• Understand as much about your health and illnesses as you can - ask the doctor or nurse about anything you don't understand and use the links to information in our Links page above
  

• Know the generic name and the dose of the medications you are taking. Trade names i.e. the names various manufacturers call the drug, can vary a lot as can the appearance of the tablets so it is best to be familiar with the generic name. The generic name is found in smaller print on the medicine packaging while the trade name is typically in larger print (unfortunately!). An example is the generic drug amoxicillin -a common antibiotic- of which examples of trade names include clonamox, pinamox, geramox, amoxil etc. 
  

• Read the 'patient information leaflet' (the 'PIL') that the manufacturer supplies in your drug packaging before you start any new drug, and at regular intervals if you are on long term medication. If the information sheet is not with your drug when you collect it from the chemist make sure to ask the chemist for it. Alternatively you can look it up online - see the links to Drug Information on our Links page above. It is very important that you are familiar with the possible side effects of your drugs, and how they might interact with other drugs. All this information and more is in the PIL. 
  

• Please ensure that you ring the clinic for test results and to check if further tests are needed - do not assume that if you do not hear from us that all is well. Some conditions will need further investigations even if test results are normal. 
  

• Please give us 2 days notice when you need a prescription repeated and hand in, or phone in a list of your drugs, including the dose you are taking, to the receptionist - or if you prefer you can email us your list (see our clinic email under 'Contact Us'). The doctor needs to examine your file each time a prescription is issued in case additional tests or changes are needed or a check up is due so this takes time.  

• The secretary will ask general questions to try to determine if you need an urgent or routine appointment. You do not need to give details of your medical problem to the secretary and you can ask to speak to the nurse or doctor directly if you are worried about whether a problem is urgent or not. If you are worried about an illness and need an urgent appointment we will fit you in.

• We work an appointments system but please be patient when there are delays. We cannot predict when a particular patient will need extra time or when an urgent illness has to be fitted in between appointments. We always do our best to keep delays to a minimum. If we can do anything to make your wait more comfortable just ask. 
  

• Please use the hand gel provided on arrival and departure which is inside the front door of the clinic, and also available in other areas of the clinic. If you are coughing or sneezing please use a large tissue to cover your mouth and nose -we can provide tissues for you.
  

• A free room is normally available for people who suspect they may have a contagious infection or who feel too unwell to sit in a waiting room, or who need to avoid contracting infections from others, or who need privacy for any reason - please ask on arrival. 

• You are welcome to bring a companion with you for any of your consultation. Also, if you would be more comfortable having a chaperone present during intimate medical examinations please let us know as this can be arranged. 

• Feedback: We welcome feedback both in the form of positive and negative feedback from patients as this helps us to improve our services and can help to avoid mishaps in the future. You can send us feedback in person or by letter or by email. We will read anonymous feedback also. 

• Complaints and Suggestions: We welcome suggestions and complaints as we would prefer to address and solve problems and prevent them from happening in future so please let us know if you are not happy with a service or an experience or if you have suggestions for us. You can address a complaint or suggestions to the Practice Manager or the doctor. The clinic will always respond to complaints and let you know of any necessary corrections or improvements or changes that are made and confirm that you are happy with how your complaint was managed and resolved.