General Practice continues to see an increase in demand following the COVID-19 pandemic and we urge our patients to read the following advice before contacting us.
Please help us to support as many patients as possible by cancelling appointments which are no longer needed. Appointments can be cancelled online, by calling our reception team, or by emailing us at gbs.reception@nhs.net.
Should you have COVID symptoms, please be honest with the reception team regarding this. You will still be offered a face-to-face appointment should you need to be seen, but we will take additional infection control measures to protect staff and other vulnerable adults and children that might be visiting the surgery. As a healthcare facility, our staff are still subject to COVID testing and isolation rules, and a positive case not only puts our patients at risk, but places additional burden on the practice and takes staff away from providing primary services.
Doctors
The surgery runs an appointment system. Appointments may be made:
- Online click here for more information
- In person by calling at the reception desk.
- By telephone. It is possible to make an appointment at either site on either of these numbers.
Unfortunately, except in cases of genuine emergency, you can not expect to be seen by a doctor or a nurse if you do not book an appointment.
Opening times for both surgeries may be viewed here for The Guildhall Surgery or The Barrow Surgery
Clinical Pharmacist
Our Clinical Pharmacist Sarah Cawkwell offers a variety of appointments and specialises in areas such as hypertension. Our reception team are trained to navigate your care to the most appropriate clinician based on the information you provide.
Nurse Practitioners
Our highly trained Nurse Practitioners offer a variety off appointments and are able to independently prescribe. Our reception team are trained to navigate your care to the most appropriate clinician based on the information you provide.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) are a level of practice, rather than a type of practice and are educated to Masters Level or equivalent and have been assessed as competent in practice using their expert clinical knowledge and skills. They have the freedom and authority to practice independently, making autonomous decisions in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients. RCN, 2022. (Maternity care is the only exemption to ANP practice).
Practice Nurses
To book an appointment to see a practice nurse, please telephone the above number. Generally, it is not possible to specify a particular nurse as their availabilities vary and who you see will depend, to some extent, on what service you need. For example, our hypertension clinic is run by only two of our practice nurses. Please indicate to the receptionist what service you need at the time of booking.
Healthcare Assistants
Our health care assistants run a number of different clinics across both surgery sites and assist the GP and Nursing Staff with activities such as dressings and vaccinations.
Extra appointments
Extra GP appointments – The Suffolk GP+ service operates in Ipswich, Felixstowe, Wickham Market, Stowmarket, Leiston and Bury St Edmunds and enables you to book appointments in the evenings and on Saturdays. You can book an appointment with a GP or nurse practitioner in advance through your GP practice or NHS 111. The service will be operating in some locations on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
Urgent GP appointments
When you urgently need a GP appointment, call 111 to access the out of hours GP service
