Waterloo Health Centre abolishes walk-in GP consultations

From Monday 18 March the surgery will adopt a new system which it claims has been successfully developed in hundreds of practices across the country.

To seek advice from a GP, patients will be able to phone the centre at any time between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday. The receptionist will arrange a time for a GP to ring the patient for a telephone consultation.

If necessary, the GP will then arrange an appointment at the centre – though many patients just want the reassurance of speaking to the doctor.

The centre claims that the new system will eliminate the daily 8am rush for appointments, reduce waiting times at the surgery and ensure patients are seen by the most appropriate medical professional.