Thursday 16th May 2024
If you have called us to request a GP appointment in the last few months, you may have noticed that we have been doing things a bit differently. Instead of booking you the next available appointment, our reception team have been taking down the details of your request and letting you know that someone will get back in touch with you later the same day.
All incoming GP appointment requests – whether they are made over the phone or online – are now reviewed by our Total Triage team before an appointment is booked. In order to provide a safe and responsive service we offer a mix of face to face, telephone, and online appointments. You will be offered an appointment with the most appropriate clinician from our healthcare team. This could be a GP, Pharmacist, Nurse, Physiotherapist or Healthcare Assistant.
Total Triage is a relatively new approach which is being recommended by NHS England as a way to improve access to GP services for all patients. We are optimistic that you, our patients, will find it easier access the care you need.
Some of the potential benefits of Total Triage for patients include:
- Improved access to appointments online, reducing the need to phone in and wait in the call queue.
- Improved safety, with the most urgent medical problems dealt with quickly.
- Better continuity of care, allowing you to request a specific GP/other clinician, without having to call on one of their working days to get an appointment with them.
To access our Total Triage service, please contact us via accuRx or give us a call on 020 3930 3533.
Routine appointments, for example with one of our nurses or healthcare assistants, will still be booked directly by our reception team.
How does Total Triage work?
- You submit an appointment request, either over the phone or online
- All requests are added to the daily triage list
- All requests are reviewed by a triaging clinician
- You will then be contacted by phone call or text message to either:
- arrange an appointment at Minet Green
- refer or signpost you to a more appropriate service
- ask for more information
How long will I wait?
In most cases, we will contact you the same day that you submit a request. We aim to respond to all requests within 2 working days, but our response time will vary depending on patient demand and capacity at the practice.
In a life threatening emergency please call 999, or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department.
