About Your Responsibilities
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By leading a healthy lifestyle and therefore minimising health risks, you will be helping not only yourself but also your doctor.
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Please try to attend appointments on time. If you have to change or cancel an appointment, tell the practice as soon as possible.
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Please be patient if your appointment is delayed. Delays are often caused by patients needing emergency attention.
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Requests for repeat prescriptions should be made to reception, in plenty of time to avoid unnecessary delay in treatment.
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Prepare for your doctor, talk to him and give him as much information as possible. It might help to make a note of symptoms before the consultations so you don't forget anything.
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Whilst privacy is at all times respected, reception staff may need further details about a visit or appointment to help doctors assess the degree of urgency.
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Be sure to notify your doctor promptly of any change of address or family details such as marriage.
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Home visits should be regarded as a service for the genuinely housebound or seriously ill. Requests for home visits should be made before 11.00am wherever possible.
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If you are in any doubt about the seriousness of an illness, or whether you or a member of your family need a home visit, telephone your doctor for advice.
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Similarly night visits should be requested only when felt to be absolutely necessary.
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Usually the "on-call" doctor has to be on duty again the next day.
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Patients should respect the need for doctors to have enough rest to be fit and alert for the following day's work.