• take the death certificate to the registrar’s office for the area in which the death took place. You will also need to take the deceased’s medical card if available.
• take the green form to the funeral directors who will take over complete responsibility for arranging the funeral, if you wish them to do so.

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Please advise reception, by letter, if you change your name, address or telephone number. It would be a great help if you could also ensure that we have your postcode and your mobile number. Alternatively ask at reception for a change of address form. If you have changed your name on marriage, we will need to see your original marriage certificate and will need to take a copy.

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All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This person may be a family member or friend (but should not be a child); Sometimes you may prefer a formal chaperone to be present, i.e. a trained member of staff.

Wherever possible we would ask you to make this request at the time of booking the appointment so that arrangements can be made and your appointment is not delayed in any way. Where this is not possible we will try to provide a formal chaperone at the time of request. However occasionally it may be necessary to reschedule your appointment.

Your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.

If you would like to see a copy of our Chaperone Policy or have any questions or comments regarding this please contact the manager.

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All consultations are by appointment which can be made in person or by telephone between 8.00am and 6.30pm Monday – Friday.

Since April 2004, and the implementing of a new NHS contract for GPs, patients are now registered with the practice rather than with an individual doctor. Where possible the appointment offered will be with a doctor of your choice, but you may be offered an appointment with another doctor where this is not possible in the time frame you have specified. We aim to offer you an appointment with one of the practice doctors within 48 hours of your request, in line with national standards.

Patients who need to be seen urgently will always be seen at the end of morning or evening surgery. Some problems can be solved by a telephone call and these can be requested through the reception staff. Please click here to see suggested times for telephone consultations.

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Wheelchair access to the building is through either the main door or the side access. A disabled patients’ WC is provided just off the front waiting room. The entrance to the surgery is levelled with no steps. Reception staff will be pleased to give any assistance required. A wheelchair is also available on request at reception.

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Each doctor provides this service and will be happy to discuss individual needs, including the fitting of an IUCD (coil). Emergency contraception is provided on request at Reception, where you will be referred immediately to the Practice Nurse. The Surgery is also part of the Emergency Contraception Card Scheme for young people, who need only show their card to be shown through to the Practice Nurse.

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The Freedom of Information Act obliges the practice to produce a Publication Scheme. A publication Scheme is a guide to the ‘classes’ of information the practice intends to routinely make available to its patients. This scheme is available from Reception.

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The aim of promoting health is to try and identify risk factors at an early stage and prevent them from causing ill health. For this reason we will ask about drinking and smoking habits and measure your blood pressure and weight from time to time. This is especially wise in people with a family history of heart disease, diabetes or stroke.

We can only give immunisations if the patient who is under 16 is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If with a Nanny/childminder, written consent must be given in advance.

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Specimens are sent to the hospital laboratories Monday to Friday. If you are asked to bring a specimen on those days, please ensure that you hand it to the Reception staff before 12 noon.

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Antenatal Clinics are held at the Surgery. Doctors look after their own maternity patients with the midwife and/or consultant. Women can choose where they give birth. Patients may deliver at home or at any of the various local hospitals. A community midwife is attached to Washington House and will give both antenatal and postnatal care to expectant mothers. Antenatal clinics are held at the surgery on Tuesdays and first time antenatal visits or booking appointments are held on Thursdays from 9.30am till 12.30pm. If you urgently need to contact the midwife, please call Rita Long on 07801 672332.

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Medical examinations for special purposes, such as fitness to travel, pre-employment, insurance, diving, and HGV licenses are normally done at 11.30am Monday - Friday. An appointment can be made through Reception. A fee will be charged as these services are not covered by the NHS.
Click here for a table of fees.

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It is necessary for all new patients wanting to register with the practice to book an appointment for a health screening examination. These are normally at lunchtimes on Monday – Friday but other times are possible if a lunchtime session is not convenient for you. Prior to this appointment you should call into reception and collect some forms which you will need to complete and bring with you to your appointment. You will also need to bring two forms of identification with you – one photographic (e.g. passport, driving licence) and one proof of address (e.g. utility bill.)

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The Patients’ Group was inaugurated on 5th October 2004 under the guidance of Dr Roger Farrow and Mrs Helen Robins the Practice Manager. The aims are to improve communication between Doctors and Patients by providing ‘feedback’ on concerns and expectations. It will also provide an informal mechanism for receiving suggestions and constructive criticism of the practice and its organisation.

Other functions of the Patients’ Group are to arrange educational talks on aspects of health and illness and to undertake fundraising to provide additional facilities for the benefit of the Practice and Patients. An example of the latter would be the provision of a defibrillator. Some talks have already been given and we would be interested to know of topics patients would like addressed.
Enquiries can be directed to the Secretary of the Patients’ Group, c/o The Practice Manager, Washington House Surgery.

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Results of tests can be given out by the Receptionists once a doctor has seen them and has indicated the action to be taken. Normally, this process takes five working days. Please therefore leave sufficient time before telephoning for the results, and if possible between 9.30am and 5.00pm. We also ask that you respect our policy that for confidentiality reasons, we only give results to the patient concerned and not to family members, unless of course, they are for children under 16 or alternative arrangements have been made in writing.

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A zero tolerance towards violent, threatening and abusive behaviour is now in place throughout the NHS. The staff in this practice have the right to do their work in an environment free from violent, threatening and abusive behaviour and everything will be done to protect that right.

At no time will any violent, threatening, or abusive behaviour be tolerated in this practice. If you do not respect the rights of our staff we are entitled to remove you from our medical list.

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Washington House Surgery is an approved training practice for vocational experience and further training for doctors pursuing a career in General Practice. Under this scheme doctors will join us for periods of up to one year to work alongside the regular practice doctors. As part of the learning and assessment process you may be asked if you mind one other doctor sitting in your consultation. You might also be asked if a video recording of your consultation can be used as an analysis of the way doctors manage patients. If you agree to the consultation being recorded, you always have the option to change your mind and have any recording erased.

If you have any questions please ask at Reception or ask to speak to one of the doctors. We believe participation in medical education is an important part of maintaining the quality of medicine practiced in this area.

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Each year we have medical students attached to the practice. You may be asked at reception if a student can be present while you are seeing the doctor. If you prefer to see your doctor in private, please say so, as it will not cause offence.

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For dressings and treatments in the treatment room, patients under 16 should normally be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.