Same Day Appointments (Acute Illness)
The Pound Hill Medical Group employ an Acute Illness Clinic for patients requesting an emergency same day appointment. The acute illness system is used to determine whether or not a patient requires an emergency appointment on that day.
How does the acute illness system work?
If you call the surgery to request a same day urgent appointment our receptionist(s) will ask for a brief outline of the problem to give to our triage team who will then call you back as soon as possible. This will usually be within 1 hour of your call to the surgery but may be longer depending on how busy the team are.
The triage team may include doctors, specially trained nurses, and physician associates.
The triage team will attempt to call you once. If you do not answer the phone, they will not try again. Please ensure that you are available to take the call.
The triage team will assess your health needs and direct you to the most appropriate health professional such as a doctor, pharmacist, health visitor or even self help. You may not always need to see a doctor.
The advice given is based on procedures drawn up by the doctors who supervise the other members of the triage team.
It may be useful to remember that the triage team are acting as a channel between the patient and the doctor - they are not there as a barrier, so please help them to help you.
Please be considerate to other patients in urgent need of a same day appointment - if you have a routine or ongoing problem, please use the routine appointment system.
Patient Procedure for Same Day Appointments
If you are requesting a same day urgent appointment, please telephone:
- Pound Hill: 01293 540 620
- Copthorne: 01342 774 888
where you will be referred to the Acute Illness Doctor or Nurse
If you want general advice on matters of health, please call NHS 111 or visit 111 online.
Please do not visit the surgery to make a same day urgent/emergency appointment. If you do, your details will be taken and you will be asked to wait at home for a telephone call from the acute illness Doctor/Nurse.
Please note: The triage team will only make ONE attempt to phone you. If there is no reply your details will be filed and no further action will be taken.
We are unable to leave messages on answer phones or voicemail systems for reasons of confidentiality.