Urgent appointments
Following feedback from both patients and staff, Woodley Centre Surgery decided to design a new appointment system. The new system operates mostly through routine/pre-bookable appointments. These routine appointments will be available to pre-book 1-4 days in advance and some available to pre-book 2-4 weeks in advance.
To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):
- please use Anima, Monday to Friday from 7:30am.
- phone us on 0118 969 7307, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm, if you are unable to complete an Anima form yourself.
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Routine appointments
Patient Access
To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:
- use Anima, Monday to Friday from 9:00am.
- phone us on 0118 969 7307, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm if you are unable to complete an Anima form yourself.
- visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Routine appointments are usually booked or arranged in advance and you will be seen by a clinician such as a nurse or healthcare assistant.
- Blood tests
- Cervical screening
- Family planning and sexual health advice
- Vaccinations
- And others…
Acute Care Team
In April 2018 we set up a team of acute care health professionals to provide you with an on-the-day service in order to meet the demand for prompt access to appointments. This is proving very successful in meeting demand.
The team is available Monday to Friday and is made up of:
- GPs
- Paramedic Practitioners
- Pharmacists
It would be very helpful if you could provide a reason for your attendance or a description of your illness in order that the most appropriate clinician is assigned to you quickly and effectively.
To offer this service without a long wait we ask you to only discuss one medical condition during your Acute Care appointment.
Acute Care includes treatment of short-term illnesses, injuries and new problems. If you think your condition can be managed without the need for a face-to-face consultation, a telephone call will be offered and an Acute Care Practitioner will return your call that day (morning or afternoon). If your problem is more chronic you are welcome to request a booked appointment in advance with a GP.
We hope that with this system appointments should be more readily available to patients, and staff will be able to offer more choice to patients. We also have Nurse Practitioners who are able to treat minor illness conditions as well as a pharmacist who can help deal with most medication queries. The receptionist will signpost you to the most appropriate clinician for your health concern.
We will try to book you in with the Doctor of your choice, but this may not be possible and it may be better for you to see a Nurse Practitioner or Practice Nurse. Please be patient with our receptionists, they are not being obstructive.
In an emergency contact us by phoning the usual surgery number; please choose the emergency option.
Your appointment
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery
- on a video call
- by text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- using the GP online system – Anima
- phone us on 0118 969 7307, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6.30pm
- reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
Please try to request a home visit before 10.00am and only if it is impossible for you to travel to the Surgery. This will enable the doctors to plan their day.
The receptionist may ask you to describe your symptoms and the GP will then call you to discuss how best to manage your problem: for some patients our GP paramedic may be the best person to visit you.