Book an appointment by
- Calling the GP surgery on 0161 998 2014
- Using the NHS app
- Asking for an appointment at the reception
Urgent Appointments
Urgent appointments are available each day by calling reception on 0161 998 2014.
If you need an urgent or emergency appointment, we will do our best to accommodate this. This means we can only deal with the urgent problem during the consultation. If there are additional routine problems, we may ask you to book a routine appointment.
If you are requesting an urgent appointment the reception team need to ask some details about your problem. This is so we can give you an appointment with the best healthcare professional. This may be a local provider such as a Pharmacist for emergency contraception or an Optician for a red eye.
Out of Hours and Emergencies
111 is the NHS non-emergency number. It’s fast, easy and free.
Call 111 and speak to a highly trained adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you. You can now also access 111 online!
NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days year. Free from landline and mobile and available online.
In case of a life-threatening emergency, please dial 999.
Routine Appointments
At Bowland, we provide a mixture of routine and same-day appointments. There are face-to-face and telephone consultations available.
You can make an appointment by calling 0161 998 2014 or accessing the NHS app. The appointment may be a telephone call first but if the doctor decides an examination is needed you will be given an appointment to be seen face to face.
Pre-bookable face-to-face and telephone appointments are also available via the NHS app and patient access (see online services).
There are set times for appointments. We will attempt to provide appointments at a time that suits your schedule, however this may not be always be possible. We also have some appointments outside normal working hours; for more information about these, please see extended access below.
Appointments may be with:
- Foundation trainee doctors
- GP training doctors
- A physician associate
- A regular GP
- A locum GP (due to sickness or absence).
Regardless of which professional the appointment is with; we work as a team. If there is uncertainty, then your case will be discussed with the wider team to get the best outcome. If it is not clear who your appointment is with you are welcome to ask this during the consultation or when you make the appointment.
We try our best to accommodate your needs and preferences at all times; however, if you wish to see a particular doctor, we cannot guarantee an appointment on the same day.
Extended Access Appointments
Bowland Road, working in collaboration with Manchester Extended Access, is pleased to offer GP, Practice Nurse (including for smear appointments) and Healthcare Assistant appointments in the evenings and weekends. These appointments are available at Bowland Road on Tuesday evenings. On other weekday evenings, and at weekends, these are hosted at nearby surgeries.
The GP or health care professional who sees you will have access to your medical record and can issue prescriptions if required. Bowland Road will be notified of your appointment and will request any investigations needed.
To book an extended hours appointment please call reception on 0161 998 2014 ideally after 11am.
We have a range of healthcare professionals
Smears
Annual health checks
Contraception counselling,
HRT reviews,
ECGs, Blood Pressure Checks
Travel vaccinations,
Childhood vaccinations and
Seasonal vaccinations
Please call reception on 0161 998 2014 or ask at the desk to access these appointments directly.
Any foot or nail problem
Please call reception on 0161 998 2014 or ask at the desk to access these appointments directly.
If you’d like to discuss your medications or if you have any questions about them.
Please call reception on 0161 998 2014 or ask at the desk to access these appointments directly.
If you have a new issue with your muscles, bones, or joints, or if you’ve recently hurt yourself, you can see our excellent physiotherapists directly. You don’t need to see a GP first.
Please call reception on 0161 998 2014 or ask at the desk to access these appointments directly.
To see our mental health practitioner you will need a referral from a GP.
Our dietician will very shortly start running group clinics.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- If you need an interpreter
- If you have any other access or communication needs
Home Visits and Under 14s
Home Visits
Home visits are only available if you are housebound and need to see a GP or nurse.
A home visit is appropriate where a patient is terminally ill or bed bound and travel by car could cause a significant deterioration in health or cause distress.
Lack of transport is not an acceptable reason for a home visit.
If you need a home visit:
- Please contact the GP surgery before 10am if possible
- Explain to the reception team why you need a home visit
- Be prepared to have a telephone consultation initially – the doctor will discuss the plan which may include liaising with community home visiting teams to provide your care
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time it takes to make one home visit. There are better options for examining patients at the surgery.
Bowland road is on a bus and tram route. Please consider asking friends or family for support or using local transport services: https://tfgm.com/public-transport/ring-and-ride-minibuses
You may get reimbursed for transport costs to attend appointments : https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/transport/
It may be possible to have prescriptions delivered using this service : https://nhscarevolunteerresponders.org/
Under 14 Year Olds
Children under 14 should normally be accompanied by an adult when seeing a doctor or collecting medicines.
If a young person strongly wishes to come to their appointment without his/her parent’s involvement, his/her confidentiality will be respected.
Cancelling Appointments
Non-urgent advice:
If you cannot attend an appointment please inform us as soon as possible for us to give the slot to someone else.
Call us on 0161 998 2014 to cancel your appointment.
Use Patient Access or the NHS app to cancel an appointment.
Reply to a text message reminder to cancel
Complete this online form https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/bowland-medical-practice/form/2473/5583
Our Top Tips to get the most from your appointment
Getting the most from your appointment
Appointments are booked in 10 minute slots so to enable the surgeries to run efficiently, please arrive on time and notify reception as soon as possible if you will be late or are unable to attend. If you do arrive late it is at the GP’s discretion as to whether you will be seen or asked to re-book another appointment.
In Great Britain, patients on average have just seven minutes with their GP. The BMA’s doctor patient partnership offers the following advice to help you use this time effectively.
- Be prepared
- Make a list of any questions/problems you wish to discuss before hand
- Take a pen and paper as you may want to note down important points
- Wear loose clothing if it’s likely you will need to be examined
- Be prepared to tell your doctor of any non-prescription medicines or supplements you are taking
- You can bring someone with you for support
During the appointment
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- If you don’t understand, ask your doctor to repeat it or write it down
- If you are prescribed a drug, make sure you know why it has been given to you, how long to take it for etc. Remember pharmacists are experts in medication and a very useful source of advice
- Be direct. If you have a problem that you find embarrassing or difficult to talk about, don’t leave it to the end of the appointment before mentioning it. Remember your problem is likely to a common one for your GP, who is there to help you
One problem at a time
If you have several problems it is more effective in the long run to concentrate on just one problem during the consultation than to have to rush through a list of problems. Be prepared to make another appointment so that each problem can be given the time it needs to be sorted out.
Be on time
Be on time for your appointment, or inform the surgery as soon as possible, if you wish to cancel your appointment.
Separate appointments
Make a separate appointment for each member of the family.