Appointments – Request/Cancel
Routine appointments
Routine Appointments are for patients who are assessed/triaged as unwell where a medical review or intervention or onward referral is required to improve their health outcome but this is not urgent.
These appointments are usually offered within 2 weeks (This might be longer in case of exceptional circumstances).
Chaperones
A patient has a right to request that a chaperone is present during any type of examination. A Doctor may also feel that the use of a chaperone is appropriate. The surgery has trained members of staff to perform this role in accordance with best practice guidelines. Please advise staff at time of booking if a chaperone will be required. Otherwise, they can still be provided on the day.
If you have any questions or concerns about any examinations or chaperoning, please do not hesitate to ask.
Urgent Appointments
Urgent appointments are for patients who are assessed/triaged as unwell where an urgent medical intervention or onward referral is required to improve their health outcome.
These appointments are usually offered within 24 – 48 hours and will be face to face, telephone or video depending on the individual patients clinical need.
Cancelling your appointment
If you are unable to keep an appointment and need to cancel it is important that you, please let us know as soon as possible so that the appointment can be offered to someone else. You can either telephone us on 01442 254 366 or use our online form below or reply as ‘CANCEL’ to the appointment text reminder sent to you on your mobile phone, if you received one.
Cancellation notice period required:
| On the day of appointment | Cancel Not later than |
| Appointments before 12.00 noon | 18.00 the day before |
| Appointments after 12.00 noon | 3hrs before appointment |
If you do not give the above period of notice, then the appointment will be marked as a “Did not attend” (DNA). Any patient who DNAs 3 appointments within a 12-month period will be removed from the practice and will need to register elsewhere.
Each missed GP appointment costs the NHS £35, negatively impacts health outcomes for the patient and creates longer wait times for other patients who need an appointment to be seen.
Consult with a Doctor online
There are two types of online consultations that you can submit:
Please remember that we can only accept one issue per online consultation per condition/appointment. The form asks questions relating to symptoms of conditions and highlights any urgency based on the answers that you have given.
- Clinical – If you feel unwell and require on the day medical advice or an appointment. Or if you are requesting a referral.
- Administrative – to enquire about Test Results, Repeat Prescription requests, Med 3/Sick notes and non urgent appointment queries or Access to Health Records.
If you are unable to use online services or fall within our vulnerable patient group then please call the surgery who will be able to support you with completing your online consultation. Please call reception: 01442254366 , this option is only available during opening hours which may delay your request.
All patients who contact us and have symptoms or are unwell and are assessed/triaged as needing an appointment will be offered an appropriate appointment.
Make an Online Consultation Request
We will try to accommodate your choice of location when offering face to face appointments but this is based on clinical need and relevant clinician availability so may not always be possible.
Extended Access
Dacorum Extended Access offers face to face appointments in addition to those available at the Practice. This GP service operates throughout the weekdays from 08:30 until 22:00, Saturdays from 9:00-13.00 and 14:00-18:00 and Sundays from 09:00 -13:00. It is an appointments based primary care service. The slots can be booked via the Practice reception team.
It is staffed by local GPs at Highfield Surgery, West Herts Medical Centre, The Nap in Kings Langley and The New Surgery in Tring. The GPs have full access to your medical notes and will update them appropriately following your consultation.
An early morning phlebotomy clinic also operates at The Nap every Wednesday from 07:00 – 08:00 on Wednesday mornings for pre-booked blood tests.
If you need to cancel an Extended Access appointment, please call the surgery in hours (08:00 to 18:30 Mon to Fri) or out of hours, the cancellation number for this service is: 07864 652 026.
Home Visits
You may request a home visit if you are medically housebound. Home visits should be requested by calling the surgery before 10:30 if possible.
Your request will be assessed by the duty doctor who will decide how urgently a visit is needed so please provide enough detail for the doctor to assess your request properly.
Most visits take place between 11:30 and 14:30 and are shared between available Doctors and/or Physicians Associate based on clinical need. Your visit may not be on the day requested.
Other Practice Information
General Practice Transparency Notice
