Appointment system
How to book an appointment
Patients can contact the practice to make an appointment from 8:30 am Monday to Friday.
You can:
- Telephone the practice on 01704 575133
- Visit the practice and speak to a member of our reception team
- Use PATCHS, our online consultation service, for non-urgent medical and administrative requests
When you contact us, our reception team will ask for some information about why you need an appointment. This helps us assess your needs and direct you to the most appropriate member of our clinical team.
Please don't be offended if you are asked why you need an appointment. Our reception team have been asked by GPs to obtain this information, and everything you tell us is treated confidentially.
If you would prefer not to give a reason, you can simply tell the receptionist that you would rather not say. However, providing some information can help us make sure you receive the most appropriate care.
Telephone ring-back service
We know that waiting in a telephone queue can be frustrating, particularly during our busiest times.
Our telephone system offers a ring-back service, which means you do not need to remain on the telephone while waiting for your call to reach the front of the queue.
If you select the ring-back option, you will keep your position in the telephone queue. When your call reaches the front of the queue, the practice telephone system will call you back and connect you to a member of our team.
Please make sure you are available to answer the telephone if you have requested a call back.
If you do not answer the return call, you will need to telephone the practice again and rejoin the queue.
The ring-back service does not give priority over other callers – it simply allows you to keep your place in the queue without having to remain on hold.
Same-day appointments
We keep a proportion of our appointments available each day for patients who have an acute health problem that needs to be dealt with that day.
You can request same-day appointments from 8:30am.
Demand is particularly high first thing in the morning and on Mondays. Our reception team will deal with requests as quickly as possible.
When you contact us, the receptionist will ask about your symptoms or why you need an appointment. This allows us to assess the urgency of your request and identify the most appropriate healthcare professional to help you.
Our clinical team includes GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Nurses, GPAs, and other healthcare professionals, and a GP appointment may not always be the most appropriate option.
If all our routine same-day appointments are booked, the reception team will follow the practice's clinical triage process for patients who need urgent advice or assessment.
We aim to ensure that patients with a genuine urgent clinical need are appropriately assessed and directed to the right service.
Pre-bookable appointments
Our GPs also have appointments which can be booked in advance.
These are released on a rolling basis, and availability will vary depending on demand, annual leave and the number of clinicians working.
If you don't need to see a particular GP, you may find an appointment sooner with another member of the clinical team.
Please tell us as soon as possible if you no longer need your appointment so we can offer it to another patient.
You can also cancel appointments through the NHS App.
Extended access appointments
Evening and weekend appointments are available through the Southport and Formby 7 Day GP Service.
The service operates from the Family Surgery building, 107 Liverpool Road, Birkdale.
Appointments are currently available:
- Monday to Friday: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Sunday: 9:00am to 1:00pm
You can book these appointments through the Ainsdale Medical Centre reception team.
Online consultations – PATCHS
PATCHS is our online consultation service and provides another way of contacting the practice for non-urgent medical or administrative requests.
You can use PATCHS to:
- Tell us about a health concern or symptoms
- Ask for non-urgent medical advice
- Submit an administrative request
- Contact the practice without needing to telephone or attend in person
PATCHS is available while the surgery is open.
If your request needs a face-to-face appointment or clinician assessment, our team will arrange this where appropriate.
Helping us find the right appointment for you
When you contact the practice, please give our reception team as much information as you feel able to provide.
This helps us make sure you are directed to the right healthcare professional, in the right service, at the right time.
Our reception team works under the direction of the GPs and must ask questions to help the clinical team manage appointment requests safely and appropriately.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.