Appointments
Making an Appointment - GPs
All appointments can still be booked in person by visiting the surgery or over the phone by speaking to a receptionist, however you can also contact us online.
Telephone consultations cannot be booked on line or via the automated telephone system. When requesting a telephone GP appointment, the receptionist will ask for your contact details- land line or mobile - and a brief description of the problem. They will then book you a telephone call with your chosen GP. The GP will call you back within an hour of your booked slot: if he/she cannot resolve your query over the phone he/she will invite you to attend a face to face consultation during the current surgery. Appointments for all other clinicians including nurses will be booked for a face to face surgery consultation on a date and time to suit you.
The surgery is open to patients for routine issues from 08:10 – 18:15 Monday - Friday. We are available to assist with non-life threatening medical emergencies from 08:00 – 18:30 Monday to Friday. To access the automated booking system please call the main surgery number 01582 767821, select option 1 and follow the simple prompts.
As a Primary Care Network, the 3 GP Surgeries in Harpenden, we offer extended hours appointments with GPs, nurses, physician associates and other healthcare professionals on evenings and weekends - these can be booked by contacting the surgery.
Making an Appointment - Nurses and Healthcare Assistant
If you are unsure whether you need a GP telephone consultation please ask our receptionists for advice. We have a very experienced nursing team who can offer a wide range of medical advice in their specialised clinics:
- Well woman clinics for cytology test, contraceptive and HRT advice and treatment.
- Special clinics for the management of conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension.
- Baby immunisations
- Travel Immunisations
- Wound care
- Stitch removal
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Lifestyle advice
- Hearing tests and management of ear wax.
Arriving at your Appointment
We are unable to provide free car parking at the surgery. There are two council-run car parks adjacent to the surgery which operate pay and display meters. We have a nominated parking bay for our disabled patients at the front of the surgery. We politely ask that this is not used by able bodied patients as a dropping off point.
On arrival, you may choose either to check in at reception, or, for greater speed, use our touch screen booking-in system which can save you waiting at the reception desk.
Regrettably, if you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, we may have to ask you to rebook. If our doctors or nurses are running more than 15 minutes late, reception will let you know on your arrival.
NHS App
The NHS App gives you a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services. Download the NHS App on your smartphone or tablet via the Google play or App store. You can also access the same services in a web browser by logging in through the NHS website.
Earlybird Surgery/Extended Hours
To allow those who find it difficult to attend the surgery during usual opening hours the surgery now opens from 07:00 on some mornings each week.
- Wednesdays
- 07:00 – 08:00 - Dr Katie Nowlan
Network Standard Hours
Within the Harpenden Health PCN, the three Harpenden surgeries offer routine doctor, nurse and other specialist appointments outside of the normal 08:30 to 18:30 day.
Not all these appointments are at Davenport House or with a Davenport House doctor/nurse/specialist but they are at a surgery within the Harpenden area.
Appointments are available across the locality between 07:00 – 08:00 and 18:30 – 20:00 Monday to Friday and 08:00 - 17:00 Saturdays.
Please call to check dates & availability.
Home Visits
We are happy to visit patients who, because of a medical condition, are unable to visit the surgery. We encourage patients to come to surgery wherever possible, because special equipment, facilities and assistance are available if required.
If you require a home visit please contact the surgery as early as possible but before 11.00am to speak to a doctor.
The receptionist will arrange a telephone consultation so that the doctor can speak to you before visiting. We cannot confirm which doctor may visit you as requests are allocated according to the number and clinical nature of the requests.
Continuity of Care
We realise that most people would like to see the same doctor or nurse especially if they have an ongoing condition. We will always try to meet your request but if the doctor or nurse is on annual leave or there is a high demand for a particular clinician the wait for a telephone consultation may be longer than usual.
All clinicians have access to your medical history via our secure computers and you may wish to consider consulting with another clinician if you do not wish to wait.
Interpreter
If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your doctor please notify the receptionist who will arrange this for you.
The service uses interpreters working on a sessional basis, plus agencies and can also provide sign language interpreters.
Cancel an Appointment
It is important that you inform the reception staff 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, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.
You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.
Text Reminder Service
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.
Reception Opening Times
Monday |
08:10 – 18:15 |
Tuesday |
08:10 – 18:15 |
Wednesday |
08:10 – 18:15 |
Thursday |
08:10 – 18:15 |
Friday |
08:10 – 18:15 |
Training Practice
Davenport House Surgery has a long traditional of teaching young doctors aiming to specialise in General Practice. Most doctors will spend a four month period in general practice even if their final chosen career will ultimately be in hospital. This means more junior but fully supervised doctors known as F2 (Foundation year 2) doctors will be increasingly seen by patients at the surgery in the future.
On occasions a registrar may video his/her surgery for training purposes. We will always inform you if a surgery is being videoed and ask your explicit consent prior to the consultation. If you do consent but, following the consultation, wish to withdraw consent pleased let reception know as you leave.