Appointment system

For the time being, due to the Coronavirus threat, we are presently operating a GP Phone Triage System. We are doing this in an effort to protect you, our patients. This continues to be monitored on a day to day basis.  

Our trained reception staff adhere to a strict confidentiality policy. If you feel that your problem is of an urgent nature please tell reception staff to help ensure safe and effective care and please give as much detail as you can to facilitate this including giving an up to date contact number.

We operate a modified appointments system based on need rather than convenience.

Ballyward surgery, like all GP surgeries in the UK, is under extreme pressure for appointments. Therefore we ask that you choose wisely according to need.

Consider if the nurse can help with your query, or you can leave a message with our trained reception staff to leave a message for the GP.

GPs are extremely busy people, looking after long term sick and palliative patients, writing referrals, doing child health clinics, actioning hospital letters, speaking to specialists ,checking blood results and writing and checking prescriptions. Not to mention House visits and Practice Meetings!

Lots of small things take up our time meaning we have less time for the things we really want to do - treating our patients. So we are asking for you to CHOOSE WISELY when contacting the GP and consider if you can initiate SELF CARE for your minor ailments so the GP can spend more time with the more vulnerable and really sick patients.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. We always aim to give the best care to our patients and our appointments are a valuable resource which must be used responsibly.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we appreciate this is not always possible. 

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will normally only grant a home visit to you if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)