We have improved our appointment system.

To allow us to see and deal with patients in the most appropriate time frames, we are now using a Total Triage system for booking appointments at the practice, and for admin queries. 

Total triage is a General Practice workflow where every patient contacting the practice first provides some information on the reasons for contact and is triaged by a GP before an appointment is made. Please watch the video animation for an overview, or see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

All patient requests will be triaged by one of our experienced GPs who will decide what the best course of action is. Where necessary, we might ask you to answer a few additional questions to help our doctor prioritise those patients who need more urgent care.

You could be given a face to face or telephone appointment, you could have a reply from the GP with self-care advice or you could be signposted to a more appropriate service.

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT - we strongly encourage you to fill the form out yourself, however if you are unable or unsure then please contact reception at the front desk or via telephone and they will submit the form for you

How can I request an appointment?
The fastest and most convenient way to contact us with medical or administrative queries is by submitting an online request yourself, either by CLICKING HERE or via the NHS app. 

I struggle with using the Internet or cannot do the form myself, what can I do?
We are an accessible practice - you can still come into the surgery or call us and a member of the Reception team can fill out the form on your behalf. The form will still be triaged by a GP in the same way.

Why is there a new system?
Total Triage is an NHS ‘Modern General Practice’ model to make access to care and treatment easier and fairer for all patients. Total Triage was created to beat the "8am rush", where traditionally all the appointments were allocated on a first come, first served basis, with long telephone queues. Our new system means that everyone has their request reviewed by an experienced GP, who then can ensure that all patients receive the appropriate care in the appropriate time frame.

Can I still call at 8am to book an on-the-day appointment?
No. Our Reception team will not be able to book you in for an appointment directly. Instead, they will direct you towards the online form or they will complete it on your behalf if you are unable to access it yourself. ALL incoming requests have to be triaged by a GP, who will then assess what kind of care you need and within what time frame. This is a national NHS project and all GP practices must adopt the system by 1st October 2025.

What will the triaging GP do?
The triaging GP will look at ALL incoming request forms and decide the appropriate care needed and the timeframe - this could be, for example:

• a face to face or telephone appointment on the same day with a GP
• a face to face or telephone appointment within 1 week with a GP
• a routine face to face or telephone appointment within 2-4 weeks with a GP
• signposting to the most appropriate service or clinician (e.g. MSK physio, Mental Health Practitioner, Social Prescriber, Pharmacy First, and so on)
• medical advice
• other

How long will it take to hear back once my request is submitted?
We aim to view and action each medical request ASAP and will have a GP triaging every day, however this is not an emergency service and requests may not be seen until the following working day (especially for those submitted in the afternoon). Requests will be triaged within 2 working days. If you require urgent or emergency help then please contact NHS111 or 999.

How will I know the outcome of the form?
Once the GP has triaged your request and decided on the appropriate action, you will be contacted either by text or our Reception team will call you to action the GP's outcome. If an appointment is needed then you may be sent a link to self-book online. Your GP may contact you directly if more information is needed.

Will I receive a quicker response if I attend or call the surgery?
No. If you visit or call the surgery you will still need to fill out the same triage form, which will be assessed in the same way by the triaging GP. The process is the same for ALL patients. The only difference is that a Receptionist will go through the form with you and submit it on your behalf.

Do I have to register to use the online form?
No. You only need to be registered as a patient at the surgery. There are no additional requirements.

Do I have to have the NHS app?
No. You can fill out the form using your Internet browser. However, if you do have the NHS app then it should automatically open when you click the link to the online form.

What time is the request form open?
The form for medical requests, including requesting appointments, is open during our core hours: Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm. There is no time restraint on admin requests.

Can I request to see a certain doctor?
Yes. At the end of the form there is an option to write who you would like to see. Please note that this may increase your waiting time for an appointment as not all of our GPs work every day.

I can't get to the Bentley/Woodside practice, what do I do?
There is space on the form for you to write where you would like the appointment to be held, or that you would like it to be via telephone.

Can I ask for a preferred time to be contacted?
Yes. There is space on the form for you to write when you are available.

Can a form be submitted on behalf of someone else?
Yes. On the form there is an option to state you are completing this on behalf of someone else and will ask for their details. So, you can fill it out for your children if they are too young to do it themselves, or your children or a friend can fill it out for you if you are not able to do it for yourself.

Do I need to complete the form for requesting follow-up appointments with my GP for an ongoing issue?
No. If your GP has stated on your previous appointment notes that they would like to see you again in 1/2/4 weeks etc, then you can contact Reception as you previously would and they can book for you directly.

Do I need to complete the form for an appointment with a Nurse or Healthcare Assistant?
No. You can still book nurse appointments directly via Reception as you previously would.

Can I ask about admin queries, such as fit notes, blood test results, referrals, or prescriptions?
Yes. At the beginning of the form you are given the option of selecting 'I have an admin request'.

I don't feel comfortable sharing details of my issue with the Reception team. What can I do?
Our Reception team have been trained to care navigate you to the most appropriate service, which involves asking some information about the issue you are experiencing. If you are not comfortable sharing details of why you need an appointment then our Reception team can send you a link to fill out the form yourself so that you can do so privately. Our triaging GPs need to have as much information as possible in order to properly triage your request.

If you need to book a routine follow-up appointment with a particular GP the receptionist will book this for you. Many routine appointments are for patients who have a long-term or chronic condition that needs monitoring on a regular basis.

We will let you know when your next appointment is due with the practice nurse or doctor either by post. If this time is not convenient, please telephone reception to re-arrange it.

It is important to continue your regular check-ups, even if you are feeling well.

Routine appointments are available during normal surgery hours with the practice nurse and/or doctor.

Our nurses have been specially trained to undertake healthcare monitoring for patients with long-term conditions. If patients see our nurses for routine healthcare needs or for straightforward medical help it means that our doctors have more time to see patients with more complex healthcare needs. It also means that our GPs have more time to undertake procedures, such as minor surgery, that used to be done only in hospital.

Each of our nurses specialises in a different area, so you need to book ahead with the most appropriate person.

The reception staff can generally advise whether an early appointment with the nurse will be satisfactory for your particular health problem. However, you do not have to inform the reception staff if you prefer to wait for an appointment with a GP.

The Ransome Practice offer extended surgeries on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with members of our clinical staff at the following times:

• Wednesdays from 7am-8am at our Bentley surgery (GP and nurse appointments available) and 6:30-8pm via telephone (GP appointments)
• Thursdays from 6pm-8pm at our Bentley surgery (GP appointments available)
• Fridays from 7am-8am at our Woodside surgery (nurse appointments available)
• MSK physio clinics run at our Bentley surgery on selected Saturdays from 9am-5pm 

Please contact us on 01302 874416 to make an appointment or message us online here or via the NHS app

Home Visit requests can be submitted for those patients who are housebound or temporatily confined to their home due to illness. 

Once a Home Visit request has been submitted, it will be viewed by a GP on the same day who will assess the request and determine if a home visit is necessary. Please note that the GP may feel an alternative appointment, such as via telephone, may be more appropriate. 

All patients have the right to attend their appointment with a chaperone - for example, a family member or friend. You can also request that a member of The Ransome Practice staff chaperones during examinations.

Please note that a GP may request that a member of staff chaperones during your appointment, to ensure the comfort and safety of all parties - if you have an issue with this then please inform the GP

We use an interpreter service for a wide range of languages. If you require an interpreter during your appointment then please inform the Reception team before your appointment and it will be arranged for you. 

Check out Our Staff page to see the languages spoken by our GPs.

Please attend your appointment on time. We are a busy working practice and our GPs and Nursing Team have fully booked schedules on most days. If you are late then you may not be seen and may have to reschedule your appointment.

If it is looking like you will be late, please contact the practice on 01302 874416 or via the NHS app to let us know. Your clinician may be able to move on to their next appointment, but this is not always possible.

It is important that you inform us 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 then this will be recorded as a Did Not Attend (DNA). Multiple instances of DNAs will result in you being removed from the practice list.

You can cancel your appointment via the NHS app or by contacting us on 01302 874416 or at syicb-doncaster.ransome.practice@nhs.net

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.