Book an Appointment

Our practice nurses are able to offer a number of clinical services. If you are unsure whether to book an appointment with a nurse or a doctor, our Care Co-Ordinator (s) will be more than happy to advise you. 

Nurse appointments can only be booked either in person or by telephone on 01923 262363. 

There is a fairly wide-held belief that patients have an automatic right to a home visit from a GP. This is not in fact the case. Home visits are reserved for patients who are house-bound or have serious illness and are too poorly to attend the Surgery.  Patients with certain severe conditions that can be passed-on may receive special advice on how they may be assessed and treated.

Although a traditional part of general practice, home visits are time consuming. Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. So please help us to help you and our other patients by visiting the surgery whenever possible.

Although we understand it can sometimes be difficult to get to the Surgery, we cannot undertake home visits for reasons of convenience or lack of transport. Our responsibility to our patients is to resolve the medical problem they may have. It may be that the problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a district nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

Our Doctors will reach a reasonable opinion about whether to attend to a patient at their home based upon information received on the condition of the patient, and whether it would be inappropriate to expect the patient to attend the practice premises. If a patient is encouraged to come into the surgery, it is often on the basis that this is where the best care can be provided. The specialist equipment is located at the practice and tests can be carried out more easily here.

If a patient decides to request a home visit then it would help us if they telephone the Surgery first thing in the morning between 8.00am and 10.00am (01923 262363), except in an emergency. This helps our Doctors to plan their visits. Doctors normally do home visits after the morning surgery, so usually you can expect a home visit after 1.00pm.

If the patient’s condition deteriorates after they have spoken to us then they should call us back for reassessment or call 999 in case of a medical emergency.

The Partners at Vine House would like to stress that NO patient in definite need of a home visit will be refused.

Early Morning Appointments: Doctors appointments are available from 08:00 am on all days.

Evening and Weekend Appointments: As a part of North Watford PCN , we offer evening and weekend appointments.

We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.

Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.

Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.

If you require interpretation services please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.

We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.

You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the Care Co-Ordinator (s) know) or at any time during the consultation.

You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.

Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.

It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.

Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff. 

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the Care Co-Ordinator (s) and this will be arranged.

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 when you require to arrange any such examination.

As a patient, you are registered with the practice, not an individual GP. You can make an appointment with any of the Doctors at the practice. As medical records are now computerised, all Doctors, at any site can access your details. If you prefer, you can make an appointment with a Doctor of your choice. You may need to wait longer to get an appointment with a specific Doctor of your choice, as they may be in high demand at the time.