EXTENSION TO OUR SERVICES (GP+)

At peak times you may be offered an appointment with the GP+ service based at Riverside Clinic in Ipswich.This service is available to registered patients in the evening and at weekends and is an extension of the usual service provided to you by Barrack Lane Medical Centre.

We will arrange for you to seen by a clinician who has access, with your consent, to your medical records and who will keep your usual GP fully informed of any diagnosis and treatment provided. The Riverside Clinic is located at 2 Landseer Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 0AZ

Please note: the Riverside Clinic is NOT a walk-in Centre and GP+ appointments can only be arranged via the practice or the 111 (Out of Hours) service.

YOU CAN ALSO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ON THE INTERNET!

We call this online booking and reserve a percentage of appointments for booking directly over the Web.

Contact the Surgery to sign up for the SystmOnline Service.

Appointments FAQ

Q "Can I just ring and book an appointment in adavance?"

Yes you can! - If you want to see a particular person or want continuity in your care, we will arrange for a doctor to telephone you to discuss your needs and organise your appointment or for any tests and investigations you may need before you are seen again.

Q "Can I speak to my doctor on the telephone if I have a problem/query/medication review that does not need a face to face appointment.

We know from experience that many problems can be sorted out over the telephone. Book a telephone consultation and a doctor will telephone you to discuss your needs and save you a time-consuming trip to the surgery.

Q: Do I have to tell the receptionist the nature of my problem?
It helps us to place you with the right person and helps your doctor/nurse prepare for the consultation, but if you would rather not say, just say it’s personal and we will respect your right to privacy.

Q: How long is an appointment?                                                                                                                                     A standard face to face appointment is usually 10 minutes long. Please request a “double appointment” if you think your problems are likely to take longer to deal with.

Q:Do you lose many appointments each month by people forgetting to attend?
We still lose too many appointments each month because patients forget to tell us that they cannot attend.

Please remember to keep or cancel!!

Q: Can I have a chaperone?
You have the right to have somone present during your consultation. We are happy for you to bring someone with you, but can offer you a chaperone if you prefer. Please ask your doctor or at reception.

Q: What have you done about the government’s wish to improve access for busy people?
We now offer pre-bookable appointments with a general practitioner from 7am to 8am three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

Telephone Consultations & Advice

Many medical problems can be resolved by telephone, saving you the need to make a time-consuming visit to the surgery. These can be booked with a doctor or a nurse.

There are 2 types:

Same Day: The doctor/nurse will ring you back the same day. It may be a ,member of our On The Day Team; or if they are working,the doctor of your choice, who rings you back depending on availability.

Advance: If you want to speak to a particular person, the doctor/nurse will ring you back on the pre-arranged day. Please make sure we have your up to date contact details.

Q What sort of problems are suitable for telephone consultations?
Advice on Acute but non-serious illnesses -  In fact most things that don’t require a hands-on examination. Some examples are: medical advice, medication queries, to review progress with simple drugs such as hayfever treatments or creams or pain killers. If your clinician feels that you need a face to face appointment then we will always arrange one for you.

NHS Direct
Povides high quality telephone advice by calling 111. Their website has as a self help guide and health encyclopaedia http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Patient UK
Our favourite NHS website for reliable health information is however: http://www.patient.co.uk/

Test Results

Specimens need to be dropped in at the reception desk by 12noon so that we can send the samples off to the laboratories.

Please ring for results after 2.30pm when the surgery is less busy

The practice has a strict policy regarding confidentiality and data protection. We will only release test results to the person to whom they relate unless that person has given prior permission for the release of this data or is not capable of understanding the results.

Home Visits

Please ring by 10.30 AM if at all possible to enable us to prioritise and plan.

Generally only for genuinely housebound patients or the terminally ill.

Please give the receptionist as much information as possible.

The doctor will ring you before deciding on the visit.

Lack of transport is not a reason for a home visit: please arrange for someone to bring you to the surgery.

Q: Why do you prefer to see people at the surgery, when it is often easier and more convenient for patients to request a home visit?

It is mostly a time issue, though improved examination and testing facilities at the surgery can often be relevant. For example, in the 2 hours is takes to do 3 home visits, including writing them up on the practice computers, we can see 12 patients at the surgery.