Westside Surgery - Doctors surgery opening times and what to do when we are closed

Tell us what you think...

Thank you to all patients who completed our patient survey recently. We are now analysing the results, which will be published in February 2012.

New doctors... we have been joined by two local doctors: Dr Simon Lowe full time and Dr Martyn Walling two days a week.

Telephone booking... following feedback from patients, we've made the automated telephone system easier to use.

Wasted appointments... in January 188 people did not keep their appointment without letting us know. That equals 35 hours of time. If you no longer need your appointment, please let us know so that we can offer it to someone else. Overall in 2011, 493 hours were lost in wasted appointments, the equivalent of 13 weeks' work for one person.

Self check-in... in January 63% of patients used the self checking-in monitor. Thank you! This enables our receptionists to spend more time on complex issues and answering the telephone. If you're not sure how to use the self check-in monitor, please ask one of the receptionists who will be pleased to help. The monitor will now display a message saying how many patients are still to be seen before you.

New out of hours number... if you need urgent medical care or advice when we're closed, dial 111.

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Diabetes patients miss key tests

More than 1.3 million diabetes patients could be missing out on vital and potentially life-saving health checks, the BBC learns.

US record kidney donor chain ends

The world's largest chain of organ transplants ends in the US after 30 patients received kidneys from living donors.

Government 'not trusted on NHS'

Over two-thirds of people do not trust the government's handling of the NHS, a poll commissioned for BBC Radio 5 live suggests.

Brain damaged girl awarded £7.3m

A girl left severely brain damaged by complications after her premature birth is awarded £7.3m.

'Promising' pancreas cancer drug

Scientists report promising results for an experimental pancreatic cancer drug treatment.

Manager resigns amid staff strike

A manager at Swindon's Great Western Hospital resigns prior to a 24-hour strike by support workers.

PIP implant women meet minister

Women with breast implants which have been linked to a health scare are to meet Scotland's Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon.

Lansley heckled by NHS protesters

David Cameron says there are "myths we need to bust" after Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is heckled by protesters before a meeting on NHS changes.

Doctors warn over alcohol deaths

Failure to reform alcohol laws could lead to 210,000 preventable deaths in England and Wales in the next 20 years, doctors warn.

Mother's tears at death inquiry

The mother of one of five children whose deaths are being investigated by a public inquiry broke down as details of her son's final hours were discussed.

Health Protection Agency

Level 2 cold weather alert 17 February 2012

The Met Office has forecast that in at least the next two to three days there is a 60% chance of temperatures in the North East and North West regions.

Measles outbreak declared on Merseyside

A measles outbreak has been declared on Merseyside. There are 13 confirmed and 16 suspected cases ranging in age from nine months to adults aged in their 20s. Six people, four children and two adults, required treatment in hospital. This compares to just one confirmed case on Merseyside in the first six weeks of 2011 and one in the corresponding period of 2010.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

10 February 2012, 1400hrs. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has this week been alerted by the Spanish public health authorities about a further case of Legionnaires’ Disease in a UK resident who stayed at the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca, as well as two French cases. This brings the total number of UK residents associated with this cluster to 12, with three deaths.

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

Opening Hours

Closed for Training

When We Are Closed

Opening Hours

Our telephones are open from 0800-1830hrs Monday to Friday.

Reception is open during these times:

clockpic

Monday	0800-2000hrs
Tuesday	0800-2000hrs
Wednesday	0800-1830hrs
Thursday	0800-1830hrs
Friday	0800-1830hrs
Saturday	closed
Sunday	closed

We offer doctors' and nurses' appointments throughout the day from 0800hrs.

Reception and the telephones are closed on the third Thursday of each month between 1230-1700hrs for doctor and staff training.

Staff training

We close between 1300-1700hrs on the third Thursday of each month for staff training. Dates for the remainder of 2012:

16 February

15 March

19 April

17 May

21 June

19 July

16 August

20 September

18 October

15 November

No training in December 2012

We will re-open at 1700hrs on these days.

When We Are Closed

red_clock At evenings and weekends the emergency doctor service should be contacted in the event of a problem that cannot safely wait until the surgery reopens.

If you need urgent medical care or advice when we're closed, call NHS Lincolnshire's out of hours service on 111. You may be offered telephone advice, an appointment at the GP Primary Care Centre at Pilgrim Hospital or a home visit. Do not attend the centre without calling first.

Please use the out of hours service for genuinely urgent problems only - don’t delay the NHS's ability to respond quickly to life-threatening events.

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and/or shortness of breath are an emergency.

NHS Direct

Alternatively, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. For people with hearing or speech difficulties, textphone NHS Direct on 0845 606 4647. NHS Direct is available 24 hours a day. Your needs will be assessed and advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.

Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and/or shortness of breath are an emergency.

Further Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services

Health Charities

BBC Health

Health Protection Agency

Opening Hours

We offer doctors' and nurses' appointments throughout the day from 0800hrs. Reception and the telephones are closed on the third Thursday of each month between 1230-1700hrs for doctor and staff training.

Staff training

When We Are Closed

NHS Direct

Further Information

We offer doctors' and nurses' appointments throughout the day from 0800hrs.

Reception and the telephones are closed on the third Thursday of each month between 1230-1700hrs for doctor and staff training.