

Phone consultations with your doctor

A phone clinic is held each day. If you have a problem that you think can be dealt with over the phone, please phone 01493 369 232 before 10am to book with reception and Dr Rogers will call you.

Phone appointments are only available during surgery hours.

Advice is also available from the NHS 111 service, by calling 111 from your landline or mobile phone.

Getting the most out of your consultation

In Great Britain, patients on average have just seven minutes with their GP. The BMA’s Doctor Patient Partnership offers the following advice to help you use this time effectively.

Be prepared

  • Make a list of any questions / problems you wish to discuss before hand
  • Take a pen and paper as you may want to note down important points
  • Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined
  • Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking
  • You can bring someone with you for support

During the appointment

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down.

If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember, pharmacists are experts in medication and are a very useful source of advice.

Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you.

One problem at a time

If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.

Be on time

Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.

Separate appointments

Request a separate appointment for each member of the family.

Under 14 year olds

Accompany under 14 year olds. If however, a young person strongly wishes to be treated without his/her parent’s involvement, his/her confidentiality will be respected.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

Alternatively, you may simply return a text message to your appointment reminder, saying you do not want your appointment anymore.

As part of our commitment to all our patients we monitor the efficient use of appointments. If a patient regularly fails to attend a booked appointment, the practice reserves the right to remove them and their family from the practice list.

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Home visits

The surgery, with all its facilities, is the best place for a consultation. However, if you are housebound or too ill to come to surgery, a doctor will visit you at home.

Please phone the surgery as early in the morning as possible. The doctor may telephone you to discuss whether a home visit is appropriate.

At home the doctor will only have limited equipment and it is often difficult to perform a full assessment of your symptoms. It is therefore essential, that if it is at all possible, you attend the surgery to see the doctor.

Short guide: do I need a home visit?

A GP visit is not needed for the following common symptoms:

Fevers, cough, sore throat, earache, headache, diarrhoea and vomiting, most cases of abdominal pain. In these instances most patients are usually well enough to travel.

Remember it is not harmful to wrap up a child with a fever and bring them to the surgery.

Adults with common problems as above are also readily transportable to the doctor’s surgery.

Related information

Health A to Z

Sick notes

Test results

Page published: 5 May 2023
Last updated: 8 May 2025