To request an appointment during opening times:
- phone us on 01344 286264
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
Help us to help you
Your doctor is trained in consultation skills. He or she can often recognize that you are worried about something, or have something difficult to discuss, from what you don’t say! Nevertheless, you are more likely to have a satisfactory consultation if you are able to tell the doctor what you want in a clear and concise way.
Be focused
Know what you’re going to say. Outline your problems clearly. Try to start with the problem that troubles you most. Some patients feel uncomfortable about producing a list of things that they would like to discuss; many doctors feel that this is a good idea, as all your concerns will be addressed. We ask that you have one appointment for each problem.
Be concise
We would prefer that you told us more than necessary, rather than omitting important information. We would ask, however, that you remain aware of the constraints of time, and the needs of other patients, and try to keep your conversation relevant.
Listen and take the initiative
The doctor will give his or her opinion. We all feel that it is important that you understand what we say, and as much as is possible, agree with our formulation of the problems that you have. We will, therefore, always welcome requests for clarification of medical terms or explanations if the meanings are not clear to you.
Help us keep your records up to date
For a number of reasons, it is possible that your records are incomplete. If, for instance, you know that you have had a previous adverse reaction to medication, it is a good idea to mention this if you receive a prescription.
Home nursing
Patients who need district nursing assistance, at home, may arrange with the team for a community nurse to visit.
Please contact the home nursing services on 0300 365 1234.
How to see a nurse
You may, by appointment, see one of the practice nurses for minor complaints, e.g. dressings and routine vaccinations. They may prescribe a number of drugs under the doctors’ guidance, offer advice on diets, check your blood pressure and assist in various clinics.
Blood tests can be arranged Wednesday to Friday with the healthcare assistant. Blood tests can only be done in the surgery if they are for medication monitoring purposes, the patient is over 80 or the doctor has authorised it. Alternatively, we request our patients book a blood test via SwiftQueue.
Please only book at Heatherwood, Wexham Park, King Edwards or St Marks. Do not book at any other site as the surgery will not receive the results.
You must speak to the doctor first before any blood tests can be requested.
How to see the doctor
At Binfield Surgery, patients who need advice from a clinician are requested to phone the surgery at 8am, Monday to Friday. There are a designated number of consultation spaces available each day. When waiting for your call to be answered you will be given the option to retain your place in the queue and for the surgery to call you back. If you accept this, and you have called from a mobile phone, you will then receive a text message to show your position in the queue. If you follow the links in the message you will be able to track your progress.
When you get through, the receptionist may need a brief description of the issue. If you have any restrictions such as working hours, please tell the receptionist. The surgery will try and work around all reasonable requests but this cannot be guaranteed. If you do not answer when the doctor calls, they will try once more. Regrettably if all the appointments for the day have been booked, it will be necessary for you to call 111 or to call the surgery at 8am the next working day.
A discussion on the phone will usually give your doctor the information needed to diagnose the problem, but this may not always be the case, so a face to face consultation may be arranged for the same day. The surgery does not book appointments in advance. The surgery also has the means to check the date, time and frequency that a specific number calls the surgery and is not successful in obtaining an appointment. The surgery will be happy to check this data upon request.
Any representative can call the surgery at 8am to book a phone call back from a clinician.
Prescriptions
Receptionists are unable to take prescription requests over the phone. Please use the available online applications such as Patient Access or the NHS app. If you are unable to use these, please email prescriptions.binfield@nhs.net. Please allow 48 hours for processing.
For any other enquiries, please choose from the following options:
- Press 1 for appointments.
- Press 2 for administrative tasks including test results, please call after 11am.
- Press 3 for dispensing and prescription queries.
- Press 4 for the secretary.
Pharmacy First
If you have one of the following conditions, you do not need to speak to a doctor. The receptionist will refer you to to the local pharmacy services. These conditions are:
- Sinusitis
- Sore throat
- Earache
- Infected insect bites
- Impetigo
- Shingles
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- by text or email
Appointments by phone, text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
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 01344 286264 during opening times
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help when the surgery is closed, 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.
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 or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
- if there is any specific time the doctor should avoid contacting you. For example, can they call after 3pm or before 1pm
Home visits
Should you require a home visit, please make your request before 10am.
If you are able to come to the surgery you will have helped us to provide a more efficient service.