Changes to Appointments Posted or Updated on 29 Jan 2025

We are excited to update you with some changes that will be taking place with our appointment system from 28th February 2025.  Over the past few years, we have had to keep recruiting doctors to maintain our personal commitment to offer both urgent on the day appointments and routine appointments within 1-2 weeks.

Although we are pleased to be one of the top ten practices in Kent for number of appointments offered, the relentless surge in demand nationally has led to NHS England adopting other ways to manage this.

The first adoption is the Pharmacy First scheme in which certain conditions can now be treated by the Pharmacist without the need for a GP appointment.

Going forward, to avoid duplication of services in the NHS, we will attend to these conditions less to create space for conditions that can only be managed by us.

The second adoption is Total Triage in which all appointment requests are first digitally assessed before an appointment is offered (like A+E or NHS111). 

Why is this necessary?

1. We want to abolish the 8am queues and early morning telephone rush. Queuing and telephoning first thing in the morning will no longer be necessary and if you do, our lovely reception team will simply help you fill out a triage form so all requests are properly assessed. Receptionists will no longer book appointments for you as they did before.
2. Equity of access. We want appointment provision to be fair, based on clinical need, not just demand or being IT savvy. Sick notes should not take precedence over ill patients just because they got there first or are more IT savvy. 
3. Efficiency. Appointments are a precious resource and we want to ensure that our patients get the right type of appointment first time round rather than seeing one Clinician before seeing the right person. 
4. Prompt response on the phones. For those who do need to call the surgery, ultimately, the phones will be answered more quickly (as more people use the triage form).

What do you need to do?

1. Download and familiarise yourself with the NHS app as this has everything you need to request an appointment and even request your repeat prescriptions, check your blood results and more
2. If you are not able to get the app, you can access the appointment request form Online at our website www.templehillsurgerydartford.co.uk
3. If you do not have a smart phone and no other form of digital access, you will not be disadvantaged. Our lovely reception team will be happy to help you fill a form which will then be assessed along with the others. But please note, Receptionists will no longer book appointments for you as they did before.

We look forward to providing you with an improved service.