Routine Appointments
You can request a routine appointment in the next 14 days by:
- Completing an online form.
We will respond within 4 hours when we are open. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Phone
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm - Using the NHS App or SystmOnline to book a screening test or vaccination
All surgeries are by appointment and can be made by telephone or online. Appointments can be booked in advance or on the day (there are a number of appointments released at 8am on the day for morning and afternoon surgery).
GP Appointments are telephone triage in the first instant and face to face appointments are offered if clinically appropriate.
You can also complete a confidential online form – Please note online forms should not be used for very urgent medical problems.
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Urgent Appointments
You can request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) by:
- Phone
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with. We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Your Appointment
However you choose to contact us we may offer you a consultation:
- By phone
- Face-to-face at the surgery
- On a video call
- By text or email
Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means the doctor or nurse can help you sooner.
We usually provide a telephone appointment and then offer a face-to-face appointment if needed. However, if you prefer a face-to-face appointment, please tell us.
If you need help with your appointment, please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or another health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs
Chaperones
All patients (and clinicians) are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation. Please request this at the time of booking or speak to your GP.
We are committed to maintaining professional standards. For certain examinations during consultations an impartial observer, called a chaperone, will be required.
This impartial observer will be a practice Nurse, Health Care Assistant or chaperone trained receptionist who is familiar with the procedure and be available to reassure and raise any concerns on your behalf. If a chaperone is unavailable at the time of your consultation, then your examination may be re-scheduled for another time.
You are free to decline any examination or chose an alternative examiner or chaperone. You may also request a chaperone for any examination or consultation if one is not offered to you. The GP may not undertake an examination if a chaperone is declined.
The role of a chaperone:
- Maintains professional boundaries during intimate examinations.
- Acknowledges a patient’s vulnerability.
- Provides emotional comfort and reassurance.
- Assists in the examination.
- Assists with undressing patients, if required.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Persistent failure to attend appointments may result in your removal off our Practice list.
If you are cancelling an appointment for another day, please cancel your appointment by:
- Phone
– Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
- Visiting the surgery and speak with a receptionist
– We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
When we are closed
Non-urgent advice:
NHS 111
If you are very unwell and you cannot wait until the surgery has opened, please call NHS 111 by dialling 111, and they will be able to advise on the care that you need. They can organise emergency services or an ambulance if needed. The NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisers supported by experienced nurses, pharmacists, and doctors. The NHS 111 service is available if you require urgent medical help, but it is not a life-threatening situation.
Extended Hours/Extended Access
Lodge Road Surgery patients can access appointments from 18:30 to 20:00 daily across Nominated Central Health Partnership Hubs.
Please note that you will be required to travel to other practice to be seen during Extended Hours, with the exception of Wednesdays and one in five weekends where Lodge Road are operating as a CHP hub.
Central Health Partnership
A Group of local GP Practices have formed a Primary Care Network called Central Health Partnership.
Lodge Road Surgery has been selected to provide additional appointments, as a Hub Service Provider, between 6.30pm – 8.00pm on a weekly basis every Wednesday and weekends once every five weeks to patients of Lodge Road Surgery and for patients from our surrounding surgeries. By contacting reception our patients can access one of the other local hubs (see list below) during 6.30pm and 8pm each week night and on a weekend – ask reception for details.
There are an allocated amount of appointments given each week for each local Practice to book into the new Hub.
HUB Service Providers
Lodge Road Surgery – Smethwick
West Bromwich Partnership For Health – West Bromwich
Great Bridge Partnership For Health – Great Bridge
Oakeswell Health Centre – Wednesbury
Dr Gudi Medical Practice – West Bromwich
Non-urgent advice:
The local Walk-In-Centres are open daily between 8am – 8pm including weekend.
If you cannot get an appointment at the surgery or the surgery is closed and you feel you need to see a GP, you should attend a walk in centre. Details of local centres can be obtained at Reception.
Home Visits
Non-urgent advice:
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home (following a telephone consultation first) if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.
Late Night Pharmacies
Non-urgent advice:
As qualified healthcare professionals, community pharmacists can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
If symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.
All pharmacists train for 5 years in the use of medicines. They are also trained in managing minor illnesses and providing health and wellbeing advice.
Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends. You do not need an appointment.
Most pharmacies have a private consultation room where you can discuss issues with pharmacy staff without being overheard.
You can find out your nearest open pharmacy on the NHS.uk website. Once you have searched for the location, you can select ‘only show pharmacies open now’ if you are searching outside of usual business hours.