All incoming GP appointment requests – whether they are made over the phone or online – are reviewed by our Total Triage team before an appointment is booked.
We offer a mix of face to face and telephone appointments. You will be offered an appointment with the most appropriate clinician from our healthcare team. This could be a GP, Pharmacist, Nurse, Physiotherapist, Healthcare Assistant, Social Prescribing Link Worker, or a local Community Pharmacist.
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. The triage list closes every afternoon once capacity has been reached. For this reason we would suggest that you call us between 8:00-15:00 to ensure your request can be triaged on the same day.
Routine appointments – for example with one of our nurses or healthcare assistants – can 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, but our response time will vary depending on patient demand and capacity at the practice. At our busiest times you may need to wait a day or two until you hear from us – clinically urgent requests will be prioritised.
In a life threatening emergency please call 999, or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department. For advice, call 111.
How you can help us to help you
- Give clear details about your problem so we can understand how urgent it is.
- If your problem is urgent, please be available on the day for a short notice appointment or call.
- Let us know if you or your child won’t be available (e.g., work, school, out of area).
- If you live outside our catchment area, consider registering with a local practice to avoid not being able to make an urgent appointment if offered.
- For urgent home visits, call us early in the day because visits usually happen around lunchtime.
- If your problem is something visible (like a rash, swelling, mole, or eye issue), please send photos with your online request.
- For problems affecting one side (one eye, arm, or leg), send a photo showing both sides for comparison.
- Please try to request routine appointments for specific days or doctors at least 2 weeks in advance.
- Not all problems need a doctor:
- Physiotherapists handle muscle, bone, and joint issues and can refer you for scans or hospital care just like a GP can.
- Practice pharmacists can help with medication questions and some conditions like asthma.
- Local pharmacies can also give advice and treatment for many common conditions including some that might require antibiotics like tonsilitis and urinary tract infections (UTIs).