Patient Access
Routine Appointments
You can request a routine appointment in the next 7 days by:
- Online
via Patient Access - Phone
You can phone the GP surgery Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm - Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Urgent Appointments
You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) by:
- Phone
You can phone the GP surgery Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Your Appointment
However you choose to contact us we may offer you a consultation:
- By phone
- Face-to-face at the surgery
- On a video call
- By text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means the doctor or nurse can help you sooner.
We usually provide a telephone appointment and then offer a face-to-face appointment if needed. However, if you prefer a face-to-face appointment, please tell us.
If you need help with your appointment, please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or another health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you are unable to attend your appointment for any reason, or the health problem for which you booked your appointment has cleared up, please remember to cancel your appointment; you can telephone the practice directly to cancel your appointment.
If you are cancelling an appointment for another day, please cancel your appointment by:
- Online
– Via Patient Access
- Phone
– You can phone the GP surgery Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
– We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
Chaperones
We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required.
This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained receptionist who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time.
You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.
The role of a chaperone:
- Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations.
- Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability.
- Provides emotional comfort and reassurance.
- Assists in the examination.
- Assists with undressing patients, if required.
Home Visit
We have far better facilities for examination and treatment in the surgery compared to home. We look after over 5000 patients who live across Merton and time – a scarce medical resource – spent travelling is very wasteful.
For both these reasons, we expect patients to come to the surgery in almost all cases.
Please do not ask for a visit unless the patient is genuinely too unwell to come to the surgery. If a home visit is unavoidable, please telephone the surgery as early as possible so the doctors can plan their rounds.
Evening and Weekend Appointments
Enhanced Access
Evening and weekend appointments are available at our local Healthcare Hub.
To get an appointment at the hub you will need to book in advance through your GP practice.
Hub Location
Merton Medical Practice, 12 to 17, Abbey Parade, London, SW19 1DG
Appointment Types
- Face to Face with a GP
- Telephone Consultation
- Wound Clinic
- Childhood Immunmisations
- Cervical Screening
When we are closed
NHS 111
If you are very unwell and you cannot wait until the surgery has opened, please call NHS 111 by dialing 111, and they will be able to advise on the care that you need. They can organise emergency services or an ambulance if needed. The NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisers supported by experienced nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. The NHS 111 service is available if you require urgent medical help, but it is not a life-threatening situation.
Late Night Pharmacies
As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.
All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website. Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.