If you need to make an appointment with one of our GPs, Paramedics, Nurses, Clinical Pharmacists or First Contact Physiotherapists, you can do so either by completing an 'eConsult' (see online appointments below) or by calling the surgery

We have a range of available routine appointments and our Care Navigators who are specially trained to book the most appropriate available appointment for you.

They are requested by the doctors to ask the nature of your appointment in order to establish the most suitable appointment for your needs. Please do not feel offended if you are asked medical details. All our staff are required to adhere to strict confidentiality at all times and our reception staff receive ongoing medical training from the clinicians to enable them to advise you appropriately. This policy allows the surgery to manage the clinicians' valuable consultation time effectively, without compromising patient care.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

To cancel, or amend your appointment, please call us on 01403 253966/01403 246860. Or alternatively, come into reception.

Whenever possible you will be asked to come to the surgery as the facilities are better suited for examination and any subsequent treatment; in addition it is a more efficient use of the doctor's time.

Urgent requests are passed to the duty doctor on call and triaged accordingly. Any visit is arranged subject to the deemed medical need of the patient.

We ask that visits are requested before 10.30am so that the available GPs can allocate the visits for after their morning surgeries. Home visits would normally be carried out between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Local Pharmacy - As qualified healthcare professionals, they 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.

To find out more - Click Here

To find your local pharmacy - Find a pharmacy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Minor Injuries Unit at Horsham Hospital - providing assessment and treatment of a wide range of minor injuries (minor head and eye injuries, broken bones, sprains and strains, minor burns and scalds, bites and stings)

Urgent Treatment Centre at Crawley Hospital - treating most injuries or illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening. For example sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings

Evening and weekend access to GP appointments

GP appointments are now available during the evening and at the weekend for people registered with a GP in Horsham and Mid Sussex.

This means that both routine and urgent appointments are available at a local hub during weekday evenings and on a Saturday and Sunday, to make sure local people get the health help and support they need.

NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG, working in partnership with local patients and clinicians, designed the service. The appointment hubs are run by Alliance for Better Care Ltd, the local GP Federation.

How to book an evening or weekend appointment at a hub:

Appointments can be booked through your own GP practice in the normal way, during normal opening hours.

Clinicians working at the hubs will be able to access your medical records with your agreement. You will be asked before any information is shared and can decline if you wish.

Your help to design this new service

In preparation for this additional, improved access to GP care, we sought the views and experiences of local patients and the public through a survey. The results can be found here:

www.horshamandmidsussexccg.nhs.uk/news/your-views-on-evening-and-weekend-access-to-gp-services/  

If you require medical advice outside of the surgery’s opening hours, please contact 111.

NHS 111 Online

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and they will arrange this for you.

Chaperones

Orchard Surgery is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of every-one is of paramount importance.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member, friend or a trained chaperone from the surgery.

If you wish to have a member of the Practice staff present during your consultation please mention this to our Reception Staff when booking your appointment, or to the doctor at your consultation, and it will be arranged.

Please note that your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.