Appointments and Access to care

Patients are registered with the Practice rather than an individual doctor. You may consult with any of the doctors by making a routine appointment.

Crossgar Surgery provides a range of options to help you to access care that is appropriate to your needs. We operate an 'Advanced Access' system whereby we endeavour to ensure that patients can access care as early as possible. The traditional model for access to care has only been through face-to-face consultations with a GP however at Crossgar Surgery we are keen to develop a range of options to allow you to access care that is both appropriate and timely and that ensures efficient use of available resource. You will understand that demand changes from day-to-day and week-to-week and to meet and manage that demand requires a flexible and responsive approach.

Booked Appointments

Booked appointments are available throughout the week with both male and female GPs.

Cancelling appointments

If an appointment cannot be kept, please notify the surgery at the earliest opportunity.

To make an appointment

Call in or telephone 028 44830230 (option 3) during opening hours. Children under 14 should always be accompanied by an adult. Please book a separate appointment for each member of the family who is coming. Patients can pre-book some GP appointments by using our online service accessed via the EMIS Access service. Those interested in this facility need to be registered for the service – to do this please ask at reception for a registration link.

Self-Check-in

The surgery now has a self-check-in kiosk just to the right of the reception. When attending for your appointment, please enter your details on the screen, press OK and take a seat.

Emergencies

If you need help in emergency during surgery hours then either phone 999 to request an ambulance or 028 44830230 and select option 1.

We hope that this explanation clarifies any uncertainty about the system in operation at Crossgar Surgery. We also hope that patients understand the complexity of managing shifting demand and that they will help us to meet their needs by using our services appropriately.

Telephone Appointments

We are increasingly finding that many queries can be addressed adequately and appropriately over the phone.

If you feel that your query is better suited to a phone appointment please book accordingly.

Home Visits

Requests for home visits should be made only if the patient is unfit to attend the surgery.

Home visits are time-consuming and whilst we acknowledge that at times they are unavoidable we would ask you to request them only where all other options are exhausted.

If you feel that you need a home visit then please try to make your request before 11am except when there is an emergency.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.

Treatment Room

Referral to the treatment room for a blood test, ear syringing, blood pressure check or for a dressing is usually by GP. The treatment room is situated at Crossgar Clinic on John Street.

Opening times for the treatment room are Monday – Friday

• From 09:00 - 11:15  for blood and urine tests and blood pressure checks. Please phone (028 44830707) to book an appointment
• From 11:30 - 12:30 Please phone (028 44830707) to book an appointment for ear-syringing and dressings

A request slip from the doctor including sticky labels with your details on should be presented to the treatment room nurse for all requests.