Important Update: Changes to Our Appointment Service During August 2026

Accessing Your GP Services at Poplar Grove

Dear Patients,

We'd like to let you know about a temporary change to the way GP appointments will be provided during August.

As several members of our clinical team, including our locum GPs, will be taking planned annual leave, we will have fewer GP appointments available than usual. We understand that accessing an appointment is important to you, and we appreciate that this temporary change may be disappointing.

What will be changing?

Throughout August, we will be offering on-the-day appointments for urgent medical problems only.

Unfortunately, routine pre-bookable GP appointments will not be available during this period.

If you feel you need urgent medical advice or an appointment, please submit an eConsult or contact the practice on the day you are available to attend. Every request is carefully reviewed and triaged by one of our GPs, who will assess your symptoms and decide the most appropriate next step based on your clinical need.

This approach helps us ensure that patients who need urgent medical care are seen as quickly as possible while allowing us to continue providing a safe and effective service during a month when our clinical capacity is reduced.

We would like to reassure you that this is a temporary change for August only, and we plan to return to our usual appointment system in September.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides how urgent my eConsult is?

Every eConsult is reviewed by one of our GPs. They assess the information you provide and determine how urgently you need to be seen, as well as the most appropriate clinician or service to help you. This clinical triage process ensures appointments are allocated fairly and according to medical need.

What happens if my eConsult is assessed as routine?

If your request is assessed as routine and does not require urgent attention, you may be asked to submit a new eConsult in September if your symptoms are still present. If your symptoms worsen, change, or you become concerned at any point, please contact the practice again via eConsult so that your condition can be reassessed.

Why do I need to use eConsult?

eConsult helps our GPs understand your symptoms before an appointment is arranged. It enables us to prioritise patients according to clinical need, direct requests to the most appropriate healthcare professional, and make the best use of the appointments we have available. Many patients also find it convenient because it can be completed online without the frustrations of hanging on the phone.

 

How you can help

During August, you can support us by:

• Contacting the practice through eConsult on the day if you have a new or urgent medical problem.
  
  
• Ordering repeat prescriptions well in advance, particularly before weekends or bank holidays.
  
  
• Cancelling appointments, you no longer need so they can be offered to another patient.
  
  
• Considering Pharmacy First for common minor illnesses. Your local pharmacy can often provide the quickest and most convenient care for many common health conditions. Through the Pharmacy First service, specially trained pharmacists can assess and treat a range of minor illnesses without you needing to see a GP. Choosing Pharmacy First when appropriate helps you receive expert care more quickly and allows GP appointments to remain available for patients with more complex or urgent healthcare needs.

 

Thank you for your continued support, kindness and understanding while we manage our services during August.  We look forward to returning to our usual appointment system in September.

 

Dr Sunil Pillai and Partners