Appointment

Doors open Monday - Friday 07:00 – 18:30

Telephone answering service between 08:00 – 18:30

Appointments can be made by booking online at SystmOnline. Alternatively, you can arrange this with the reception team, either via telephone or in person.

Please note that each appointment is for one person.

True emergencies take priority.

HUB Appointments for Evenings & Weekends

Available on request by calling 01277 315815

For evening 6:30pm-8pm and Weekends (subject to availability)

Urgent cases will be seen on the same day, but you may have to wait until the end of surgery as times cannot be guaranteed.

Online Bookings

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason, please inform the reception team as soon as possible in order for us to reallocate the appointment.

Home Visits

These are reserved for the truly housebound.

We recognise the need for some patients, for example, the elderly or frail, to have a home visit but please do think carefully before requesting a home visit. Facilities are better in the surgery and the doctor can see four or more patients in the surgery in the time taken for one home visit.

Please telephone before 10:00 if you are requesting a home visit whenever possible, unless an emergency occurs later in the day. Give the receptionist as much information as possible as this helps the doctor assess the urgency of the situation. If you do not request a visit the doctor will make the decision whether to give advice over the telephone, visit, or refer to another agency (such as District Nursing) as appropriate. Lack of transport in itself is not a reason for a home visit.

Please remember that as this is a Billericay practice, we are only able to offer Billericay residents a home visit.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced)

Private Referrals

Once your doctor advises referral to a specialist you are entitled to an NHS referral or you can elect to see a consultant privately. If you do this you are advised to make an appointment directly with the consultant’s secretary. If you would inform the secretary of the consultants name and date of appointment a referral letter can be typed for you to collect to take with you to the appointment, but please note that this will incur a fee of £25. If an NHS appointment has already been organised then the patient is responsible for its cancellation.

The Health Authority is quite strict in observing the regulations that NHS and private care cannot be mixed. The referring doctor is usually able to complete the appropriate section in your insurance company's forms, but this does incur a fee.

From 1st February 2024, there will be a £25 charge for each private referral letter issued as this is classed as non-NHS work.