Routine Appointments

If you need to see a GP or nurse we can offer our patients both face to face and phone appointments.  We are open from 8:00am to 6:30pm every weekday. Our phone lines are open from 8:00am every weekday.

You can make an appointment either by:

 Calling us on the Telephone

 At Reception

 Online

 SystmConnect

You will be asked some questions when you contact the surgery to make an appointment. This is so that we can offer you an appointment with the most appropriate person for your condition. Following this you may be offered a telephone appointment with a doctor, advanced practitioner or practice nurse.

Please consider the following before you make an appointment:

• Do not make an appointment simply for a repeat prescription.
• Do not make an appointment to have forms or certificates completed (ask at reception for details).
• If your appointment is a query about your hospital appointment, ask to speak to the doctor's secretary.
• Doctors have no treatments for colds, sore throats, minor stomach upsets etc. Your local pharmacy can help with these. Any doubts please ask for telephone advice.

Telephone Consultations

If you have a problem you think could be resolved over the phone please let the receptionist know.

Please give clear details to the receptionist of your problem to ensure the telephone is the most appropriate way to deal with it.

We may not be able to deal with some problems over the  phone and you may be asked to attend the practice.

When requesting a telephone consultation, give up to date contact details as we will need to call you back.

Urgent/Same Day Appointments

Along with our routine appointments, each day we have urgent face to face and telephone appointments available. If you feel your problem is more urgent and you cannot wait for a routine appointment, you can call us on 01204 468161 and ask to be seen or contacted that day.

The receptionist will ask you the reason for your appointment. This is so they can get the right information to pass on to the GP who can make a decision.

You can also request an appointment online using our online triage form. Once you have completed this form, it will be triaged and you may be asked to speak to a doctor/nurse. If, after assessment, your problem is not deemed to be urgent, you will be given an appropriate alternative appointment.

Our SystmConnect service is available 07:00 – 18:00 Monday to Satruday

The surgery is now able to offer telephone consultations. Please ask at reception if you feel that your medical condition can be dealt with over the telephone.

If you would like a chaperone present during your consultation, please ask the clinician concerned.

Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day-except in the event of an medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10am Monday to Friday. If the patient is confused or has difficulty with communication, please try to ensure that someone who knows the problem will be there when the doctor calls.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Introduction - What is Enhanced Access?

From 1st October 2022, GP Networks (for Horwich: Kildonan House, Pike View and Bolton Community Practice) will be required to provide increased provision of primary care services (enhanced access arrangements). At Kildonan House additional surgeries will be offered between the hours of 6.30pm and 8.00pm Mondays and Fridays and between 9.00am and 1.00pm on Saturdays.  At other times patients from Kildonan House will be able to make appointments at the other Network Practices (either Pike View 6.30pm and 8.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays or Bolton Community Practice 6.30pm and 8.00pm on Wednesdays and 9.00am and 5.00pm on Saturdays).  If patients wish to be seen at the other Network Practices please contact Kildonan House in the usual manner and we will make an appointment for you. Whilst there is increased provision, there is a limit to the number of appointments on offer by the Network.

 To cancel your appointment:

• use your NHS App or use your NHS account (through the NHS website)
• reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
• phone us on 01204 468161, Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6:30pm

We would ask that you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours in advance so that we can offer the appointment to another patient.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

Calls received at night and at weekends will always be dealt with. In general the deputising services are used for these times.