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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Please see all our FAQs listed by topic, in the sections below. Click on a topic to expand the content...
You can request an appointment in the following ways:
Online: Through the NHS App or our online consultation system, Accurx Patient Triage.
Phone: Call the practice on 01252 344868 during our opening hours of 8am-6.30pm.
In person: Visit reception to request help if you're unable to use online services.
Accurx Patient Triage is our secure online portal that allows you to submit medical or administrative queries directly to our clinical team. It saves you from waiting in a phone queue and ensures your request is seen by the most appropriate person. Read more here.
Routine appointments are for ongoing issues or non-urgent reviews. Urgent appointments are for conditions that cannot wait 24 hours e.g., acute infections or sudden severe pain.
Yes, You can request a specific clinician when booking a routine appointment. For urgent, "same-day" appointments, you will be allocated to the most appropriate clinician.
Home visits are strictly for patients who are housebound. If you require a home visit, please call us or use our online consultation system, Accurx Patient Triage
Please call us immediately. If you are more than 10 minutes late, the clinician may not be able to see you and you will be asked to rebook to avoid delaying other patients.
You can cancel via the link in your SMS reminder, through the NHS App or by calling us. Please give at least 24 hours' notice.
If you require medical assistance that cannot wait until we reopen:
• Call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk for non-life-threatening advice.
• Visit a Pharmacy for minor ailments.
• Call 999 or go to A&E for life-threatening emergencies.
The most efficient way is via the NHS App.
Alternatively, you can email us: medication.thecambridge@nhs.net or complete the online medication request form.
Please note that we do not accept medication requests over the phone for safety reasons.
Please allow 3-5 working days for your request to be processed, plus additional time for your chosen pharmacy to dispense it.
Requests for prescriptions can be made 10 days before your medication runs out.
Electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD) is the paperless version of repeat dispensing. It allows regular medications to be issued more efficiently and reduces the need to order every month. For more information see: Repeat prescriptions and electronic repeat dispensing (eRD).
This is a periodic safety check, at least once a year to ensure your medicines are still effective and necessary. You must have this review to continue receiving your repeat medication.
Medication shortages are managed nationally. If your pharmacy cannot fulfil your prescription, then you may wish to obtain your medication from an alternative pharmacy without the need to change the nomination. Please contact us or your pharmacy for advice.
We can generally provide a maximum of 3 months of medication for travel, provided the medication is stable.
Some medications e.g., those for ADHD or Rheumatoid Arthritis require a Shared Care Agreement. We cannot prescribe these until the specialist has stabilised your dose and we have formally accepted the agreement to monitor your health.
If you see a private consultant, they must provide your initial prescription. We can only convert this to an NHS prescription if the medication is one a GP would normally prescribe under NHS rules, and is on our local "Approved Formulary."
We welcome new patients living within our catchment area. You can register online or visit our reception to pick up a paper registration form if you are unable to access online services.
You can register online or visit our reception to pick up a paper registration form if you are unable to access online services.
Yes, if you are staying in the area for more than 24 hours but less than 3 months, we can treat you for immediate clinical needs.
Yes. Anyone in England can register and consult with a GP for free. Immigration status does not affect your right to primary care.
Under NHS regulations, if you are moving abroad for more than 3 months, you are no longer entitled to NHS primary care. We are required to de-register you. You should register with a local provider in your destination country.
We encourage all new patients, especially those with chronic conditions, to book a "New Patient Health check" with our healthcare assistants to update your history.
This happens automatically via the GP2GP electronic system once your registration is processed.
Every patient is assigned a lead GP who has overall responsibility for their care. This doesn’t mean you can only see that doctor, but they oversee your long-term management.
Please inform us immediately if you change your name, address or telephone number.
You can do this via our online update details form, via email: thecambridge.practice@nhs.net, via Accurx Patient Triage or by completing a form at reception.
We only remove patients in extreme circumstances such as moving out of the area or if a patient is violent or abusive towards staff.
Once a doctor has reviewed your test results, you can view them on the NHS App or you can contact us via Accurx Patient Triage or calling us after 2pm.
We usually only contact patients if a result is "abnormal" or requires action. If the result is "normal," we may not call you. No news is generally good news!
Surprisingly, your blood group is not routinely stored in your GP record. This is only tested during pregnancy or by the Blood Donation service. If you need to know your blood group, the best way is to become a blood donor!
Usually, yes. However, the specialist who ordered the tests is responsible for reviewing and acting upon the results, not your GP.
Hospital waiting times vary by department. Once we send the referral, the process is managed by the hospital. You can track your referral via the NHS MyPlannedCare website.
Once the GP sends the referral, it is managed by the hospital. You can track this via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) using your reference number.
This is an urgent referral used when a GP suspects symptoms could be serious (including cancer). It does not mean you have cancer, but it ensures you are seen quickly to rule it out.
Patients have a legal right to choose which hospital/consultant they are referred to for most physical and mental health conditions.
If your condition has significantly worsened while on a hospital waiting list, your GP can send an "expedite" letter.
Please note: This does not guarantee you will be seen sooner; it simply informs the consultant of your updated symptoms so they can re-triage your case.
The NHS provides a full programme of vaccines for babies, children, teenagers, adults, pregnant women and people at higher risk. This includes MMRV, HPV, MenB, MenACWY, seasonal flu, travel vaccines and more as part of the national schedule.
The vaccination schedule starts at 8 weeks, followed by 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and 1 year. Children born on or after 1st July 2024 will also be invited at 18 months old for 6in1 booster dose and MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella).
Yes. As long as they do not have a high fever or are seriously unwell, a "sniffle" or mild cough is not a reason to delay protection.
No. This has been extensively researched and debunked. Modern vaccines are the safest way to protect your child from life-altering diseases like Measles and Meningitis.
Bring it to every vaccination or health check appointment. Our nurses will stamp it and update the digital record simultaneously.
Some vaccines (like the Nasal Flu spray) do. If this is a concern for religious or dietary reasons, please ask us about the injectable alternative.
We provide NHS-funded travel vaccines like Polio, Typhoid, Tetanus, Cholera and Hepatitis A. However, some vaccines like Rabies, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis and Meningococcal incur a cost. Please complete our Travel Vaccination Form or submit an online consultation at least 8 weeks before flying for each individual person travelling.
Occupational vaccinations are generally the responsibility of your employer.
Some services are outside the NHS contract for example, insurance reports, HGV licences, travel or employment letters and certain travel vaccinations. Because these are non‑NHS tasks, these incur a fee to cover the clinical time and administrative costs. The BMA provides guidance for GPs on what can be charged and good practice when handling fee‑based requests (fees are set locally by each practice).
Examples that may attract a fee: private letters, insurance medical reports and forms, employer forms, duplicate certificates, certain travel vaccines and HGV/taxi medicals
Examples you should not be charged for: statutory fit notes after 7 days of illness (self-certification covers the first 7 days).
Submit your request to reception or via Accurx Patient Triage. Please allow up to 28 days for completion; non‑NHS work must be scheduled around clinical care. The practices will confirm any fee in advance and obtain your consent before proceeding.
You have a legal right to access your personal data. A SAR can be made verbally or in writing to the practice and is free of charge, with a standard response time of one calendar month (extended up to two further months for complex requests). ID verification may be required.
Yes. All GP practices in England must provide patients with online access to new prospective entries in their GP record via the NHS App and other approved services. Safeguarding considerations may mean some entries are redacted or access withheld to prevent harm.
Due to GDPR and patient confidentiality, we cannot discuss your medical records with anyone else unless we have a signed consent form or Power of Attorney on your file. This applies even if you are married or a parent of a child over 13 (depending on their competency).
If you believe a factual error exists e.g., a wrong date or misspelled name, please contact the Practice. Please note that clinical opinions recorded by doctors and other clinicians usually cannot be deleted, but a "patient's rebuttal" can be added to the record.
For patients with frailty or serious illness, we offer "Advanced Care Planning." A ReSPECT form records your preferences for emergency care including whether you would want to be resuscitated to ensure you are treated with dignity according to your wishes.
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