There is no casualty department at the surgery and we do not operate a ‘drop in’ service.  All patients with injuries needing stitches, or where a broken bone is suspected, should attend the Minor Injuries Unit at Ramsey & District Cottage Hospital or the Accident and Emergency Department at Noble's Hospital.

Below are some top tips for when you visit your doctor:

Before the appointment:

• Write down your two or three most important questions. 
• Write down the details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse. 
• If you are taking any ‘over the counter’ medicines or supplements that the doctor has not prescribed, make sure that you take a list of them, so that the doctor knows what you are taking. 

During the appointment:

• Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. 
• If you aren’t sure about one or more of the words about your condition or treatment, ask for them to be written down. 
• Write things down in a notebook.  This makes it easier to remember afterwards what the doctor or nurse told you.

Before you leave the appointment make sure you:

• Check that you’ve understood what was said.  Ask the doctor/Nurse to explain again if you aren’t sure.
• Check that you’ve understood what treatment (if any) is being recommended for you and how it will happen e.g. will it be an outpatient appointment at the hospital, or do you need blood tests, or have you been given some medication.  If the doctor has prescribed some medicine for you, do you understand how you should take it and when it should be started/finished?
• Is there anything that you should stop or start doing that is making your condition worse?
• Is there anything that you can do to help yourself?
• What happens next?  (e.g. do you need to make another appointment?)
• Take any belongings with you.

Think you may have left something behind?

Speak to the reception staff to check if any lost property has been handed in.  Please do not later return to the room where you were seen because you may disturb another patient’s consultation.

After the appointment

• If the clinician has referred you to the hospital you will be sent an appointment accordingly. Waiting lists can be lengthy; if you are anxious to know when you are going to be seen please contact the Patient Information Centre at Noble’s Hospital on 650103.
• Any ongoing medications will be added to your repeat medication list. Further supplies should be requested as per the advice set out on our prescriptions page
• If you have been advised to have tests, once you have had these done please allow 7-10 days before contacting the practice to find out about the results. We may be in touch with you before this time but would always advise you to contact the practice if you have not had any contact within 7-10 days.
• Call into the reception desk or telephone the practice to make a follow-up appointment if this has been advised.
• If your symptoms worsen following your appointment please see our signposting page or contact the practice for further advice.

A substantial number of appointments are wasted due to non-attendance. Monthly audit checks tell us that on average 120 patients fail to attend their appointments every month.  PLEASE contact us as early as you can if you cannot attend your appointment. You can do so in the following ways:

• By calling the practice on 623931.
• In person at the practice reception.
• Online using Patient Access via the link at the top of this page
• By e-mail to palatine@gov.im.
• By responding to the link given in your appointment reminder text.

We would ask that you call us if your appointment is within 24 hours as we can only check online intermittently. Practice policy is that patients who persistently fail to attend without extenuating circumstances will ultimately be removed from our list. 

We are frequently asked if we hold a cancellation list of patients we can contact should a cancellation slot arise.  No cancellation lists are held by the practice.  Cancellation slots are often reallocated within minutes of the cancellation occurring and we would advise if you require an urgent appointment to utilise the 08:00 on the day appointment system as detailed above.

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:00.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

For hospital outpatient appointments, please contact Manx Care by telephoning 01624 650103.  If you cannot attend a hospital appointment select Option 1 to cancel an appointment.  This line is manned Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with the facility to leave a message outside those times, or at busy times. 

For appointments with other departments such as radiology, endocrinology, diabetes, audiology etc please contact the number detailed on your appointment letter.