Appointments

Making an Appointment

GP Availability*

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Dr Kearns		Dr Kearns
Dr Das	Dr Das	Dr Das	Dr Das
		Dr Remedios	Dr Remedios	Dr Remedios
	Dr Chadwick		Dr Chadwick	Dr Chadwick
Dr Piyumi	Dr Piyumi		Dr Piyumi
		Dr Thorp	Dr Thorp	Dr Thorp
Dr Rahman	Dr Rahman	Dr Rahman
	Dr Portelly			Dr Portelly

*this is the normal working pattern but can be subject to change due to holidays etc.

Extended Opening Hours

Central Surgery offers extended opening hours an evening a week and alternate Saturdays.

We try to keep the later appointments free for commuters so please inform us if this is the most suitable time for you.

In addition GP and nurse appointments are now available in our area during the evenings and at the weekend, as part of an ‘extended access’ service for patients registered at practices in Bishop’s Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and the surrounding areas.

You will be able to book appointments to see a GP, Nurse or other health professional in the evenings between 6.30-8pm and at weekends from 9am-1pm. Appointments can be booked either in advance or on the day and will be held in different locations across the area.

For more information on the extended access service or to book an appointment please contact your practice reception or call 01279 603180.

Consultation Times

The standard time for a consultation with a Doctor is 10 minutes which is generally for one problem.  If you feel that your problem is more complex or you wish to discuss a number of medical issues please request a double appointment at the time of booking.

Home visits

The role of the General Practitioner is ever changing and as a result the Doctor works a full and busy day dealing with the many varied aspects of providing efficient healthcare for you.

In order to achieve these goals we provide medical care, which is ideally based at our Surgery. Requests for home visits are for genuine medical reasons or for housebound patients only.
Please make your request before 10:00am if possible except in an emergency.

Please be prepared to give as much information as possible so that we can accurately determine the urgency of the visit, as there are many situations where telephone advice may save you time for your particular health need.

In a real emergency that cannot wait, please call 999.

Cancelling an Appointment

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as you can. The easiest way to cancel your appointment is via our patient online access service (please see details further on in this guide to sign up to this service). You can access this service 24hrs a day. Alternatively you can call us on 01279 603180 however we would recommend you call after 11.00am when the lines are less busy.

If you give us enough notice to cancel your appointment it can then be offered to another patient.

Outside Surgery Hours

NHS 111 

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Call NHS 111 if 

• You need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency 
• You don’t have a GP 
• You need to access a GP but your surgery is closed 
• You don’t know who to call 
• You need health information or reassurance about what to do next 

When you call NHS 111, a team of fully trained healthcare advisors supported by clinical advisors is here to help you. 

They will ask you questions to assess you and can also give you fast and easy access to a range of clinical staff if required, including GPs, nurses and prescribing pharmacists. 

NHS 111 can then direct you further to the local health service which can help you best. This could be an out-of-hours doctor, a late-opening pharmacy or an urgent care centre. 

Benefits of calling NHS 111 when your GP is closed

• Get advice from a wide range of healthcare professionals including GPs, nurses, pharmacists and mental health professionals 
• No time spent waiting at A&E if your condition could be better treated elsewhere 
• Your GP will receive a report of the service we provided for their records if you are happy for us to do so, making sure they are aware of any special help you might need 
• Different healthcare services and providers are now connected, making it easier for you to get the help you need 
• If you have complex needs, you could be given quicker access to the help you require 
• You will be cared for in the right place for your health needs, ensuring you receive the right care for your condition

Referring to Secondary Care

Please see our referral leaflet for more information.

If you and your GP agree that you need to see a specialist, you will be able to choose the hospital or clinic that you will attend. You will also be able to choose the date and time of your appointment.

Waiting times for secondary care appointments varies from speciality to speciality you can usually be seen in around 6-8 weeks. Physiotherapy tends to have a wait time of around 12-14 weeks and for a scan, MRI etc usual wait times are 6-8 weeks.

If you have not received your appointment you should contact the hospital:

The Princess Alexandra Hospital