Appointments

NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service – New Appointment Service

When you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the county.

Why are you doing this?

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.

This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

What happens when I see the community pharmacist?

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.

You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.

Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over-the-counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records.

If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

What if the patient is my child?

Children aged over one year are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.

Why is this a good thing for patients?

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.

Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice.

78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.

Two of the core values of Haling Park Medical Practice are to provide good access and also continuity of care for our patients and we are always looking at ways of making our appointment system more efficient so that you have better access to your doctor or nurse when you require it.

Following feedback from you, our patients, we have made some changes to our appointment system to offer more flexibility with a choice of telephone consultations/face to face appointments with a doctor on the day or routine pre-bookable appointments.

If you call us on the main surgery telephone number 020 8688 0875 between 8am-6:30pm Monday to Friday except Bank Holidays we will endeavour to do our best to arrange a telephone call or an appointment on the same day or as soon as possible.

You can also call us anytime between 8am – 6:30pm Monday to Friday except Bank Holidays to book a pre-bookable appointment.

Remember – The clinicians cannot deal effectively and safely with more than one major problem or 2 minor problems in a 10 minute appointment. Presenting with a long list, may result with the doctor advising a further appointment. If you feel you need a longer appointment, please let the receptionist know when you are booking your appointment.

How To See The Nurses or Healthcare Assistants

All nurse and healthcare assistant clinics are by appointment and can be arranged up to eight weeks in advance by visiting our consulting room. When you phone you will be asked why you want to see the nurse or healthcare assistant. This is to assist us in preparing for the clinic and to make sure we have sufficient stock or to prepare any equipment that may be required during your consultation.

If you cannot keep your appointment please cancel it. This frees appointments for others and prevents waste of our time and NHS money.

What is the NHS App?

With the NHS app, you can now access your local GP services at home, work or on the move — wherever you can connect to the internet. What’s more, because the NHS app is a 24-hour online service you can do this in your own time, day or night.

  • Book an appointment
  • Order repeat prescriptions
  • Change your address details
  • Send secure messages to your practice
  • View your medical record

Register for the NHS app online services.

Text Messaging

If you have a booked appointment and we have a mobile telephone number for you, we will send you a text reminder 1 week prior as well as 24 hours prior to your appointment. Please ensure that we have your mobile number and let us know if your number changes.