CREDITON'S Newcombes Surgery has made some changes to its patient appointments system.

In the past changes were made to the appointment system which meant that if you rang the surgery and were unable to get the appointment you wanted (either same day or in the future) you were added to a list and a doctor would call you back.

With the recently introduced system, the practice says there are a number of options:

• You can ring reception and make an appointment to see or speak to a GP of your choice for a future date (where available)

• If you feel you need to be seen on the same day, you are asked to ring before 11am. You will usually be asked to go to the surgery and sit and wait but this does not guarantee that you will see the doctor of your choice.

• You can also make an urgent telephone enquiry. If you leave enough detail regarding your query, a doctor will arrange for an appropriate member of staff to call you back at a suitable time. The receptionist will ask you what your visit to the doctor is related to. This enables them to book an appropriate amount of time with the correct clinician.

• In some situations you will be advised by the staff that a member of the surgery team will ring you back.

The practice adds that it is not always easy for it to meet your needs entirely, but says it will endeavour to do so where possible.

It says please remember for general health enquiries you can ring 111 or go on-line at the NHS choices website.

Newcombes Surgery telephone number is 01363 772263.

ONLINE SERVICE

You can now order prescriptions, ask questions, view future appointments and cancel appointments online.

In the future you will also be able to book some appointments. All you will need is log-in details and a password, which you can obtain from the surgery's reception. Please ask for details at the surgery.

At the surgery you can now monitor your blood pressure without an appointment. A simple-to-use blood pressure monitor is available in the waiting room. It can save you an appointment!