| If there are no routine appointments left on the day, our doctors will triage calls, which means the receptionist will take down your details and a brief note of the problem, and will add these to the doctors' call lists. The doctor will then call you to assess the problem and will ask you to come to the surgery if they cannot deal with the matter over the phone. (Please note that you may not be called by the doctor whom you normally see.)
The surgery is closed between 1 and 2pm. If you have an urgent problem that cannot wait until 2 o'clock, please still ring the surgery number (01622 858341) and someone will take your call.
When the surgery is closed between 6.00pm and 8.30am we use the Out of Hours Emergency Service called South East Health.
South East Health is an association employing many of the local GPs; so rather than being on call consistently for each Practice it allows a smaller number of doctors to be on call for the whole of the area. They are based at Maidstone Hospital for telephone advice and base visits when asked to attend by the doctor, but in certain circumstances they can arrange home visits.
Please remember that this system is for emergency use only and should not be used for problems that can wait for normal surgery hours. South East Health can be reached via 03000 242424 which will connect you automatically. All calls are recorded for legal reasons.
Telephone advice can also be sought from NHS Direct who are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Telephone number is 0845 4647.
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