Use your practice appropriately

The demands on your doctor's practice are constantly growing. Please be aware that our aim is to provide the best care we can for you. It does mean that the receptionist is there to help provide you with the most appropriate appointment.

  • Most appointments are not required immediately
  • When your appointment is urgent, we have same day capacity, and the urgency should be for your health, not just your convenience
  • You can have appointments in various ways and these include; face to face consultation and telephone consultation
  • The clinicians cannot help you when you have a cold or flu

How do I choose if I need to see my doctor or a nurse?

The receptionist follows a protocol to help you to make the most appropriate appointment for your needs. They will, therefore, ask you if you would give them an idea about what you need to see the doctor for, although you are not obliged to divulge this, very often it will enable them to help you better. It can save you time ensuring that you are seeing the appropriate clinician for your problem.

The practice has several types of appointment available:

Appointment TypeDoctorNurse
Emergency, same day appointments
Pre-bookable
Telephone appointments

Same day appointments

The emergency same day appointments should be used when there is an acute need; otherwise the wait will vary on the demand but will generally be within 7 working days. When your Dr has returned from leave or there is an epidemic this can be considerably longer but for emergency or acute need then you can be seen on the same day.

Nurse Appointments

As a general rule you will require a doctor appointment if you need a diagnosis and to agree a plan to manage your health. However the nurses action procedures such as:

  • Blood Test
  • B12 injection
  • Blood Pressure check
  • Child vaccination
  • Coil fittings
  • Coil removal (routine)
  • Contraceptive advice
  • COPD (breathing review)
  • Diabetic checks
  • Doppler/Stocking assessment
  • Dressings
  • Ear syringe
  • ECG routine
  • ECG urgent
  • Flu and Pneumovax injections
  • Healthy heart checks
  • Hepatitis A/B booster
  • Hickmann/PICC line
  • Minor illness/injury/urgent
  • Pill checks
  • Ring pessaries
  • Smear
  • Smoking cessation
  • Spirometry
  • Suture (stitch) removal
  • Swabs
  • Tetanus booster
  • Travel advice
  • Triage/telephone advice
  • Weight/dietary advice

Home visits

If you are too ill or physically unable to attend your surgery, arrangements can be made for a doctor to visit you at home. This may be the case if you have a disability and are housebound. Remember demands on the doctors are considerable and growing and a doctor can see several patients at the surgery, with all the advantages of equipment and appropriate lighting, in the time taken to complete a home visit so if you can attend the surgery please do so.

Can I change my doctor?

Should you wish to change to another doctor within the practice, please ask your doctor or at reception. You have the right to change your doctor without giving a reason. It is helpful if you also notify the surgery that you are leaving.

St Leonard's Practice

The Surgery
Athelstan Road
Exeter EX1 1SB

Surgery opening hours
Monday to Friday 08:15 - 18:00
Closed Wed 13:00 - 14:00

Appointment Line: 01392 201 791
General Enquiries: 01392 201 790

Surgery telephone hours
Monday to Friday 08:30 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 18:00

All calls to and from St Leonard's Practice are recorded. Recordings will only be accessed as required for quality and training purposes and may be used in complaint resolution.

The St Leonard's Practice provides GP and family doctor services to patients in Exeter, Wonford, Heavitree, St Leonard's, Whipton, Stoke Hill and Pennsylvania.