| WHAT
TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
You must ring your own surgery's
emergency number in the first instance. You will be given our telephone
number if HertDoc is covering for your doctor. The receptionist
will take all your details. They also require a short description of
your problem. These questions are to judge the urgency of your condition.
The receptionists are fully
trained to do a difficult job well, so please provide the information
requested. You will either be put straight through to the duty doctor
or if they are busy they will phone you back as quickly as possible.
The doctor will make an assessment
of your problem and decide on the best course of action. This may well
be telephone advice. If a consultation is needed you may be asked to
attend one of our Out of Hours Centres. If the patient is bed-bound
or so severely ill they cannot travel, a home visit may be appropriate.
The details of your consultation with HertDoc will be faxed back
to your doctor first thing the following working day.
Please remember to always
telephone HertDoc before attending the Out of Hours Centre as patients
presenting without prior arrangement may not be seen.
USING
THE EMERGENCY SERVICE RESPONSIBLY
Over recent years the number
of out of hours calls to doctors has risen dramatically. Patients are
generally no more ill these days but are often seeking treatment for
minor or self-limiting illnesses.
If your problem is not urgent
please try to wait until normal surgery hours and avoid using the emergency
service.
Please remember it is the
doctor's responsibility to judge whether you need advice or to be seen.
He also decides whether a consultation, if needed, is better done in
an Out of Hours Centre or at home. It is not your right to have a home
visit.
There are many advantages
to attending an Out of Hours Centre. You may well be seen more quickly.
The doctor will have a fully equipped surgery to make examinations and
treatment easier. More patients may be seen in a given time allowing
the doctor to respond without delay to a serious emergency, should it
occur.
Remember you or your family
may be grateful for this yourselves one day.
COMPLAINTS
If you should have reason
to complain about the HertDoc service please write with the details
to:
The HertDoc
Manager
HertDoc
5 Stanmore Road
Stevenage
Herts
SG1 3QA
|
