Nurse Practitioners will see patients with certain medical conditions.

If previously seen by a GP or Nurse Practitioner with the same problem, you will need to see your GP.

Appointments are available from every 15 minutes on a daily basis, although these times may vary on a day-to-day basis.

Please telephone the appointments line - 244040 - and book with the Nurse Practitioners. If you feel your problem could be answered by the Nurse Practitioner over the telephone, please contact the surgery on 244040 and leave your number with details of your enquiry. The nurse will then call you back at their earliest convenience.

If you need any general information or advice, you could always ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse who has undergone further training to allow him/her to take on a larger role in the diagnosis of some medical conditions and to be able to make decisions about appropriate management.

Why have Nurse Practitioners?
If two Nurse Practitioners are added to the doctors available on any given day, then it will substantially increase your chances of being seen by a medical professional within a time that is acceptable to you.

There is every chance that you might prefer being managed by a nurse if you are reassured that their skills are definitely adequate – not that the doctors of this Practice are ever grumpy or pushed for time!

What conditions will they deal with?
The nurses are not trying to turn themselves into doctors and will bring their own skills to this role. Some of our Nurse Practitioners specialise in a given area.  We certainly think that they will be managing conditions such as tonsillitis, sore throat, earache, cough, conjunctivitis. If they have a concern about any condition, then they will always be supported by the doctors, who will be available to give a second opinion.

Will I be able to choose who I see?
If your problem is difficult, then you will be asked to see the doctor. If, however, you feel that your condition may well be appropriate for the Nurse Practitioner then you will certainly be able to choose the nurse.

How else might I gain from this change?
If a proportion of more straightforward problems can be managed by nurses, then this should free up some time for the doctors to concentrate on more difficult problems and allow them to give more time to consider these.