Please click on a link below to find more information about services within our practice.
Appointments
Cancelling Appointments
Fees
Foreign Travel
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Home Visits
Medical Records
No Smoking Policy
Obtaining Test Results
Opening Times
Patients with physical disabilities
Practice Area
Practice Charter
Practice Complaints Policy
Registering with our Practice
Repeat Prescriptions
Suggestions and Complaints
Surgery Times
Temporary Residents
We serve the northern part of Weymouth . This includes, Lodmoor, Radipole, Southill, Littlemoor, Preston, Broadwey and Upwey. We cannot continue the care of patients who move from the area.
Opening Times
| Monday to Friday | 8.15 am-1.00 pm |
| Lunch | |
| 2.00 pm-6.15 pm |
GP and Practice Nurse surgeries are held mornings and afternoons. Appointments are available throughout the week from 8.30 am until 5.30 pm.
We offer a mix of pre-booked and same day appointments.
Pre-booked appointments are primarily to support routine and on-going healthcare and are also particularly helpful to patients who prefer to plan ahead.
You can book a ‘pre-booked’ appointment on line by selecting our ‘Book an Appointment’ button to the left of this screen.
Same day appointments are primarily for those patients requiring to be seen that day. To obtain a same day appointment please telephone after 8.30 am for a morning appointment and after 2.00 pm for an afternoon appointment.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND, then your appointment time can be offered to someone else. It is unhelpful to other patients to be kept waiting whilst valuable appointments go unused.
Home Visits are provided for patients who are too ill to travel to the surgery. They obviously take up much more of our GPs’ time than surgery appointments. We do ask patients to support us in making the best use of our GPs’ time, by only requesting home visits for those unable to get to the surgery. Often babies and small children can be brought safely to the surgery. If you are unsure, please ask one of our Receptionists.
We require 48 hours (2 working days) to process routine repeat prescriptions. Some prescriptions requests may take longer to process if we need to obtain more information from you. We are unable to take requests by telephone. Please use the repeat slip (from the right hand side of your prescription) or make a written request. Please always remember to indicate where you wish to collect your prescription.
We ask that new patients please bring your medical card to the surgery (if you have one). We encourage all new patients to have a New Patient Health Check, as soon as possible, with our practice nurses. The practice does not discriminate on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation or appearance, disability or medical condition.
If you are staying in our practice area, or passing through, you can be seen by appointment.
Please be sure to obtain results of all tests taken in the practice. Telephone our main site 766472 after 2.30 pm any weekday. The receptionist will confirm results to patients, or indicate if there is a need to speak to a doctor or practice nurse.
Please make appointments for travel immunisations in plenty of time.
Some items are not covered by the NHS and you may be asked to pay a fee. This includes private medical certificates, insurance and employments medicals, fitness to drive a vehicle and fitness to travel. A list of fees is displayed at the reception desk.
Medical records of all our patients are strictly confidential and all practice staff understand confidentiality to be their legal duty. We are a fully computerised practice and all details held on the computer are registered under the Data Protection Act 1998. Medical information may be shared with other clinicians only where it is considered necessary to ensure patients receive the best care possible. You have a right to see your health records, subject to the limitations in the law.
Patients with physical disabilities
For patients with extra access needs, we have good access and toilet facilities.
We have a suggestion box placed in our waiting room. Please do make use of this to pass on any suggestion or idea for improvement. Thank you.
We always try to provide the best services possible, but there may be times when you feel this has not happened. If you have a problem, please consider speaking with a receptionist or the person involved. This is often the best method to help you and to ensure the problem is dealt with straight away. If this does not solve your problem, or does not feel appropriate, and you wish to make a complaint, please telephone or write to our practice manager.
To help you know how your complaint will be dealt with, our complaints procedure is outlined below.
We always try to give you the best services possible, but there may be times when you feel this has not happened. This sheet explains what to do if you think you need to raise a concern or make a complaint about services provided by our surgery.
How do I make a complaint?
If you can, please discuss your concerns with the staff involved. Often they are the best person to help you and can sort out any problems straight away.
If this does not solve the problem, or is inappropriate, please contact our practice manager, the person responsible for co-ordinating our complaints procedure. Either write to her at the surgery address or telephone her if your problem is more urgent.
How do I complain on behalf of someone else?
Please note that we keep strictly to the rules of medical confidentiality. If you are complaining on behalf of someone else, we have to know that you have their permission to do so. A note signed by the person concerned will be needed, unless they are incapable (because of illness) of providing this.
When Should I Complain?
Please make your complaint as soon as possible after the event, either:
- within 6 months of the incident that caused the problem; or
- within 6 months of discovering that you have a problem, provided this is within 12 months of the incident. Complaints made after this time may not be investigated.
What will happen when I complain?
The practice manager will:
- acknowledge receipt of a written complaint within 3 working days
- investigate to find out what happened and what went wrong
- identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesn’t happen again
- make sure you receive an apology where appropriate
- send you a written explanation within 10 working days
- offer you a meeting, if you still feel the matter has not been satisfactorily resolved
If I still feel dissatisfied – what then?
We hope that, if you have a problem, you will use our practice complaints procedure. We believe this will give us the best chance of putting right whatever has gone wrong, create an opportunity to improve our what we do if necessary, and maintain a good working relationship with you.
However, if you feel dissatisfied with the result of our investigations, you have the right to complain to the Primary Care Trust. You should write to The Chief Executive, Dorset Primary Care Trust, Hillfort House, Poundbury Road, Dorchester, DT1 2PN.
For further advice and support, you may also wish to contact:
- PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)
Dorset Primary Care Trust
Hillfort House
Poundbury Road
Dorchester
DT1 2PN
Telephone: 01305 361285
E mail PALS@dorset-pct.nhs.uk.
They provide confidential advice and are designed to resolve concerns quickly.
- ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Service)
2nd Floor, Victoria House
Victoria Street
Taunton, Somerset
TA1 3FA.
Telephone: 0845 120 3782
ICAS offer an advocacy service to patients who have a complaint about their NHS treatment.
The Dorchester Road Surgery will ensure that all patients of their practice:
- receive courteous and confidential attention regardless of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation or appearance, disability or medical condition
- be given clinical care by the most appropriate member of the practice team
- have explained the reason why any treatment is used
- be referred to a hospital consultant or other agency if necessary
- have rapid access to a doctor in case of an emergency
We ask that patients:
- let us know if you do not understand about your treatment or care
- cancel any appointment you cannot keep – don’t waste it
- remember that minor ailments can often be self-treated
- remember that advice can be obtained by your Pharmacist or NHS Direct
- keep home visits and out of hours calls to the strictly necessary
- request repeat prescriptions in good time – this will help delays
- understand that often good advice can be more appropriate treatment than a prescription
- treat all staff and other patients of our surgery as you would expect to be treated by them – with politeness and respect
All our premises are designated as No Smoking Areas.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Dorchester Road Surgery Publication Scheme can be obtained by contacting the Practice Manager.
