Appointments
Important changes to our appointment system
From 04.11.2024 there’s a new way to contact the practice.
In addition to ringing us or coming to the practice, you will also be able contact the practice for assistance via a new online form on our practice website at: www.castlemeadowssurgery.nhs.uk
The form which is easy to access and complete can be used for the following:
- to request an appointment
- to make an admin request (for example test results, repeat prescriptions or a fit (sick) note).
You will be guided through a series of questions about your symptoms or help needed, which once submitted will be reviewed by dedicated members of the practice who will respond in a timely manner.
Forms will be reviewed throughout the day, if the doctor feels it is necessary to contact you as a priority this will be the same day.
If you have submitted a form please be aware we will be contacting you. If we phone please do try to answer our call when as this will save our team needing to make repeated call backs and will help our system run more efficiently.
If you are unable to use or access the online form then please contact the practice in the usual way and we will complete the request for you, which will be added to the triage list to be reviewed by a trained member of the practice team.
How To Request An Appointment
- Booking an appointment online via Patient Access. If you would like to register for this free service please complete our Register for Online Services form.
- Calling the practice on 01384 234 737
- Completing the Make an Appointment form below
Waiting Times
We run a 10 minute appointment system in the practice. You will be given a time at which you should be seen, however due to circumstances beyond our control you may not be seen at that time.
An explanation will be given if the wait is longer than 20 minutes.
Urgent Appointments
If you feel you require an urgent appointment please telephone the practice on 01384 234 737 from 8.00am and our staff will accommodate you where possible. Urgent cases will be seen that day, after being triaged by our advanced nurse practitioners.
Routine Appointments
Routine appointments can be booked up to 6 weeks in advance. You can request an appointment online via Patient Access or by completing the Make an Appointment form below.
Patients Aged 75 and Over
Patients aged 75 and over will, wherever possible be given a same day appointment with an appropriate clinician.
The appointment may, after consultation with a clinician take place in the patient’s home or residence if the medical condition is considered inappropriate for the patient to attend the practice. This is reserved for housebound and terminally ill patients.
Patients 75 years and over who have not had a consultation within the last twelve months may request a health check with one of our practice team.
Patients Not Seen Within Three Years
Patients aged 16-74 who have not been seen within the last three years will be offered an appointment for review of their overall health.
Out of Hours
Between 6:30pm and 8am, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays your call will be redirected to the NHS 111 service.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and/or shortness of breath constitute as an emergency.
GP Extended Hours
Extended hours are available in our local area which gives you the opportunity to see a GP or a nurse out of our core hours. There will be appointments available at:
- The Ridgeway Surgery
- Northway Medical Practice
- Woodsetton Medical Centre
- Coseley Medical Centre
- Lower Gornal Medical Practice
- Castle Meadows Surgery
The appointments will rotate around these practices during the week.
The extended hours appointment times are Monday to Friday 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Saturday 9:00am -12:00pm and Sunday 9:00am – 11:00am.
To arrange an appointment call the surgery.
To cancel your extended hours appointment outside normal working hours, please phone 07597 974158. Please note, this phone number will only be used during extended hours for the sole purpose of cancelling extended hours appointments.
Home Visits
Patients are requested, where possible, to telephone before 11am if a home visit is required that day.
We would request that, apart from the genuinely housebound, all other patients attend the surgery rather than request a home visit because of the extra time home visiting takes. On average four to five patients can be seen in surgery in the time it takes to do a single house call.
In addition, the care that can be offered due to the lack of adequate lighting, examination facilities and equipment means that you may not receive as good a service as the doctor may be able to offer if you came to the surgery.
Please note that the doctor may telephone you rather than visit you if this is medically appropriate. Ultimately it is the doctors right to decide whether or not a visit is appropriate for a particular set of circumstances.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to keep an appointment please call us as soon as possible, this may enable someone else to be seen.
You can complete our online form to advise us of the cancellation. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays).
You can also text to cancel your appointment.
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
- Tell us if you need a chaperone
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs
Please be advised forms are not monitored out of practice hours and should not be used for urgent requests.
Complete your request online
Text Reminder Service
We send out confirmation and reminders about your appointments.
Travel vaccinations
If you're planning to travel outside the UK you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.