Online Services
Access online services here: SystmOnline
Pharmacy first
Patients can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. Your receptionist will complete a referral form for you which will be dealt with on the same day by the community pharmacist.
Pharmacy first enables community pharmacists to supply prescription only medicines (including antibiotics and antivirals where clinically appropriate) to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP.
Urgent appointments
We are not an emergency service, but sometimes our patients may need medical assistance sooner rather than later. To request an urgent same day appointment:
- phone us on 01761 434469 from 8am
- visit the surgery
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
If the reception team liaise with the GPs regularly to help manage the demand on appointments and how to best support the patients that are contacting us.
Our reception team will ask you a number of questions. We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse, pharmacist or healthcare professional to help you.
Please be aware that if emergency assistance is required we will refer you to an emergency service, such as A&E or 999.
Routine appointments
We run the advanced access system which means one can book with a doctor of choice 2 weeks in advance.
You can contact reception or book appointments online. Please contact us if you require online access.
To request a routine appointment:
- phone us on 01761 434469
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or systmonline to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
- Pop in and see our reception team
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
Our reception team will ask you a number of questions. We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse, pharmacist or healthcare professional to help you.
If the reception team liaise with the GPs regularly to help manage the demand on appointments.
Telephone advice
As well as face to face consultations we also offer telephone consultations. These are available with all GPs. We try our best to contact you as near to your appointment time as we are able so please have your telephone to hand. Please indicate to reception that you would like a telephone consultation with a doctor.
If you have a medication query we may ask our inhouse pharmacist to give you a call.
Our practice nurse can give you a call to give you advice. They can advise about chronic health conditions, wounds, and vaccines. Our receptionist will make you a suitable appointment.
When you want to speak to a particular GP
We always do our best to book with your first choice of GP. But when they are not available you may be offered an appointment with another GP instead.
Not all of our GPs work every day. We may advise you that a particular GP is not available for a few days and to make contact again when they are next available.
We offer appointments bookable 2 weeks in advance. Do remember that this will change depending on holidays and sickness.
Practice nurses
For some appointments it may be more appropriate to see one of our nurses rather than a doctor. At least one nurse is available at most times of the day. Nurses are available by appointment and for telephone advice.
You are able to book appointment with our nurse team by using the NHS App or our online booking system systmonline. You can register to use our online systems by contacting reception.
You may receive a text message from us with a link to our appointments schedule if you are due a check up or a vaccine. You can use the link to arrange the appointment without needing to telephone the surgery. It is important to make sure your contact details are up to date. If you are not sure please contact us or use your NHS App.
Extended hours
In addition to normal surgery hours we are offering extended hours from weekly 7:30am and also in the evening. Please contact the surgery for further information.
Enhanced access
Hillcrest Surgery offer additional evening and weekend appointments, for patients needing routine, bookable in advance, GP or nurse appointments outside of normal GP surgery opening times. This service is run in conjunction with BANES enhanced medical services (BEMS), our local GP federation. Appointments are available between the hours of 6:30 pm and 9:00 pm on weekdays, and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays.
This service is located in different practices throughout BANES and is for non-urgent appointments only. The service operates from sites in Bath, and Midsomer Norton and Radstock area. In the Midsomer Norton and Radstock area, the service runs at Elm Hayes Surgery and Hope House Surgery. In Bath, the service runs from Bathampton Surgery, Combe Down Branch Surgery, Newbridge Surgery and St Michael’s Surgery.
Appointments are booked by via the Hillcrest Surgery receptionist team, who can book appointments directly into the enhanced access service. When booking an appointment, we will ask if you consent for us to share your medical records with this service. Without this consent, the BEMS GPs and nurses will have no access to your medical records.
For more information you can visit the BEMS enhanced access website.
Your appointment
For clinical safety we kindly ask that patients try and stick to the “One problem per consultation” policy.
However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:
- by phone
- face to face at the surgery (following a telephone appointment with the Doctor or Nurse)
Appointments by phone, by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.
Find out about how you can make the best of your appointment.
Text message reminders
You can register to receive information by text message on your phone regarding appointments and health care.
We find that text message is a great way to contact our patients as it is quick, low cost and had minimal environment impact. We do encourage our patients to take responsibility of their own health, but we will remind people if they are due a health check or vaccine. We want to make sure we are doing our best by our patients.
If you wish to register for this messaging service please contact us.
Data Protection Regulations from May 2018 (GDPR)
Under the data protection regulations introduced from 25th May 2018, we will continue to contact patients via text messages regarding the delivery of care if they have provided consent to do so.
If practices are sending messages about recommended treatment for the management of a specific health issue, then this is defined as providing appropriate care for patients, not marketing purposes.
If you would like to opt out of any future contact via text messaging, then please contact the practice.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.
To cancel your appointment:
- use the GP online system: SystmOnline
- phone us on 01761 434469 during opening times
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Your local pharmacist may be able to help you.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Visit your local minor injuries unit.
If you need help with your appointment
If the reception team liaise with the GPs throughout the day to help manage the demand on appointments.
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face or by video call
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling before 10am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.
You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.
You may have a visit from our Paramedic at the discretion of the GP.
If the reception team liaise with the GPs regularly to help manage the demand on appointments.