Huntingdon Road Surgery is hosting the Cantab PCN COVID-19 vaccination centre.  We wish to thank our patients for their patience during this busy period.  On the days the vaccination centre is open we will have limited opportunity to see our regular patients face-2-face but you can still contact us in the usual way.  If you do need to see a doctor or nurse face-2-face you may be asked to attend an appointment at one of our neighbouring practices, where extra provision has been made for face-2-face consultations.  

We are facing an unprecedented workload during COVID yet we need to ensure we are talking to those who really need our advice. 

Unfortunately a lot of people are turning to us because other services are busy.  That is overloading us.  

If you have a problem, please consider first whether or not you can resolve it WITHOUT contacting us. 

Have you checked for advice on line?

• NHS Advice Website
• NHS 111 Website - medical advice 24/7
• NHS app from all app stores 

Pharmacies  

• experienced advice on minor conditions including: 

  Backache	Haemorrhoids
  Athletes foot	Insect bites and stings
  Colds	Threadworm
  Hay fever	Earache
  Mouth ulcers	Eczema
  Conjunctivitis	Allergies
  Head lice	Rashes
  Nappy rash	Minor Injury
  Copnstipation	Indigestion
  Teething	Sore throat
  Diarrhoea
  Headache and fever	speak to 111 during COVID
  Cough	speak to 111 during COVID

• antibiotics for eye and ear infections (when needed)
• order your regular medication
• an emergency supply of your regular medication even without a prescription
• the "morning after" pill
• Note you are able to phone your pharmacy - find their number on their website or on your last prescription

Opticians 

• minor eye complaints such as red or watering eyes
• during COVID most opticians are closed to walk-in patients but you are able to call them for advice or to book an appointment - find their number on their website

All other NHS services (including hearing centres) are open and can offer advice via their website or over the telephone if not in person.

NHS Direct is available at any time of day by calling 111 or online at 111.nhs.uk   They will help you know where you should go for advice.

DoctorLink can assist you getting the right help from the right service.  If DoctorLink feels you need our advice, it will send us a message and we will contact you.  It also sends us the answers to its questsions, which will help us help you efficiently and safely.

College nurses are available throughout term for undergraduate and graduate students.  We work closely with the nurses and so if the nurses feels you need to see a doctor, it can be arranged. 

All appointments are VIRTUAL. Do not come to the surgery as you will be turned away.

We will contact you around the time of your appointment. 

Please make sure you look out for our call.

IF YOU MISS OUR CALL we will try again.  Please do not call us.

If we miss you more than once we will probably have to move on to our next patient.  We will send you a text asking you to make another appointment.  If you haven't received that text it means we are planning to try again.

Once we have contacted you we have the option of setting up a video link using your smartphone.  We use a secure service which is very similar to Facetime to use.  We are very happy to explain how to use it.

If we feel we need to see you in person we will explain the process.

It is important that you let us know if you are unable to make your appointment.  This will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient.

Unfortunately we find that several hundred appointments are wasted each month due to patients failing to let us know.  That is equivalent to more than one doctor or nurse. 

If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to make your appointment, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment.  Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

GPs do provide a home visit service for patients who we need to see in person and who are genuinely housebound because of illness or disability.  However unfortunately we are not able to visit patients unless it is absolutely necessary.  We will use our clinical judgement in each case, and considering the needs of all our patients. 

If possible please try to telephone 01223 364127 before 10:30 if you feel you may require a home visit.  One of our team will contact you to discuss the problem first.

If you have an appointment at the hospital or at an NHS treatment centre (not the GP surgery), but are unable to travel by private or public transport for medical reasons, you may be eligible for non-emergency patient transport.

This is provided by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).  Call 0345 603 8117.

Lines are open: Monday - Sunday, 08:00 to 18:30. Before a booking is made, you'll be asked some short questions to see if you are eligible to use the service.

This is not longer booked through the GP surgery.

We use a confidential telephone interpreter service.  This does not need to be arranged in advance.  However if you are aware that you will need this service and can let us know, it will help us be prepared for your visit.

You are welcome to bring a friend or family member to act as interpreter, provided that you are happy to discuss things with them.

Early Morning Appointments

Extended hours surgeries are offered at Huntingdon Road Surgery on Thursdays and Fridays 07:15 – 08:00 for pre-booked appointments only.

Evening and Weekend Appointments

Extra appointments to see a GP or a nurse in the evening or at the weekend are now available to all patients.  They are provided on our behalf by Cambs GP Network.

Please see the Cambs GP Network website for more information. 

To book an appointment, please ask reception.