Cancel an Appointment

Urgent cases will be seen on the day.

• Phone 01246 412242 between 08:00 and 18:00.
• Fewer urgent appointments are available in the afternoon. You may be asked to call back next morning (Monday to Friday). Alternatively, you may seek help from NHS111 Online or call NHS111.

There is tremendous pressure on our appointment system. To try to meet demand we operate a "Pool" system on weekday mornings.

If you feel you need to be seen on the day you may be offered an appointment on the "Pool".

During busy periods you may also be asked to initially discuss your problem on a phone call with a doctor or nurse to assess its urgency.

If you visit the surgery, you will be seen by the first available Doctor or our Nurse Practitioner - unfortunately we are unable to guarantee a particular clinician under this system.

GP appointments, for one week ahead, are made available in batches throughout the day from 10:00.

• If you require an appointment on a specific day, please do not call more than 7 days in advance.

Other clinicians’ appointments for 6 weeks ahead, 2 weeks for blood tests, are made available daily.

• Please do not call before 10:00.

Appointments can be made:

• by phoning 01246 412242. Lines are open between 08:00 and 18:00 every weekday
  • If calling between 12:00 and 14:00 you may experience longer waiting times.
• in person at reception - open from 08:00 to 18:30 every weekday
• online booking is not currently available, but we hope to reinstate it soon.

You may receive a text reminder on the working day before your appointment.

• If you have a telephone appointment booked, please await your call. It may be up to two hours before or after the time given.
• The text will contain a link to enable you to cancel the appointment, if necessary. Internet connection required.
  
  • Early cancellation may enable the appointment to be re-allocated.
• To sign up for text reminders, please see below.

You may request, or be offered, a telephone appointment, when appropriate.  To help you prepare for and get the best out of these, please watch this short video here.

A downloadable PDF of this video is available here Telephone Guidance

 Many minor ailments can be treated by a pharmacist and it's often worthwhile seeking their advice first.

The NHS Stay Well website gives excellent advice about accessing the most appropriate service for long term health conditions.

Alternatively the NHS web-site gives excellent advice on the management of acute and chronic illness.

NHS Urgent and emergency care services website may help you decide which service to use for urgent or emergency medical help.

NHS111 Online answers some questions and will tell you what to do next.

If you're not sure what to do NHS 111 can help if you need urgent or emergency medical help.

Please remember that A+E is for genuine emergencies only.

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the Practice. Your GP will only visit you at home 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.

There are a small number of additional GP, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse and Healthcare Assistant appointments available during weekday evenings (until 20:00) and at weekends (08:00 to 12:00)

This service is funded as part of a Government initiative and is in addition to the existing appointments we provide. This is an example of our collaborative working as part of the Primary Care Network. This makes it easier for patients who struggle to get in during the working week to attend for cervical smears, blood tests, medication reviews etc.

The service is being offered on a locality-wide basis and the appointments will be at Stubley Medical Centre in Dronfield.

These appointments will be staffed by locum GPs, Nurses and Healthcare assistants.

Extended Access appointments can be booked by speaking to a member of the Dronfield Medical Practice team.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment. Giving at least 24 hours' notice will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment.

If you repeatedly fail to attend appointments, you may be removed from this practice list and required to find an alternative doctor.

Cancellation can be by one of the following.

• Use the link provided on an Appointment reminder text, if received. Internet connection required.
• Using Patient Access or the NHS App, however appointment booked.
  • For more information on these see here.
• Call 01246 412242 between 08:00 and 18:00, after 11:00 if possible. Lines are quieter in the afternoon after 3pm.
• In person at reception - open from 08:00 to 18:30 every weekday.
• Email: ddicb.dmp@nhs.net 
  • If you send an email cancellation, please state you name, date of birth and appointment details.

To sign up for text reminders, if you have not previously done so, please complete this online form or alternatively contact the surgery:

• visit reception or
• phone on 01246 412242 or
• email ddicb.dmp@nhs.net but only if you have previously provided the Practice with your email address. Please include your full name, date of birth and address in the email alongside your mobile number.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers or email address.