eConsult is a service for patients wanting to contact the GP for medical or administrative issues.

• You will get a response by the end of the next working day.
• Avoid calling the practice as our phone lines are busy.

Simply click on the image opposite to use eConsult and avoid the queue.  

Long Melford: Weekdays 8:00am to 6:30pm

Lavenham: Weekdays: 8:00am to 1pm & 2pm to 6:30pm

Weekdays

8:30am to 11am

2:30pm to 5:30pm

If you think you have an urgent problem which cannot wait until the next available routine appointment you will be offered a telephone consultation or an appointment with the nurse practitioner.

Routine Appointments

Consultations are by appointment only.

Please try to consult the same doctor each time for the same illness. Our receptionists will try to give you an appointment with the doctor of your choice. We will offer you an appointment with another doctor if they are not available.  

If you would like to make your appointments online please download the NHS App or register for SystmOnline via the link at the top of this page.

The allocated time for face to face appointments with a GP is 15 minutes. Telephone consultations with a GP are 7.5 minutes; this is to ensure that the maximum possible number of appointments are made available each day. In some instances it can be challenging to adhere to the appointment timings, this can be due to an emergency taking priority.

The allocated time for nurse/HCA appointment is 10 minutes. This may via depending on the reason for the appointment.

Consultations are normally intended to review a single medical matter. If you feel that you may need more time with the doctor, please discuss this with the receptionist when initially making your appointment.

We have nurses working at Long Melford and at Lavenham and together with our Health Care Assistants we offer a wide range of services including

• Chronic diseases 
• Wound dressings
• Child immunisations
• Contraception and HRT checks
• Smears
• General lifestyle advice

If you need medical advice your details will be taken and our duty team will phone you back later. If the matter is urgent please advise us and it will be dealt with straight away.

Practice Extended Hours

We are pleased to be able to offer routine appointments at the following times at Long Melford for patients who find it difficult to get to the surgery during our normal consulting hours.

• Monday 6:30pm to 7pm
• Friday 7am to 8am

GP + Appointments

Improving access to general practice: evening and weekend appointments now available

Patients who are registered at this practice can now book an appointment to see a GP or nurse on weekday evenings (after 6.30pm) or on a Saturday.

You can book between 6.30pm and 9pm weeknights and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Appointments will take place another NHS setting in Bury St Edmunds.

Talk to reception to find out more or book an appointment.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel an appointment in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

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.

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

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
•  or face-to-face
• If you need an interpreter
• If you have any other access or communication needs

Home Visits

If you are too ill to attend the surgery please contact the Surgery by 10.30am. Visits will normally be made between morning and afternoon surgeries unless the matter is very urgent.

The receptionist will take your name and contact number and our Nurse Practitioner will phone you back to discuss your request.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes for a Doctor to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the Surgery.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

Complete our SMS Reminder Form

Medical examinations for special purposes such as pre-employment, fitness to travel, elderly drivers, fitness to undertake sports etc., will require longer than a routine appointment.

These examinations do not form part of NHS Services, you will be charged for any such examination. Please check the fee chargeable before arranging any such examination. Please inform the receptionist when arranging such appointments.

We assist in the training of doctors (known as Registrars) who are fully qualified and intend to make a career in General Practice. 

As a training practice we have regular inspections that include an audit of patients medical records looking for accuracy and completeness of recording. The Practice is also involved with the teaching of medical students.

Patient consultations may be recorded for training purposes however there is a choice as to whether or not patients wish to be recorded without that choice impacting on the provision of their health care.