A VILLAGE surgery is having to introduce a new appointments system, to cope with the number of patients.From now on, a new system at Constable Country Medical Practice at East Bergholt will see the new role of a triage doctor, longer doctors' surgeries in the mornings and no more five-minute emergency appointments.

By Tracey Sparling

A VILLAGE surgery is having to introduce a new appointments system, to cope with the number of patients.

From now on, a new system at Constable Country Medical Practice at East Bergholt will see the new role of a triage doctor, longer doctors' surgeries in the mornings and no more five-minute emergency appointments.

The new system is being trialled for three months and Lesley Hutchins practice manager said she would be grateful for any feedback from patients, but warned there might be teething problems in the first few weeks.

She said: "The practice has been aware over the past months, that our appointment system is not coping with the number of patients requiring appointments, and it has been decided that the system needs to be reviewed.

"It is hoped that this system will provide a better service for our patients."

When a patient telephones for an appointment, the receptionist will ask whether it is an emergency or urgent. If it's urgent, she will take the patient's details for the triage doctor to ring back and assess the situation, then either give advice, book and appointment, or visit.

People needing a five-minute emergency slot will also be dealt with by the triage doctor. It is hoped that with a doctor dedicated to dealing with urgent problems, it will leave more flexibility within the appointment system.

Patients will only be able to book appointments two weeks in advance.