Cherrymead Surgery Appointments
How to get advice and make an appointment
The aim of our system is for patients to get advice and treatment from the most appropriate health professional as quickly as possible.
- Automated Check-In
- Appointments with the doctor
- Appointments with the practice nurse
- Appointments with the midwife
- 6-week postnatal checks
- Baby clinics
- Telephone discussions
- Routine home visits
Automated Check-In
When you arrive at our Loudwater surgery for a booked appointment, you may either check in at reception or use our automated check-in system next to the inner entrance door. The touch-screen instructions are in large print and the system will ask you to enter your gender and date of birth. It will then confirm your appointment and advise you which waiting room to use.The whole process usually takes less than a minute.
Appointments with the doctor
Emergency appointments
When you telephone the surgery you will hear a list of options.
Patients selecting option 1 will be routed to duty extension and may be answered immediately or if already engaged, the following message will play:
"The duty clinician is dealing with another patient at present – you may like to ring NHS direct on 0845 4647. Alternatively leave a message and your call will be returned within 2 hours.
- Q: State your name
- Q: Your daytime contact number"
Routine appointments
If you wish to see a doctor less urgently you can request a routine appointment. We will offer you the next available appointment, which will usually be within 48 hours. If you wish to see a specific doctor, this may take longer, depending on when they are available. GP appointments are available mornings and afternoons, Monday to Friday.
Out of hours appointments
Information about the out of hours service will be included in the answerphone message.
Appointments with the practice nurse
Please call for an appointment with the nurse. If it is regarding dietary or travel advice, a coil fitting or a smear test, please tell the receptionist so that you can be given a longer appointment.
Appointments with the midwife
The midwife is available for ante-natal appointments on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. If it is your first appointment please tell the receptionist, as first appointments need to be longer to give you more information and arrange for tests to be carried out.
6-week postnatal checks
The date of your baby’s birth will sent to us and will be entered on our database. You will be offered 6-week checks for both mother and baby automatically.
Baby clinics
You will be contacted by us to arrange an appointment for your baby’s routine immunisations.
You do not need an appointment to see the Health Visitor
The Walk-In Baby Weigh-In Clinic run by the Health Visitors will be held every Monday from 2-4pm at Hampden Way Children's Centre, Hampden Way, High Wycombe HP13 7TJ, Tel: 07920 537773.
To get to the centre, from the London Road heading towards High Wycombe turn left onto Micklefield Road, then left onto St Hughes Avenue, then left onto Hampden Way.
Telephone discussions
Not all advice needs an appointment, and you may find it quicker to get the information you need by telephone.
If you need to talk to a doctor about a non-urgent matter, for example a question about a prescription or something you forgot to ask at an appointment, you can call and leave your name and contact number. If you leave a message before 3.30pm, a doctor will call you back later that day, though we cannot guarantee a particular time. If you leave your message after 3.30pm the doctor will pick the message up the next day.
You can also leave a message with reception for a practice nurse or a District Nurse to call you.
If they want to contact the Health Visitors please call their direct number, 01628 530846 – if they are not available you can leave a message on their answer machine.
To speak to a community midwife call 01494 425172.
If you have a query about a medical report or referral, please talk to the Practice Secretary on 01494 478640 .
Routine home visits
If you feel you need a home visit, please call the surgery before 1pm. If it is not an emergency, your usual doctor will call you back after morning surgery. If you call after 1pm, the Duty doctor will return your call.
