New Patient Registration

If you wish to register you will need to complete a registration form. You can collect a registration pack from our reception desk.

Temporary Services

If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a Doctor but need to see one, you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP Practice for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient.

You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months. This will allow you to be on the local Practice list and still remain a patient of your permanent GP. After three months you will have to re-register as a temporary patient or permanently register with that Practice.

To register as a temporary patient simply contact the practice you wish to use. Practices do not have to accept you as a temporary patient although they do have an obligation to offer emergency treatment. You cannot register as a temporary patient at a Practice in the town or area where you are already registered.

Further Information on Temporary Registration

Your Named GP

From 1st April 2015, all practices were required to allocate a named accountable GP to all patients.

Our patients have been assigned a named GP, and you can be advised of this at your next interaction with the practice.

Please be assured that this will not impact on your experience at the practice, you can still access all of our medical team in exactly the same way as before and having a named accountable GP does not prevent you from seeing another doctor at the practice. Your named GP will not be available at all times and if you need to be seen urgently you may wish to see another doctor. All of your records are viewable by every doctor in the Surgery.

No action is required on your part and there is no need to telephone the surgery for this information, but if you would like to know who your accountable GP is please ask next time you contact the surgery.

What does 'accountable' mean?

The named accountable GP is responsible for the co-ordination of all appropriate services required under the contract and ensure they are delivered to each of their patients where required (based on the clinical judgement of the named accountable GP).

Overall responsibility for patient care has not changed. This role is largely a role of oversight, with patients having one GP within the practice who is responsible for ensuring that this work is carried out on their behalf.

Does the requirement mean 24-hour responsibility for patients?

No. The named GP will not:

Take on vicarious responsibility for the work of other doctors or health professionals
Take on 24-hour responsibility for the patient, or have to change their working hours. The requirement does not imply personal availability for GPs throughout the working week
Be the only GP or clinician who will provide care to that patient

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cancel an appointment?

You can cancel an appointment by telephoning Reception or online (you must be registered for Online Services in order to do this).

Please do this as soon as you know you are unable to attend

How do I check-In for my appointment on arrival at the surgery?

Please use the automatic check-in screen in the lobby as you enter the surgery,

Alternatively report to the Receptionist on the front desk.

How do I order repeat prescriptions?

There are various ways to order repeat medication.

Please see the Ordering Prescriptions page on this website.

Please note we DO NOT accept prescription requests over the telephone and repeat prescriptions take 3 working days to process.

How do i change my address or telephone numbers?

Please complete a Change of Address Form, available from Reception.

You can also complete it online

How do I change my name?

If your name has changed due to marriage we will require a copy of the Marriage Certificate.

For all other legal name changes we will require a copy of the legal documentation supporting this.

How do I register a new baby?

As soon as you have the babies birth certificate please bring it to surgery so we can photocopy it and formally register the baby

Preferable before the baby's six week check.

The NHS App

The Birches Medical Centre would like to invite you to use The NHS App

Owned and run by the NHS, the NHS App is a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

FIND OUT MORE AND DOWNLOAD THE APP

The Birches Medical Centre