The Chestnuts Surgery run all of our surgeries by an appointment-only system. Appointments can be booked by telephoning the surgery, visiting the surgery in person or online via Patient Access. You need to register to use our online appointment booking service and this is best done in person at the surgery. Please speak to one of our receptionists for further information.
Please be aware that our regular appointments are ten minutes in duration. If you have more than one problem you wish to discuss you would need to make a double appointment and our reception team can assist with this when you book.
We try to make sure you see the doctor of your choice but if they are not available we may ask you to see another doctor to reduce delays in you being seen and treated.
Appointments are strictly for one person only.
Please attend appointments on time and check in using our arrival screen. Patients who are more than 20 minutes late for their appointment may not be seen as this will delay other patients.
Making Appointments
The Chestnuts Surgery opens at 8.30am but the phone lines open at 8.00am for appointments, please call after 8.30am for any other queries. If you have a pre-booked appointment between 7.00am and 8.30am please press the reception door buzzer for access.
Appointments can be booked in advance or in the case of a genuine emergency, the same day.
If you feel that your problem can be managed by a telephone consultation, the receptionist may arrange for the doctor to call you back.
More GP appointments now available earlier and later in Sittingbourne and Sheppey
We are delighted to announce you can now book to be seen by a GP, nurse and other health professionals until 8.00pm Monday to Friday, and at weekends and bank holidays.
This is part of a national drive to improve access to GP services and give people the opportunity to see health professionals at a time that suits them.
The appointments won’t always be at this surgery, but your notes will be available to the GP, nurse or other health professional, providing you give your consent.
To find out more, and book one of these appointments, please contact us and speak to the receptionist, who will help you see the right person for your needs.
We will offer the new appointments routinely but please tell us if you particularly need a Saturday, Sunday or evening slot. We will also tell you where the appointment will be. Please note the details carefully, as it may not be at this surgery.
Please ring NHS 111 as usual if you need medical assistance when we are closed and it cannot wait until we reopen.
Emergencies - 423197
If you require urgent medical attention call 423197. If the surgery is closed an answering machine will give further advice. Call 423197 for urgent medical advice. If the problem is chest pain, collapse, severe shortness of breath or bleeding it may be appropriate to call 999.
Online Services
You can use our Online Service - EMIS Patient Access to:
- Book appointments
- Request repeat prescriptions
- View part of your medical record (allergies and immunisations)
To register for this service please come to the surgery to collect a form to complete and register, when you hand it back in we will need a form of photo ID.
Patient's that were registered with our previous Online Service will receive a letter in the post informing them of the new login details.
Click here to sign in to Patient Access.
Please be aware that you can only use EMIS Patient Access for these facilities. Please do not try to use other apps for these types of service.
Cancelling Appointments
If you are unable to make your appointment or no longer need it, please give the practice adequate notice that you wish to cancel using our dedicated cancellation line. Frequent non attenders may be removed from the practice list as we have a number of patient awaiting appointments.
Missed Appointments
Missing appointments wastes valuable time and resources, which could be used for other patients. On average we are experiencing 100 appointments per month wasted, this equates to 1000 hours of doctor and nurse time being lost.