When and how can you contact your General Practice

Whether you make your request by phone, on-line or visiting our Practice, you may be asked to provide some details so that we can assess what is best for you based on your clinical need. The practice team will consider your request for an appointment or medical advice and tell you within one working day what will happen next.

Padgate Medical Centre is open from 8.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Throughout these hours you, or your carer on your behalf, can:

• Submit a non urgent SystemConnect request using the link above or via the NHS App to which you will receive a response within one working day which will inform you of what happens next. This could be:
  • An appointment that day or a subsequent day
  • A phone call that day or subsequent day
  • A text message responding to your query
  • Advice to go to a Pharmacy or another NHS Service

• Visit the practice
• Call them
• Go online using the practice’s website or the NHS App.

You can choose the way you contact your practice based on what is best for you.

Who might help you?

You might be offered a face-to-face appointment or a phone call with a GP or other member of the practice staff, like a nurse or pharmacist.

If you have a carer, they can speak for you with your consent.

You can ask to see a preferred healthcare professional, the practice will try to meet your request, although you might have to wait longer for that person to be available.

It can be helpful to see the same healthcare professional, particularly if you have a long-term health condition.

When Padgate Medical Centre is closed

If you need urgent help for your physical or mental health when the Practice is closed, and you cannot wait until they open, go online to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. They will tell you what to do next.

What if it’s an emergency?

If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, go straight to A&E (Accident and Emergency) or call 999.

Our GPs clinically triage all of the information on your SystmConnect form and decide on the best outcome for you.

This could be:-

• An appointment with a clinician at the Surgery in person or over the telephone
• At the Minor Ailments Clinic at:
  • Birchwood Medical Centre, 15 Benson Road, Warrington WA3 7PJ.
• An Extended Access appointment at Padgate Medical Centre between 18.30am and 20.00pm on a Wednesday
• Directed to the ‘Pharm refer’ scheme at your Local pharmacy.

For most minor illnesses the Pharmacist can give you the best advice or treatment needed including Antibiotics, if appropriate. You can also self -refer to the pharmacy for this.

• A Physiotherapy, Mental Health, Child Services, Elderly Care, Social prescriber and a Health and Wellbeing Coach where appropriate, with healthcare professionals that work alongside us here at the Surgery.
• A prescription.
• Self-care.