FAQs

New patients

  • We are pleased to accept patient applications to join the surgery if you have recently moved into Minchinhampton or the surrounding local area.
  • Before filling in your registration forms, please enter your postcode into the Minchinhampton Surgery catchment map on our website to check you are eligible to register as a new patient.
  • Please bring your completed form to reception. We prefer patients to also bring along with an original form of photographic identification (e.g. passport or driving licence) but we will not refuse registration on the grounds that a patient is unable to provide such evidence.

Test results

  • Please call reception after 2pm to request test results.
  • You will be asked to establish your identity before any information is given out over the telephone.
  • Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to share results to a third party for any patient aged 16+ without the patient’s verbal or written permission.

Sick notes

  • If employees have been ill off work for more than 7 days in a row, they must give their employer a ‘fit note’ (also called a ‘sick note’). Please call reception to request a sick note from your GP
  • If employees have been ill off work for 7 days or less, they do not need to give their employer a fit note or other proof of sickness from a healthcare professional. When they return to work, their employer can ask them to confirm they’ve been off sick. This is called ‘self-certification’. The employer and employee will agree on how the employee should do this. They might need to fill in a form or send details of their sick leave by email
  • Please visit the government website for more information on taking sick leave

Samples

  • Make sure to properly label your sample (including your name and date of birth) on both the bottle and the form, otherwise the sample may be rejected by the laboratory.
  • Please try to bring your sample (collected/taken on the same day) to reception before 15:00. Any samples brought in after this time may not be processed as the pathology van arrives around 15:30 to take samples to the laboratory.

Referrals

  • Make a routine appointment with your GP to discuss any private or NHS referral to a hospital or consultant.

Access to medical records

  • GDPR entitles you to free access to your personal medical records.
  • Please submit a detailed written request to reception who will then process this.

Reports & certificates

  • Including insurance reports, certificates and licences, solicitors, medical examinations, claims.
  • Call reception to explain your requirements, and please be aware there may be a fee involved for completing the forms.

Online access

  • We encourage all our patients to apply for online access so you can easily book GP appointments, request repeat prescriptions, and look at your medical record online.
  • Please bring your completed online access form to reception along with an original form of photographic identification e.g. passport or driving licence.

Temporary residents

  • We are pleased to see visitors to the area as “temporary residents”.
  • Call reception to make an appointment and complete the necessary temporary registration forms.
  • Please be aware, overseas visitors may incur a charge if there is no NHS agreement between their home country and the UK.

Updating your contact details

  • Bring back a change of address form to reception or use your online services to inform us if you have recently changed your contact details so we can update your patient record.
  • This includes letting us know any changes to your postal address, mobile number, landline number, and email address (if applicable).
  • If you have recently moved house and your new home address is outside of our catchment area, it is recommended that you register with a GP nearer to your new address.

Out-of-area (OOA) patients

  • You are considered an “out-of-area” (OOA) patient if you live outside the boundary of the surgery’s catchment map.
  • OOA patients may request to register, or stay registered, at Minchinhampton Surgery. It is at the discretion of the practice whether to accept OOA registered patients – this decision is made on an individual basis.
  • In this instance, you must fill in and bring back an OOA form to reception. If you are new to the surgery, this form must be brought along with a new completed registration pack (and an original form of photo ID if you also wish to register for online services)