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FAQs

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST CONSULTATION

You might be asked to complete a questionnaire, usually before your consultation, giving a full medical history. This will allow more time to talk through your symptoms during the consultation itself and giving your medical history will help in fully understanding of your condition.

If you prefer you can have a relative or friend with you during your consultation. An adult must accompany patients under the age of 18.

If remedies or medicines are prescribed, these will be made up for you and items will be posted out to you later. Postage charges will apply.

When booking an appointment for the first time, you will be asked to pay the full new patient consultation fee in advance. This sum will be refunded to you in full should you wish to cancel your appointment on condition that 2 working days’ notice is given.

Follow up consultation fees should be made after the appointment. Remedies are sent out after payment received. All major credit cards are accepted (except American Express).

Payment for consultation fees and remedies will be taken either over the phone or an online payment link will be sent to you via email.

Face to face consultations take place in Winchester at St Clement’s Surgery (Tanner Street) on Thursdays. Remote consultations (over the phone or as a video call) are available on Mondays and Tuesdays.

We require 2 working days’ notice for a cancellation of your consultation. If sufficient notice is not given or if an appointment is missed, 50% of the consultation fee will be charged. This fee may be waived under exceptional personal circumstances.

Please be advised that we would not recommend a patient suffering from a heavy cold, flu or a stomach bug to attend their face-to-face appointment in order to avoid cross contamination. If you are unsure, please contact the practice for advice and reschedule your appointment if necessary.

Please send emails to enquiries@gentlebreeze.uk or call 033 33 401 021.

I generally set aside time for email Monday to Thursday, but this can vary depending on my schedule.

I am out of the office on Fridays and take a complete break from email outside of my work hours.

Depending on the query, a telephone consultation might be arranged or your next appointment may be brought forward. Please note that, with the exception of emergencies, we will only be able to deal with queries on clinic days.

For advice between appointments the following charges apply:

  1. For a straightforward, single query arising from a consultation, there is no charge.
  2. For matters beyond what was covered in the consultation, a set fee of £25 applies.
  3. For a query which is essentially a full consultation, it is recommended that you book a further consultation. This can be in person or remote. All consultations will be charged at the standard rate. If you are unable to arrange a further consultation but require a response to your email, this will be charged as a standard consultation fee.

I do not run an emergency service. If you have a medical emergency, please contact either the emergency services or NHS Direct on 111.

If you are an existing patient and have an urgent query related to treatment received at thepractice which cannot wait for a reply during opening hours, please leave a message on the answering machine. Any messages left on the answering machine will be dealt with during practice opening hours.

Please ask directions and parking when booking your first appointment.

The consulting room at St Clements Surgery is on the ground floor with easy access.

Certain personal and health information will be kept about you in our manual and computerised systems. All such information is treated as being confidential and is subject to the practice’s Confidentiality Policy and the Data Protection Act (1988). The use and disclosure of patient health data by the practice can only be undertaken where certain conditions are met, the essential ones being:

  • A patient has given their explicit consent or it is necessary for the provision of health care (this can include the management of administration processes that are necessary in order to provide healthcare).
  • Where a patient has provided information for their healthcare and treatment, they must be made aware of, and in agreement with, how the information is used and to whom it may be disclosed.
  • Only persons who are directly involved in the above and have a legal right to view the data can have access. The information will be used for that purpose only. In all cases, the minimum amount of information must be disclosed and accessed.
  • Where patient information is being considered for other uses such as research or education, this will always require consent of the patient to use it in this way.

As a patient, you have the right under the Data Protection Act (1988) to request access to the records the practice holds on you.

Patients who have private health insurance policies need to settle their invoices directly with the practice and then claim reimbursement directly from their insurance provider. The practice will provide you with a receipt to assist your claim.