Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can book blood tests at the practice through our digital front door Patient Appointment Booker Danebridge Medical Practice.  For information, we only have one Phlebotomist working at the practice for half a day, five days a week, so numbers for these appointments are limited.   

Booking links for these appointments will be active for 14 days; the number of appointments for different staff changes day by day, and you may find times when there is no availability. We encourage you to try again on a different day and you will still be able to use your existing booking link to do this, as long as it is within the 14 days.  We monitor appointment availability, but if you keep finding no available appointments to book, please telephone the practice.

If you cannot book a suitable/convenient appointment with the practice Phlebotomist, follow this link to book a blood test appointment at the Victoria Infirmary, Northwich.   The Victoria Infirmary has multiple Phlebotomists working daily, so more appointments are available. They also have appointments in the evenings and at weekends.

Blood Tests can only be booked when you have already been given the request form, either from the practice or another medical team. The form cannot be requested on the day of the appointment. Remember, if you have booked a blood test at the Infirmary, you cannot attend without a pre-arranged blood test form.

We hope that this will make booking appointments easier and free up the phone lines and reception team for patient support that cannot happen via the website.

If your test results show that you need more tests or treatment we will contact you.

Once a clinician has reviewed your test results you can view them via the NHS App

If you cannot use the NHS App you may telephone, or call at the surgery for the results of any tests carried out. You can ring 01606 544544 option 3. To avoid busy times, please enquire between 3.00pm – 5.00pm.

Please allow at least 5 working days for all results to be returned to us and be commented upon by your Doctor. Please be aware that some results can however take up to 2 weeks to be processed.

In the interests of confidentiality, your results will only be given to you or, if under 16 years the parent/guardian. So please DO NOT ask somebody else to call on your behalf to obtain your test results.

If you take medication regularly for a well controlled condition and have a monthly repeat prescription, you may have your prescription issued without seeing the doctor, within certain time limits.

Please note that it takes 3 working days to process the prescription and send to your usual pharmacy, the pharmacy will also require time to dispense the medication

How do I order a repeat prescription?

• Online
  You can order your repeat medication online by registering with the NHS App  and using the online prescription service.
• In Person
  Attached to your paper prescription is a list of your usual medication. When you need a further prescription this acts as your re-order form which should be posted in our prescription letterbox.
• Email
  We accept prescription requests via email direct to:  danebridgeprescriptions@nhs.net
  Please can you add your name, DOB, address, contact number and the items required. It will take 3 working days to process your request.
• Letter
  If you post us your re-order form it will be ready for collection from the surgery after 3 working days. If you require it to be returned to you, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
• WE DO NOT ACCEPT REQUESTS FOR REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS OVER THE PHONE due to the fact that errors can be made this way.

You can check on your NHS App account to see the status of your prescription

You can call your nominated pharmacy and chase your prescription with them. Please only call us if the pharmacist has said there is an issue with your prescription needing GP action

If you live within our practice boundary you will need to complete a registration form to register at the surgery.

Here is our Online Registration form to complete and for more information

QR Code to help you register

Initially we will ask you to complete a health questionnaire as it is important that we have as much information as possible on your past medical history. We will, of course, be asking the appropriate authority to send your medical records once they have been retrieved from your previous General Practitioner, but this will take at least 2-6 weeks. You will be offered a new patient health check with the practice nurse.

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay). A fit note will help you to return to wok sooner by providing information about your illness or injury.

You can request your Fit Note 24 hours a day via our digital front door admin section Patient Appointment Booker Danebridge Medical Practice, the form will ask you for details of why you need a Fit note as well as the time you need it to start and finish. If you have no had a Fit Note previously then you will need to speak to a member of the clinical team before one can be written, request this by completing a Patch.

The reception staff are members of the practice team and it has been agreed they should ask patients ‘why they need to be seen’. Reception staff are trained to ask certain questions in order to ensure that you receive the most appropriate medical care from the most appropriate health professional at the most appropriate time.

The receptionists are asked to collect brief information from patients to help:

• doctors prioritise house visits and phone calls
• ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care
• direct patients to see the nurse or other health professionals rather than a doctor where appropriate.

Reception staff, like all members of the team, are bound by confidentiality rules:

• Any information given by you is treated strictly confidentially.
• The practice would take any breach of confidentiality very seriously and deal with it accordingly.
• You can ask to speak to the receptionist in private, away from the reception desk.
• However, if you feel your issue is very private and do not wish to say what this is, then this will be respected.

If you find out you are pregnant, you will need to register with the midwife. Speak to our receptionists who can help with this.

You will not need to physically see a midwife until you are approximately 16 weeks pregnant, but the midwife will keep in touch with you in the interim.https://blinxscheduler.com/patient-self-booking/

We are aware that not everyone is able to use the Internet if you call the practice our Reception Team will complete the same health form on your behalf during your telephone call. Once completed the medical request will be actioned in the same way as if you completed it yourself online.

All appointment requests will be assessed by our duty team and appointments will be allocated according to medical need.

You may be asked to attend an appointment on the same day either face-to-face or in a telephone consultation. You may also be offered a future appointment. You may be signposted to another clinician in the practice or provider who is best placed to support you with your medical issue.