Appointments

Who do I see?

Routine appointments

Routine appointments are for non-urgent medical concerns that do not require same-day assessment.

These may include:

  • new symptoms that are mild or have been present for some time
  • non-urgent mental health concerns
  • medication reviews
  • follow-up appointments
  • new symptoms that are mild or have been present for some time
  • discussions about test results, referrals, or general health concerns

How to request a routine appointment

To request a routine appointment, you can:

  • telephone the surgery, or
  • visit the surgery in person to discuss your request with a member of our Reception Team

Call: 01442 250117

Routine appointments are booked subject to availability and may not be on the same day.

If you are unsure whether your concern is urgent or routine, please contact the surgery and we will help direct you to the most appropriate service.

Urgent Appointments

We operate an urgent appointment systems for medical problems that need to be assessed promptly but are not life-threatening.

Some urgent concerns may require a same-day appointment once they have been reviewed by a member of the triage team. Others may be managed with advice, follow-up, or an appointment at a later date, depending on clinical need.

How to request an urgent appointment

You can request an urgent appointment by completing a form on our Online Services Portal: AccuRx Online Request

If you are unable to complete the online form for any reason, please visit or telephone the surgery and a member of our Reception Team assist you: 01442 250117

What happens next?

All urgent requests are reviewed by a member of the triage team.

  • Urgent online requests will be actioned within 48 hours.
  • Following triage, some patients may be offered a same-day appointment where clinically appropriate. Unfortunately, we are not always able to accommodate patient requests for specific times.
  • Other patients may receive advice, guidance, or be offered an appointment on another day.
  • Appointments may be with a GP or another appropriate healthcare professional, and may not be with the clinician of your choice

Important: Emergencies

Urgent appointments are not for medical emergencies.

Please call 999 or attend A&E immediately if you, or someone in your care, has:

  • chest pain or signs of a heart attack
  • signs of stroke (such as facial drooping, arm weakness or speech problems)
  • severe breathing difficulties
  • loss of consciousness or collapse

For urgent medical advice when the surgery is closed, please contact NHS 111.

Please be advised, that our Online Services Portal is only available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm.

Cancelling your appointment

Each week, a significant number of appointments are missed because patients are unable to attend and do not let us know in advance. Missed appointments mean other patients may miss out on care.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, or no longer need it, please let us know as soon as possible for the appointment can be offered to another patient.

How to cancel your appointment:

  • if you have consented to receive text messages, you will receive appointment reminders via our messaging system. To cancel, simply reply to the reminder message with ‘Cancel’. You will receive confirmation once your appointment has been cancelled.
  • if you do not receive text reminders or have no registered a mobile number, please telephone the surgery on: 01442 250 117. You will be directed to our cancellations voicemail.
  • if your appointment is within the next 48 hours, please telephone the surgery to cancel rather than using the messaging system.

Did Not Attend (DNA)

A Did Not Attend (DNA) is recorded when a patient does not attend a booked appointment and does not let us know in advance.

Missed appointments mean that:

  • another patient is unable to be seen
  • clinical time is lost
  • waiting times for appointments increase

Important Information:

Repeatedly failing to attend appointments without notice, or not informing that surgery when you are unable to attend, may result in a review of your registration with the practice.

If you are experiencing difficulties attending appointments, please let us know – we are happy to discuss this and offer support where possible.

Cancel your appointment

Not sure where to start?

Use the links below to find the right information for your situation.

 

Request an appointment online

Patienttriagebanner

 

You can contact the surgery online using our Online Services Portal, AccuRx for medical concerns (including urgent problems) or administrative requests.

This services allows you to:

          • request an urgent appointment
          • request help with a new medical problem
          • submit administrative enquires, including
            • fit (sick) notes
            • test results
            • repeat prescription queries
          • access clinically approved online guidance for medical concerns
How online requests are handled

All online medical requests are reviewed by a member of our triage team, and will be actioned based on clinical urgency. You will then be:

          • offered an appointment with the most appropriate healthcare professional, this may not always be with a GP, or
          • given advice, guidance, or signposted where appropriate

This helps ensure patients are seen safely and efficiently, without needing to phone the surgery.

To contact us online:

Start here

Additional GP Appointments – Improved Access

Dacorum Extended Access provides additional face-to-face GP appointments outside of our normal practice opening hours.

This service is designed to improve access to GP appointments and run at Highfield Surgery, staffed by local GPs.

Appointment Times

Monday to Friday: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday: 9:ooam – 4:00pm

Booking Appointments

Extended Access appointments are appointment-only and are booked via our clinical triage team.

Please contact the surgery in the usual way if you feel an Extended Access appointment may be suitable for you.

The GP you see will have full access to your medical records and will update them following your consultation, ensuring continuity of care.

Cancelling an Extended Access appointment

If your need to cancel an Extended Access appointment:

  • During surgery opening hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 6:30pm): please contact the surgery directly
  • Out of Hours: Please call 07864 652 026

Chaperones

Parkwood Surgery is committed to ensuring that patients feel safe, respected and supported during their care.

During your consultation, a clinician may need to examine you. Occasionally, this may involve an intimate examination. We understand that this can feel stressful for embarrassing, and we aim to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

If an intimate examination is required

Before any examination takes place, we will:

  • explain why the examination is needed
  • explain what the examination will involve
  • give you the opportunity to ask questions
  • obtain your consent before proceeding

You will always be offered a chaperone for intimate examinations.

Chaperones at Parkwood Surgery

  • Chaperoning is provided by trained members of staff, usually a receptionist or nurse
  • The chaperone will be introduced to you before the examination
  • The chaperone will remain present during the examination and be positioned so they can observe appropriately
  • Your privacy and dignity will be respected at all times, including while dressing and undressing

If you would prefer a female or male chaperone, or would rather a nurse be present, please let us know. We will accommodate this wherever possible.

Questions or concerns

If you have any questions or concerns about intimate examinations or chaperoning, please do not hesitate to discuss this with a member of the reception or clinical team.

Home Visits

All requests for home visits are reviewed and triaged by a clinician to determine whether a home visit is clinically appropriate.

Home visits are usually reserved for patients who are medically unable to leave their home due to illness or significant mobility issues.

In most cases, children are expected to attend the surgery, as they can usually be brought in safely and assessed more effectively in the practice setting. Lack of transport is not normally a reason for a home visit. 

Where possible, we ask patients to attend the surgery, as:

  • consultations in the surgery allow access to full clinical facilities
  • they are generally more efficient and provide a higher standard of care
  • home visits are time-consuming and reduce the number of patients we can see overall

By following these guidelines, we can ensure home visits are available for patients who genuinely need them.

Requesting a home visit

If you feel a home visit may be required, please telephone the surgery as early as possible so your request can be assessed.

Who do I see?