Sidcup Medical Centre is a Total Triage Practice
Please complete an Accurx Patient Triage if you would like to book an appointment with the Doctor or Nurse Practitioner.
You may wish to use the NHS Symptom Checker or refer to our Self Help Page before submitting a triage request.
You DO NOT need to complete an Accurx Patient Triage if you would like to book an appointment with the Nurse e.g. childhood immunisations, dressing change, asthma review, cervical screening etc… Please phone the surgery to book an appointment.
If you are unable to complete an Accurx Patient Triage, please phone the surgery and we will complete an Accurx Patient Triage on your behalf.
Please note all incoming and outgoing calls are recorded.
If you require support when the surgery is closed (Evenings, Weekends and Bank Holidays), you can still access NHS self-help advice regarding your condition via Accurx Patient Triage.
If you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, please call 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only). NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For medical emergencies please call 999. For example; chest pains, significant shortness of breath, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped or a suspected stroke.
What Is Total Triage?
It means that both clinical and administrative queries received via Accurx Patient Triage will be assessed and a decision will be taken to the most appropriate course of action. For instance, arranging an appointment, organising investigations or an administrative task to be carried out. For more information click here
What Is Accurx Patient Triage ?
It’s an online form that you complete to detail your request both clinical and administrative. It can also be completed on your smartphone via the NHS App.
Nurse appointments can be booked directly with the practice, you do not need to complete an Accurx Patient Triage.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Accurx Patient Triage ?
- No need to wait on the phone.
- Complete complete an Accurx Patient Triage form at a pace that suits you. There are fewer questions than previous total triage system. You can also add pictures if appropriate.
- Your request may be resolved with a telephone call, saving you a trip to the surgery.
- Opportunity for your doctor to plan investigations before seeing you meaning one appointment rather than two.
Why Is Accurx Patient Triage Great For The Sidcup Medical Centre team?
- Admin queries get filtered directly to the team that handles them.
- Knowing a patients symptoms upfront helps the doctor prioritise patient needs efficiently.
One Appointment - One Problem
Your Accurx Patient Triage will be reviewed and an appropriate appointment will be made for you. We will therefore not be able to help you with any other issues that you bring up during this appointment as sufficient time has not be allocated for us to do this.
Lateness
Patients who arrive for a face to face appointment more than ten minutes late may be asked to re-book their appointment. The doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse is under no obligation to see a patient who arrives late and it is at their discretion.
Text Reminders
We use an automated system to send out text reminders to our patients about their appointments. Replies to appointment reminders are not monitored. However, replying 'Cancel' will cancel your appointment via an automated system.
We ask that patients notify us if they change their mobile number using via their online services account, or by completing our 'Change of Patient Details Form' (WORD, PDF) and returning to the surgery so that our records are always fully up to date.
We also use this text reminder service to invite patients in for medical reviews. You are able to opt out of this service by contacting the surgery and requesting this be done.