Dr R J B Bowering
Dr M P Varshney
Dr R M Darling
Dr J L Godbehere
Dr JM Jenkins
Dr CM England
Riverbank Medical Centre
Walford Avenue
Worle
Weston-super-Mare
North Somerset
BS22 7YZ
Tel: 01934 521133
WELCOME TO THE PRACTICE
This website describes
the services we offer and gives guidelines on how best to use them.
We hope you find it helpful and informative.
OPENING
HOURS
Monday to Friday
8:15am - 6:30pm
APPOINTMENT SYSTEM
Riverbank Medical Centre aims to offer a GP appointment to everyone requesting an appointment, whether for routine or urgent problems. Please phone at 8.30am for all morning appointments and 12 noon for all afternoon appointments on the day you wish to be seen.
There is a selection of pre-bookable appointments morning and afternoon available up to four weeks in advance for each available GP. These are mainly for working people or those who need to pre-plan their appointments - please do not request these if you are able to be seen at a flexible time.
Practice nurse appointments are all available up to three months in advance.
When requesting an appointment you may be offered several options:
- an appointment with a GP or practice nurse
- a telephone consultation with a GP or practice nurse
- an appointment at a later date with the doctor or nurse of your choice
If you need to see a GP we will aim to offer you an appointment with the GP of your choice but please bear in mind that individual GPs are not available 100% of the time.
We have found that many problems can be dealt with over the phone. This may save you a trip to the surgery. If the GP feels it would be more appropriate to see you, then you will be offered an appointment.
Some problems, such as minor illnesses and blood pressure checks, can be dealt with by our experienced practice nurses and healthcare assistants. This will free up more time for GP appointments to address more difficult problems.
WAITING TIMES
It is our aim that you should spend no longer than 30 minutes in the surgery after the time of your booked appointment. Unfortunately there will be occasions when this time is exceeded as the doctor may have a complicated patient to see, an urgent admission to make or may even have to leave the surgery to attend an emergency case. We would hope you understand that we must afford these patients priority as you would expect it yourself.
When the doctor you are waiting for is running late or called away, you may, if you wish, be asked if you would like to wait, see an alternative doctor or make another appointment.
A receptionist will inform waiting patients of any significant delay.
EMERGENCIES & OUT OF HOURS
If an emergency arises between 8.00am and 6.30pm, please contact the surgery on the usual number. Between the hours of 6.30pm and 8.00am, please contact the out-of-hours on 0845 121 0235. If an appointment is assessed as being required you will need to attend the emergency centre located at Weston General Hospital. This is operated on a strict APPOINTMENT ONLY basis.
IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION DIAL 999.
YOUR SURGERY
The
building is wheelchair accessible, has toilets for the disabled and baby changing
facilities. There is a hearing loop in the waiting areas and a portable unit for the hard of hearing.
There
is limited free parking available (one disabled bay) - please park with consideration
for others, taking note of the markings. CHAPERONE The
practice has a policy of offering a chaperone during all intimate examination.
You have a right to ask for a chaperone at any time if the doctor wishes to examine
you.
Practice News and Notices
Updated January 2010
SWINE 'FLU
We are currently booking patients who are in priority groups for swine flu vaccinations. However please be aware that the supply of vaccines is limited and we may not be able to offer you an appointment at this time. we will be keeping a waiting list and will contact you when we have secured more stock.
SEASONAL 'FLU
We are continuing to offer seasonal 'flu immunisation clinics. Please ring reception to arrange an appointment.
ONLINE REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
You can now request your repeat prescriptions online. simply visit the surgery and ask at reception for more details on how to register. Please note however that this system is intended for non-urgent, 48 hour repeat prescriptions only.
APPOINTMENTS
Extended hours appointments will be available from 6.30 to 8.30pm every Thursday evening from October 2008. These appointments are for pre-booked routine problems and are mainly to accommodate those patients who work and are unable to attend the surgery at any other time. For urgent appointments please contact the surgery in the usual way.
To make the most of your appointment please be guided by our reception staff as to the best practice member to see and the best way to book. If you are able to book in advance we have appointments available each day for each GP which can be pre-booked up to four weeks in advance. If you wish to access a GP on the day then please ring at 8.30am for morning appointments and 12 midday for afternoon appointments. You may also be asked if a face-to-face appointment is required or whether a telephone consultation will suffice. It has been increasingly popular for GPs to deal with queries that do not require an examination over the phone.
If you are already under the care of one particular practitioner it is always best to see them however this is not always possible as we only have one full-time GP in the practice. The practice would like to thank the various advertisers who have helped to produce this Website. However, it must be pointed out that the accuracy of any statements cannot be warranted, nor any products or services advertised, be guaranteed or endorsed. |
