FIVE ELMS MEDICAL PRACTICE

How do I... Make An Appointment?

Consultations are normally by appointment. For medical emergencies where emergency consultations are needed, you will be seen by one of the doctors according to their availability. The telephone lines are very busy in the first few hours of the morning so you will find it easier to ring for advance appointments in the afternoon. Please make a separate appointment for each person to be seen. There is a text message reminder service for appointments, you can also cancel your appointments on this service. Please ensure we have your correct mobile telephone no.

How do I... Obtain A Home Visit?

Home visits are made at the discretion of your doctor.

If you need to see the doctor but are not well enough to get to the surgery please telephone on 0208 517 1175 before 10.00am.

Please remember that a doctor can see six patients in the surgery in the same time as one house-call. On occasions the doctor will need equipment only available in the surgery. Please can you make every effort to get to the surgery using help from a relative, neighbour or taxi if necessary.

House calls are only available for patients who are medically unable to come to the surgery. It is for the doctor to decide whether it is appropriate to visit.

If you request a house call, our receptionist are under instruction to obtain sufficient information so that the doctors can judge whether a home visit is necessary and how urgent it is. Please anticipate appropriate questioning.

GP VISIT RECOMMENDED

GP home visits makes clinical sense and is the best way of giving a medical opinion in cases involving:

The terminally ill

The truly bed-bound patient, for whom travel to premises by car would cause deterioration in their medical condition or unacceptable discomfort.

GP VISIT IS NOT USUAL

In most cases, to visit would not be an appropriate use of a GP’s time:
Common symptoms of childhood: fevers, cold, cough earache, headache, diarrhoea /vomiting and most cases of abdominal pain. These patients are usually well enough to travel by car. It is not harmful to take a child with a fever outside. These children may not be fit to travel by public transport or walk, but car transport by relatives or taxi. It is not a doctor’s job to arrange such transport.
Adults with common problems, such as a cough, sore throat, influenza, back pain and abdominal pain are also transportable by car to a doctor’s premises.
Common problems in the elderly, such as poor mobility, joint pain and general malaise, would also best treated by consultation at a doctor’s premises.

How do I... Obtain Test Results?

These may be obtained by ringing 0208 517 1175 between 11.30am and 4.30pm. The receptionist may then inform you of the result, or she may ask you to arrange an appointment with the doctor to discuss your result.

Laboratory Specimens

Specimens are sent to the hospital each weekday Monday to Friday. If you are asked to bring a specimen on those days please ensure that we receive it before 10.00am. Specimens may also be handed in at the Fanshawe Centre between 9.30am - 3.30pm.
Please ensure that your name and date of birth are clearly written on the specimen bottles.