Telephone lines are open from 8am for all appointment requests. All patients requesting an appointment with the doctor are now required to fill in the patient triage form. If you have not filled this in, we will be unable to book an appointment for you with the doctor or other relevant clinician. If the service is unavailable, this means we have reached capacity for the day and you will have to fill this in on the next day we are open from 7:30am.
Patient Triage
If you are unable to fill this in yourself, the receptionist can fill this in on your behalf if you call 01582 399444 on the day at 8am.
This does not apply to Nurse/HCA appointments for long term conditions, annual reviews etc.
Urgent appointments
If you have an urgent medical problem that you feel needs attention on the same day, please fill in the patient triage form as mentioned above.
Telephone consultations
By offering telephone appointments and giving advice we can support patients to be able to speak to or see a doctor on the day that they call.
Routine appointments
To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:
- Please fill in the patient triage form as mentioned above
- Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or SystmOnline to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- on a video call
- by text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system: SystmOnline
- phone us on Castle Medical Practice 01582 399444 or Castle MGP based at Churchfield Medical Centre 01582 399444 during opening times
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
If possible please try to telephone reception before 10am if you require a home visit.
Visits are carried out in the middle of the day between morning and afternoon surgeries.
A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.
House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability. Lack of transport is not a valid reason for requesting a home visit.
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.