Appointment Information
Non-urgent advice: How do I make an appointment
We are now encouraging our patients to use our new online system to make all appointments by clicking the "Submit an online Request" button on our home page
For Doctors appointments: click on the "Submit an online Request" button then "Medical Request"
For Nurses appointments: Phone us as normal.
If you are unable to submit a request online do not worry! our telephone lines are still open and our reception team will be able to fill out a form on your behalf.
Non-urgent advice: How to cancel an appointment
It is important that you inform our reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient.
There are a few ways you can cancel your appointment:
- From the link at the bottom of your appointment reminder.
- Through your NHS or Patient Access account.
- Speaking to a member of our reception team.
Non-urgent advice: Enhanced Access opening hours
In addition to appointments during the practice’s normal opening hours of Monday to Friday 8am -6.30pm, the Pershore and Upton GP practices are working together to offer a variety of weekday early morning and evening appointments and Saturday appointments. These appointments are pre-bookable by contacting the surgery during our opening times. Appointments are a mix of telephone and face to face appointments with a variety of different clinicians from across our clinical team.
If you need to contact the practice about one of these appointments outside our opening hours (for example to cancel an appointment), you can call 01905 969 864 weekdays 6.30pm-8.00pm and Saturdays 9am-5pm.
The Saturday appointments will rotate around the three practice sites; Saturdays 9am - 5pm appointments at Abbottswood Medical Centre, Pershore Medical Practice or Upton Surgery.
Frequently asked questions about our new appointment booking system:
How do i use the new system?
It is available via the “Submit an Online Request” button on the home page of our website. It is not necessary to register anywhere. Patients who are registered to use the NHS App have access to the new system by clicking the services option at the bottom of the screen, then “Contact your GP about a health problem. Alongside a full range of medical record functionality (blood test results, ordering prescriptions and medical record view etc) in addition to online forms.
Will it be possible to use the new system on my phone?
It can be accessed via the internet browser on your phone, as well as via the NHS App.
Can i still turn up in person to make an appointment?
Yes, on arrival the receptionist will advise you to complete a form, which will then be processed in the same way as those received online. This may involve the need to discuss personal information. Please kindly let our receptionist know if you are not comfortable providing information at the desk. Arriving in person to book will not mean your request is dealt with any sooner.
How do i get the NHS App?
The NHS app is available free via the AppStore or via Google Play or you can login online via this link: www.nhsapp.service.nhs.uk/login
Will i still be able to call and speak to someone?
Yes, our reception team will be able to complete the form with you on the phone or in person if you prefer. However, we anticipate most patients will find the form simple to understand and complete.
How will you respond to my message?
We will respond by your preferred method. There is an option on the form to specify this.
Will there be someone at the surgery able to show me how to use the system?
Yes, Our staff can explain how to access and use the system. However, we would be grateful if you could avoid asking clinical staff to demonstrate the system during an appointment, as this may delay them seeing their next patient. Watch out for additional training sessions too. These are published on our Facebook page, on our website and in the waiting area.
How long will I have to wait for a response?
This will vary depending upon the type of request you submit, however we expect most medical requests to be responded to in 1 working day.
Will this new system be used for ordering repeat prescriptions?
We would prefer patients to continue to use the NHS App to order prescriptions as this avoids any missed items, drug name or dose errors when ordering.
Who else will read the form?
Just as now, when you call a trained receptionist will assist the GP in dealing with online requests. This may involve them organising forms for them to review or contacting patients with a response or to book an appointment. All staff at Abbottswood have a DBS check completed, have signed a confidentiality agreement as well as having undergone confidentiality training.
Will the information I write on the form be secure?
The online form is provided by an NHS accredited supplier (AccuRx) who have undergone a rigorous validation and procurement process at national, regional and local level to ensure it is safe and appropriate.
Will the information be passed onto any other organisation?
Information submitted is not visible to third parties and no information is retained by the system manufacturer. The information supplied is stored within your medical record held at the practice. All data sharing agreements are published within our privacy notice which is available on our website.
What measures have you taken to protect my information under the Data Protection Act and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)?
The Modern General Practice system we use (AccuRx) complies with Information Security Management Standard ISO027001 and they are an NHS accredited software supplier.