Appointments

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today (Monday to Friday):

  • phone us on 01363 727111 during opening times.
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday during opening times

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment:

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Group Clinics

At Redlands, we are pleased to offer group clinics as an alternative way to support patients with certain long-term health conditions.

What are group clinics?
Group clinics (also known as group consultations) are sessions where patients with similar health conditions meet together with a clinician or healthcare professional. These sessions provide a supportive environment to discuss your condition, receive personalised advice, learn from others’ experiences, and ask questions.

Group clinics can offer:

  • More time with healthcare professionals
  • Peer support from others managing the same condition
  • Practical tips and shared learning
  • A chance to better understand your condition and how to manage it

We currently offer group clinics for patients who would like to learn more about the Menopause/HRT. These sessions help you understand your diagnosis, learn about the benefits of HRT, and make informed lifestyle choices.

To learn more about group clinics or to see if they might be right for you, please click here.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

An interpreting service is available free of charge for patients using GP and NHS Hospital Services in England. This includes interpreting for people who are deaf or deaf/blind.

We do not allow children to act as interpreters during your treatment or appointments. 

A member of the team from the Practice or the Hospital Department dealing with your treatment or appointment will arrange the interpreter. To make sure we can support you effectively we need you to make arrangement so please do let us know you need an interpreter as soon as possible. Preferably, this should be as soon as you make an appointment with your GP.

Tell us if communication was good. This also helps us provide a good service.

If you are going into Hospital, contact the Ward or Department to let them know you need an interpreter, as soon as you receive your Hospital appointment. You may need a friend or relative who speaks English to tell us that you need an interpreter, the first time.
Be sure to let us know if you will not be coming for your appointment or treatment. If you do not tell us this might stop another patient getting the help they need.

Be sure to tell us if you will be late for your appointment or treatment. Another patient somewhere else might need the interpreter. If you are late the next patient might miss their appointment or not get the help they need.

Let us know if you have had any problems with communication during your appointment or treatment. This will help us improve the service.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system – SystmOnline
  • phone us on 01363 727111, during opening times
  • select CANCEL within your appointment reminder text message

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.

Visit a local urgent treatment centre / minor injuries unit (the nearest to Redlands is Tiverton Urgent Treatment Centre or Okehampton Minor Injuries Unit – please note there is no x-ray facility at Okehampton).

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

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, by video call or by text or email
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

If you think an immediate home visit is required, please tell the Receptionist. In cases of major injury or critical condition, it will be more appropriate to go directly to the Accident & Emergency Department. If an Ambulance is required, dial 999.

Redlands Primary Care is keen to ensure that we make the best use of our clinical staff, allowing them to provide the most appropriate care to those most in need of it. For the vast majority of patients, attending an appointment at the practice is the best option for them and for the practice staff. 

You may think that a home visit by a GP is best for patient care. However, while home visits are convenient for the patient, they actually offer a poorer standard of care compared to surgery consultations.

This is because of:

  • poor facilities – for example, soft beds, poor lighting or lack of hygiene
  • inefficiency – the doctor could see four to six other equally needy patients in the time taken for one home visit
  • patient records, which are required to provide appropriate and safe care, are not immediately available; and
  • chaperones may not be available.

Saturdays

The surgery is open on Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00 for pre-booked appointments only. These appointments are ideal for patients who may find it difficult to attend during regular weekday hours.

Please note that we do not accept incoming phone calls on Saturdays, and our phone lines remain closed. If you need to speak with us, please contact the surgery during our normal weekday opening hours.

Walk-In Policy

Redlands does not operate a routine walk-in service. If you have an urgent medical concern, please:

  • Call us on 01363 727111
  • Attend your local Minor Injuries Unit, if appropriate
  • Dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency

If your condition requires same-day attention, our clinical team will assess your need and, if necessary, book you into an appropriate same-day appointment.

Further information on Home Visits