Common FAQs

We hope you are happy with the services provided at our surgery. If you wish to comment or make any suggestions for improving the services, please click on the smiley faces to let us know how you feel. If you would like to complain about our services, please put this in writing and bring this to the attention of the practice manager. Complaints should not be made verbally in person and should be sent via email toswlicb.brigstockfamilypractice@nhs.net, please put the [...]

Triage is the point at which your care begins – it is your initial medical assessment and treatment. This can be accessed via our Website online consultation button or by calling the practice if you are unable to access the website. The method of appointment will be determined by a clinician depending on your illness or condition this could be via Telephone consultation or face-to-face appointment. Triage is available Monday to Friday. The practice will contact you within 48 hours [...]

You may use the online service, or request a print-and-post form, to make or change your choice at any time. You can also request assistance or make your choice contacting NHS Digital Contact Centre telephone service. If you do not wish to opt out, you don’t have to do anything at all. You can also manage a choice on behalf of another individual by proxy. For example, if you are a parent or guardian of a child under the age [...]

If you decide to have a summary care record it will contain important information about any medicines you are taking, allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines you have had. Giving healthcare staff access to this information can prevent mistakes being made when caring for you in an emergency or when your GP practice is closed. Your summary care record will also include your name, address, date of birth and your unique NHS number to help identify [...]

Everyone registered with the NHS in England and Wales has their own NHS number. This is different to your national insurance number. Further information can be located on the NHS website.

We do not routinely inform you of results but ask you to ring the practice about a week after a test. The receptionists will inform you of the result and whether you need to see or discuss the result with the doctor or nurse. Please ring after 1.00 pm if possible. You can also use our online consultation button via our website to enquire about any sort of result.

Making sure that you are on the right medication is an important part of looking after your health and is a partnership with your doctors, practice nurses and your local pharmacist. We recommend that you have at least an annual review of your medication around the time of your birthday. This will usually be with the GP who will carry out routine checks. If there are any problems these will be discussed with your doctor. For some reviews you will [...]

Please try to come to the surgery if possible (the doctor can see three to four patients at the surgery in the time it takes him/her to visit one patient at home). Home visits are mainly for those patients who are too ill to come to the surgery and for elderly patients who are housebound. The doctor will discuss this with you. If you require medical attention and are unable to travel to the surgery then please try to phone [...]

You can register as a new patient with the practice online here. Alternatively, you can come into the practice and complete our registration form. You will be asked to provide proof of ID (passport, driving licence), and address (utility bill, bank statement). If none of these is available to you, please speak to our practice assistants who can assist you further. Registrations can take up to 48-72 hours to be processed.

If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist for further treatment, you can now choose where to have your treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics. Please discuss with your GP or if you want to find out more – further information is available on the NHS website.