Village Voice February/March 2013 | Page 26

advance and nurse appointments usually up to six weeks in advance. With adequate notice we are normally able to book an appointment with your doctor of choice. The Alresford Surgery Newsletter (continued) 1. 2. 3. Mondays and Fridays are our busiest days for telephone calls, especially in the mornings. Unless your call is urgent try phoning at another time. If you are feeling unwell and think you may need to see a doctor within a day or two telephone the surgery as soon as you can. The receptionist may ask you for a brief idea of your problem and this information is very helpful to the doctor or nurse who will phone you back to discuss your symptoms in more detail. At this point the doctor or nurse might give you advice on how best to treat yourself or they may need to book an appointment for you. If there is a doctor you usually see please do mention this. While it is not always possible, we may be able to book you an appointment with your preferred doctor. If you know you are due for a review of your medication or one of the doctors has asked you to return for a review of your condition please try and book this in plenty of time. Doctor appointments can be booked up to one month in 4. When you arrive for your appointment be clear about your concerns at the beginning of the appointment. This helps your doctor decide which problem needs to be dealt with today. If they suggest you return to discuss some problems on a later date it is because they want to be able to give each issue the time it deserves. 5. We want you to remember as much of the advice we give you. Asking questions, taking notes, bringing someone for support can help. 6. If your doctor is running late ... please be patient! GPs deal with thirty to forty patients per day (some of whom may require emergency treatment or be emotionally distressed). They may also have urgent patients added in to an already full surgery or can be called to see them at home if they are extremely unwell. Our reception team will do their best to keep you informed if your doctor is running very late. Alresford Community Choir Concert Saturday, 23rd March St. John’s Church at 7.30pm The choir will be performing two major pieces: Vivaldi’s Gloria Flanders’ & Horovitz’s Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo Details to be announced soon on www.alresfordchoir.com/concert-news/ 24