Our Appointment System

Doctors’ Consultations

New Concerns (Urgent or Routine)

The most efficient way to book an appointment is by phone or using SystmConnect

This will then be assessed by our clinician. This is so we can ensure that you are booked with the right health care professional as soon as possible.

A GP is now a part of our highly trained reception team, ensuring the correct care is provided for each and every patient and that appointments are made efficiently. The care offered may consist of advice from a GP or an appointment with an appropriate health care professional.

Clinicians, Clinics and Referrals

We have a variety of clinicians at Lime Tree Surgery, besides Doctors, who are able to treat, prescribe and refer patients when necessary. Paramedic and Nurse Practitioners can help with many medical conditions, acute and chronic injuries, injections, minor ailments, child conditions and much more.

We offer a variety of clinics, Monday to Friday, including Family Planning, Microsuction, Diabetes, Smoking, Respiratory (COPD and Asthma), Phlebotomy, NHS Health Checks. Home visits are available for patients who are too ill/frail to attend the Practice. Please remember a Doctor can see four patients in the time it takes to make one house call.

If you need to be seen by a specialist, we are committed to ensuring that whenever possible you receive a timely outpatient appointment with a provider of your choice. Your GP will forward your referral to the Referral Support Team (RST) at NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, who will help you to make an informed choice. In accordance with the NHS Constitution, you have the right to choose when and where you wish to be treated in a timely manner. Following discussion with you, the RST will send your referral on to the hospital or community provider of your choice, who will then contact you to confirm your appointment.

If you have any questions or concerns about your information being passed on to the RST then please speak to a member of the Practice Team. Information will only be shared when you have agreed with your GP that a referral is the best course of action.

Access

Please advise the reception team if you have any mobility difficulties when booking an appointment to attend the surgery.

Durrington Health Centre is on one level with good accessibility for wheelchair users. Findon has some stairs, but we can accommodate less able patients in the ground floor rooms. Goring does have consulting rooms on the ground and first floor, but we do have a lift available. All our sites have a hearing loop to assist those who use hearing aids.

Self Screening Health Kiosk

Lime Tree Surgery has provided a health kiosk at each of our 3 locations. Patients log into the kiosk with their name and date of birth, which are verified against their electronic patient record, and then can complete health checks and assessments to them. Results are coded into their patient record immediately, so are available to clinicians if the patient has a subsequent appointment. No appointment is necessary to use the health kiosks.

How to Cancel an Appointment

Please let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to make your appointment.

If you are cancelling an appointment that is within the next 24 hours please contact reception on 01903 264101 or e-mail sxicb-wsx.cancel.appointment@nhs.net

Please remember that there may be a shortage of appointments and when you fail to attend you have prevented someone else from being seen in your place.

Cancellations notified less than 30 minutes before the appointment time will be recorded as failure to attend (DNA).

Repeated failure to attend booked appointments is a significant waste of NHS resources.

It's also your responsibility to arrive in good time for your appointment. Traffic may be heavy, the car park may be full, Reception may have a queue - you need to factor this in to your travelling time to ensure you have checked in before your appointment is due. If you check in late for your appointment, you have missed it! Time isn't elastic, and accommodating your late arrival means other patients will be delayed because of you.

The NHS is under intense demand and pressure; please help us to help you!