HOW DO I...
CONTACT THE SURGERY?

Telephone 01724 842415 (three lines).

For emergencies, ring 01724 842415 at all times

For enquiries, ring 01724 842415 Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.30pm.

For appointments only, ring 01724 859090 (three lines) Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 6.30pm, Fridays 8.00am to 5.30pm.

HOW DO I...
REGISTER WITH THE PRACTICE?

If you reside within our practice boundaries (see Practice Area Map) please bring your medical card to the Cambridge Avenue Medical Centre or to our branch surgery in Messingham and request to register at reception. If you have lost or misplaced your medical card we can complete an alternative form. Please make sure you have details of your last doctor and your NHS number where possible. Your registration will be with Cambridge Avenue Medical Centre but you may request to be registered with a specific GP if you wish. Adults will be asked to book with the practice nurse for a pre-registration health check and you will be given a questionnaire to complete and bring with you to the check.

HOW DO I...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

You may request an appointment up to four weeks in advance.

You may request the doctor of your choice subject to availability. This may not always be possible because we have to comply with directions from the Department of Health to ensure that patients are seen by a health professional within 24 hours or by a GP within 48 hours.

Please make a separate 10-minute appointment for each person. If the doctor wishes to see you again he or she may book it from the consulting room.

Telephone consultations are available to book with doctors at the Cambridge Avenue Surgery. Your request for a same-day appointment may be triaged by the nurse, who will assess your need and advise the best course of action. If your need is urgent you will be seen by the duty doctor without an appointment.

Messingham Branch Surgery

No appointment is necessary to see the doctor there, but it is necessary to book an appointment with the nurse practitioner, practice nurse or health care assistant at Messingham by telephoning the receptionist on 01724 763034 during surgery hours.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN HOME VISITS?

The doctors would prefer to see you at the surgery where all the necessary equipment is available. However, if your illness prevents you from attending the surgery, the doctor will visit you in your own home. To request a home visit please telephone 01724 842415.

In order to judge the urgency of calls your request may be triaged by a nurse or a receptionist trained to make a note of your symptoms. Please remember that house calls are time-consuming and for some patients delay may lead to increased suffering. For many minor illnesses, home remedies are adequate and to call a doctor for colds, flu, sore throats and diarrhoea would waste his time and make him unavailable to attend those seriously ill. Similarly, an apparent lack of transport may not justify a request for a house call.

HOW DO I...
OBTAIN A REPEAT PRESCRIPTION?

Prescriptions for medicines taken regularly and sanctioned by your doctor can be obtained without seeing the doctor in the following ways:

* In person at the 'prescription window' by using the right hand side of your prescription form ticking the required items. There are collection boxes in the entrance and outside so that you do not have to queue. If you enclose a stamped addressed envelope we will post the prescription to you.

* Online - To use this service you will need to register with reception at Cambridge Avenue surgery. Please bring some identification for registration, preferably something which has a photograph, such as a passport or the new driving licence card. (Sometimes we will take a photo of you.) You will receive a user name and password that will enable you to visit the following website to order your repeat medication. https://systmonline.tpp-uk.com. The receptionist will give you details. (If you are using our old system for requesting repeat medication you will receive instructions online of the correct procedure to change to the new system, as the old system is being phased out.)

* Order by telephone using the dedicated line 01724 749388. This is an answerphone facility and you will need the following details when ringing: Name, date of birth, telephone number, name of medicines required and date and time of call.

Please, in all cases, order only medication listed on your repeat medication list and, in all instances, allow two working days' notice for your request to be processed.
Any other medication needed must be sanctioned by a doctor and you should either book an appointment or a telephone consultation with the doctor.

Patients using the branch surgery should enquire about arrangements via the receptionist at Messingham.

DISPENSING

The practice dispenses its own medicines to patients who do not live near a chemist. it is possible to supply medicines from Cambridge Avenue Medical Centre, Monday to Friday (8.00am to 6.30pm). We deliver to East Butterwick and Burringham; patients residing there should enquire about the service.