Appointments

Who do I see?

Routine appointments

From Monday 5 October, we will be introducing ‘Total Triage’ for all routine and urgent appointment requests.

If you need an either a routine or urgent appointment, you will first be asked to complete a short online form.

Your request will then be reviewed by our duty doctor, who will make sure you are directed to the right person and receive the most appropriate care.

Depending on your needs, you may:

  • Receive advice by phone or text
  • Be sent a booking link to see a doctor, nurse or another healthcare professional
  • Be offered a face-to-face, telephone or video consultation
  • Be directed to a different service if this is more appropriate or means you can receive care more quickly

This system allows us to offer appointments based on medical need, rather than simply on who reaches the surgery first. This makes the process fairer and helps ensure everyone gets the right care at the right time.

How to request an appointment

To ask for an appointment, please fill in the online form”I want help for a medical request” or use the NHS App.

Our online form is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm.

The duty doctor will review your request. If it is clinically urgent, we will contact you the same day. If it is not urgent, we will respond within 24 working hours.

You do not need to telephone the surgery or come into reception simply to request an appointment.

Need help completing the form?

We know that not everyone has access to a computer or smartphone, or may need some help completing the form. You will not be disadvantaged if you cannot use the online system.

Please call us on 01442 250 117 and our reception team can complete the form with you. Alternatively, you can ask a trusted friend or relative to help.

When our phone lines are busy, please use the Patient Callback option by pressing 1. You can hang up and we will automatically call you back when it is your turn.

Nursing appointments

If you need a nursing appointment, you do not need to complete the online form.

Please call us on 01442 250117 or visit reception in person and our team will help you arrange your appointment.

Total Triage: What it means for you

To learn more about how Total Triage works and why we are introducing it, please click the link below.

What is Total Triage? Find out what it means for you

When we’re open

Our core hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 6:30pm. These are the times when the surgery is open and our staff are available.

During these times, you can:

  • Request an appointment using our online form
  • Telephone the surgery
  • Visit reception
  • Please note that we do not offer a walk-in service

If we are closed and you need medical help, please call NHS 111. In an emergency, dial 999.

Do NOT use this form if you are experiencing an emergency or urgent symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or sudden weakness. If it is an emergency, call 999 or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department immediately.

Pharmacy First

Your local pharmacist can provide advice and treatment for a range of common conditions and may be able to offer treatment without you needing to see a GP. This is known as Pharmacy First.

Pharmacists can provide treatment through Pharmacy First for:

  • Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
  • Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
  • Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
  • Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
  • Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
  • Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women aged 16 to 64 years

If you visit a pharmacy with one of these conditions, the pharmacist will offer advice and treatment where appropriate, or refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional if needed. They will then update your GP health record.

If you are outside these age ranges, a pharmacist can still offer advice, although you may need to see a GP for treatment.

Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends, and you do not need an appointment. Most pharmacies also have a private consultation room where you can discuss health concerns confidentially.

If you need additional help with your appointment

Please let us know if:

  • There is a specific doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional you would prefer to respond
  • You would prefer to consult by phone, face to face, video call, text or email
  • You need an interpreter
  • You have any other access or communication needs

We will always do our best to take your individual circumstances into account.

Urgent Appointments

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?

Your request will then be reviewed by our duty doctor, who will make sure you are directed to the right person, at the right time, based on clinical need. If it is clinically urgent, we will contact you the same day. If it is not urgent, we will respond within 24 working hours.

Your appointment

We may offer you a consultation:

  • By phone
  • Face to face at the surgery
  • By video call
  • By text or email
  • Unfortunately, we are not always able to accommodate patient requests for specific times.
  • 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/pressure 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.

 

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.

From Monday 5 October, we will be introducing ‘Total Triage’ for all routine and urgent appointment requests

Request a routine or urgent appointment online

Patienttriagebanner

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, please do not turn up without an appointment.

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 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?