Appointments

Urgent appointments

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

  • using the GP online consultation form – eConsult
  • phone us on 01403 246860, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

  • phone us on 01403 246860, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

When you contact us, we’ll ask what you need help with.

The information you provide helps us direct you to the most appropriate doctor, nurse, or healthcare professional for your needs. Our reception team asks about the reason for your appointment at the request of our doctors to ensure you receive the right care.

Please don’t feel uncomfortable if you’re asked for medical details—our staff follow strict confidentiality rules at all times. They also receive ongoing training from our clinicians to guide you appropriately.

This process helps us manage appointment times effectively while ensuring the best possible care for all patients.

Your appointment

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

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • 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.

Choose the right care

Before booking an appointment, consider whether one of the following services can help:

Pharmacists are trained healthcare professionals who can provide expert advice and treatment for many minor illnesses, including:

– Coughs, colds, and sore throats
– Tummy troubles and aches & pains
– Skin conditions, allergies, and eye infections

If your symptoms suggest something more serious, your pharmacist will advise you if you need to see a GP, nurse, or another healthcare professional.

Find out more
Find your local pharmacy – NHS
The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) can assess and treat a range of non-life-threatening injuries, including:

– Minor head and eye injuries
– Sprains, strains, and broken bones
– Burns, scalds, bites, and stings

More about Horsham MIU
If you need urgent care but it’s not an emergency, the Urgent Treatment Centre can help with:

– Sprains, strains, and broken bones
– Minor burns and scalds
– Minor head and eye injuries
– Bites and stings

More about Crawley UTC

Cancelling or changing an appointment

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system – eConsult
  • phone us on 01403 253966/246860, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
  • reply CANCEL to 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.

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
  • you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • you need an interpreter
  • you have any other access or communication needs

Home visits

Whenever possible you will be asked to come to the surgery as the facilities are better suited for examination and any subsequent treatment; in addition it is a more efficient use of the doctor’s time.

Urgent requests are passed to the duty doctor on call and triaged accordingly. Any visit is arranged subject to the deemed medical need of the patient.

We ask that visits are requested before 10.30am so that the available GPs can allocate the visits for after their morning surgeries. Home visits would normally be carried out between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Chaperones

Orchard Surgery is committed to providing a safe, comfortable environment where patients and staff can be confident that best practice is being followed at all times and the safety of every-one is of paramount importance.

All patients are entitled to have a chaperone present for any consultation, examination or procedure where they feel one is required. This chaperone may be a family member, friend or a trained chaperone from the surgery.

If you wish to have a member of the Practice staff present during your consultation please mention this to our Reception Staff when booking your appointment, or to the doctor at your consultation, and it will be arranged.

Please note that your healthcare professional may also require a chaperone to be present for certain consultations in accordance with our chaperone policy.