Frequently asked questions

No, the surgery is closed on bank holidays. If you need help during a closure:

• Your local pharmacy. Pharmacists give confidential advice and can treat common conditions. Find a pharmacy near you.
• NHS 111. Call 111 for urgent medical advice when it’s not life-threatening. Open 24/7. Free from landlines and mobiles.
• Mental health crisis line. Call 0800 145 6485 for the Cheshire and Merseyside crisis line. 24/7 and free.
• A&E or 999. For genuine emergencies: severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that won’t stop, loss of consciousness, or fits that aren’t stopping.

No. Reception stays open right through lunch. You can ring or visit any time we’re open (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm).

Ring reception on 01270 441672 after 10am. Results often come back in the afternoon, though some tests take a week or longer.

For adult patients, results can only be given to the patient themselves, not to spouses, parents, or adult children. This is a confidentiality rule, not a practice quirk.

If you live inside our catchment area, there are three ways to register:

• Fill in the NHS online registration form from any device.
• Come in to reception and we’ll help you complete the form there.
• Download the form, complete it at home, and drop it in.

Full details and the catchment-area boundary are on the Register as a patient page.

The quickest way is our update your details page, where you can send the change through a short online form. Or call reception on 01270 441672 or come in, and we’ll update your record straight away. Keeping these details current matters – it’s how we contact you about appointments, test results, and recalls.

Most adults in England pay a prescription charge. Some items are always free (contraceptives, hospital inpatient prescriptions, and so on), and many people qualify for free prescriptions on age, income, or medical-exemption grounds.

If you have several items each month, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) usually works out cheaper. Current charges and PPC pricing are on our Prescriptions page, which we keep updated when the Department of Health revises the rates.

Your GP will explain why they’re recommending the referral and discuss any choice of provider with you. After that, the hospital or community service contacts you to arrange the appointment.

How that happens varies:

• Sometimes you get a reference number and a password from us, so you can book online or by phone.
• Sometimes the hospital writes to you with a date and asks you to confirm.
• Sometimes you get a letter asking you to phone the hospital to book.

If your treatment means time off work, the specialist should give you a fit note covering that period, so you don’t need to come back to us for one.

The Care Quality Commission. They’re the independent regulator for health and social care in England. Every GP practice has to register with them and meet standards covering safety, effectiveness, compassion, and quality of care.

You can read our most recent CQC inspection report on the CQC website.