To make an appointment, ring Blackburn 915005 during the surgery times or or visit the surgery between 8.00am and 6.30pm. You may request to see any doctor, but we do encourage you to see the same doctor where possible. This doesn't have to be the doctor with whom you are registered.
Normally, you will be offered the earliest appointment with the doctor of your choice. If they are fully booked, we will try to offer you an earlier appointment with another doctor.
From Monday 11th April 2016 we have started offering a 'Telephone consultation' option. If you think your problem can be resolved by telephone, rather that coming into surgery, you can choose to receive a call from either a GP or Nurse.
If you feel you need to be seen urgently, please tell the receptionist and we will arrange to see you that day.
Blackburn with Darwen's Local Primary Care GP Federation GP Extended Access Appointments
The Practice is a member of Blackburn with Darwen’s Local Primary Care GP Federation. The Local Primary Care Federation runs a GP extended access service that provides additional appointments at four neighbourhood spoke surgeries.
Patients can be booked into one of the four spoke surgeries via the Practice Care Navigators accordingly.
Please contact our reception for more information - telephone 01254 915005.
Weekend; Saturday and Sunday morning spoke service
As part of an enhanced care programme, GP appointments are now available on Saturday and Sunday mornings each week at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre.
You can book these appointments through our surgery by phoning 01254 915005.
In addition to GP appointments, they also offer Nurse appointments for asthma and smear tests for patients registered at Little Harwood Health Centre.
Online Services
We are always seeking to improve our services to you!
The Practice currently offers the facility for patients to order Prescriptions online.
Before you can use this service you will need to come to Reception to obtain your login details. You will need to bring a form of photographic identification with you, eg passport, photographic driving licence. Once you have the login details you will be able to register with myGP and process your order.
Access myGP
Cancelling Appointments
If you no longer need the appointment you have made to see the doctor please cancel by phoning Blackburn 915005.
Cancelled appointments can be offered to other patients so please cancel as soon as possible and no later than an hour before you are due.
Many appointments are wasted by non-attenders. This is a frustrating and expensive use of your doctor's time. A record of appointments that are booked but not attended is kept. If you fail to attend twice you may be sent a letter reminding you that our resources such as the doctor's/nurse's time should not be wasted and that another failure to attend could result in you being asked to seek another GP.
Your co-operation is appreciated.
Home Visits
You may request a home visit by phoning 01254 915005 between Monday-Friday no later than 12 noon.
The receptionist will ask for a few details to enable the doctor to assess the urgency of your call. We cannot guarantee which doctor will visit and we are unable to confirm a specific time of visit.
Please note:- home visits are only for those who are too elderly and frail to come to the surgery; or those whose illness is so severe, they cannot leave the house.
Wherever possible, we do ask you to come to the surgery. In the time taken on one home visit the doctor can see four patients at the surgery.
Acute Visiting Service (AVS)
As well as home visits, the AVS work with the practices within Blackburn with Darwen to reduce admissions to hospital, A&E attendances and 999 emergency calls through a rapid response home visiting service to patients who ring their GP practice requesting an urgent home visit for an acute medical problem.
Little Harwood Health Centre do access AVS and as part of this service any home visit requests after 12 noon may be dealt with via the AVS service.
Service description
GPs are able to refer patients to the Acute Visiting Service (AVS) when they believe that delaying an urgent home visit might result in the patient going to A&E, calling 999 or being admitted to hospital.
Through the AVS, a Clinician with the ability to assess and diagnose a patient’s problem visits them at home. It will be up to the patient’s GP practice to make a medical assessment of the patient's suitability for a visit from the AVS. The responsibility for this decision will be the patient’s own GP or Duty GP.
Where the patient does requires Admission to hospital every effort will be made to ensure that this happens as early in the day as possible to increase the likelihood of assessing, treating and discharging on the same day
Your consultation with an NHS Community Pharmacist
Our practice is working closely with local pharmacists to support you with certain minor health conditions.
It may be more appropriate to have your NHS consultation with a pharmacist instead of the GP practice. You can choose a pharmacy convenient to you and we will arrange this for you.
Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can support with a range of health concerns. They will let us know what happened at your consultation, and if you need any follow-up appointments.
Download our Pharmacy First Service poster for more information about which conditions the pharmacy can help with (PDF, 433KB)
What happens next?
We will send your contact details and the information about your condition to the pharmacy you have chosen.
The pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation which will either be by phone or video call, or you can go into the pharmacy. The consultation will be confidential - anything you discuss will be kept private.
If you go into the pharmacy, let the counter staff know you have been sent by your practice and that you have arrived for a consultation with the pharmacist. All pharmacies have a confidential consultation room.
How will the pharmacist help?
Pharmacists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who can give health advice on a range of minor conditions and have trained in medicines for at least five years.
The pharmacist will review your symptoms. If they think you need to see another healthcare professional (like a GP or optician), they will help to arrange this.
The pharmacist can give medical advice and help you know how to manage your condition. If they think you need treatment for your symptoms, they may suggest a medicine that you can buy over the counter (without a prescription).
The pharmacist will record what happened at your consultation, including any medication you were given. They will share this with us to make sure your medical record is updated.
Which pharmacy can I have a consultation with?
You can choose to have your consultation with any available pharmacy providing the service.
How will we use your information?
We will only use your personal information when we need it to manage your care safely.
Where can I find out more?
You can find further information on the following websites:
How your pharmacy can help (www.nhs.uk)
Find a pharmacy
Urgent 2 Week Appointment
Your Urgent 2-week appointment. There is a possibility you may have cancer.
Your GP has referred you to the hospital for an urgent appointment. This may be to see a hospital doctor (specialist) or to have a test.
Most people will not have cancer, but it is important we act quickly as early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes.
Please download this information sheet for further details about these appointments (PDF, 70KB)