Contact us with Patchs
You can contact a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional online using a website called Patchs.
Urgent appointments
To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday) during opening times:
- use the Patchs service
- phone us on 0151 290 4700
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.
Routine appointments
To request a routine appointment in advance during opening times:
- use the Patchs service
- phone us on 0151 290 4700
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) or Patient Access to book an appointment, screening test or vaccination
When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.
We will use your answers to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to help you.
Get medical advice from a nurse
To ask a non-urgent medical question:
- fill out an ask a nurse a question form
We will respond within 2 working days during opening times.
Other ways to get help
Appointment times
The practice offers a range of appointment times:
- Doctors, 9am to 5:40pm
- Nurse, 8:45am to 5:45pm
- Healthcare assistant, 1:30pm to 5:40pm
Pre-bookable appointments
As a patient you have the right to express preference as to whom you wish to see. The surgery offers pre bookable appointments with a GP of your choice. This may result in a delay if you wish to see a particular GP.
On the day appointments
We now offer on the day appointments. If you would like to see a GP on the day please call the surgery. You will be asked to attend at a specific time and will be seen by the doctor on duty. Unfortunately you will not be able to see a GP of your choice.
There are a limited number of phone consultations available if you feel these would suit you rather than visit the doctor. Please contact reception for further information.
Telephone advice and consultations
Appointments via telephone are available each morning. Please call the surgery for more information.
Enhanced access service
This practice is part of St Helens South Primary Care Network (PCN), who are providing early morning, evening and weekend appointments for our patients. These appointments are in addition to those provided by the practice and are generally used for routine, non-urgent care.
This enhanced access service provides a range of pre-bookable appointment types covering normal GP & ANP appointments and routine nursing care such as annual reviews and smears, as well as more specialised appointments for physio, podiatry, mental health, pharmacists and social prescribers:
- Monday, 6:30pm to 9pm,GP and ANP appointments
- Tuesday, 7am to 11am, GP appointments
- Tuesday, 6:30pm to 9pm,GP, ANP and social prescribing appointments
- Wednesday, 6:30pm to 9pm, GP, ANP, social prescribing and pharmacy appointments
- Thursday, 6:30pm to 9pm, GP, podiatry, practice nurse appointments
- Friday, 6:30pm to 9pm, GP appointments
- Saturday, 9am to 5pm, various appointments which can change each week and may include specialist clinics, such as coil fitting and removal
Please note the Monday to Friday sessions are held remotely, via telephone, apart from the practice nurse and podiatry clinic which will be held at Rainhill Village Surgery.
The face to face appointments on Saturdays will be held at the following venues:
- Rainhill Village Surgery
529 Warrington Road, Rainhill, L35 4LP - The Spinney Medical Centre
Whittle Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 3EB
To make an appointment, please contact the surgery, and you will be offered an enhanced access service where appropriate.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel your appointment:
- use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
- use the GP online system: Patient Access
- phone us on 0151 290 4700 during opening times
If you need help when we are closed
If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.
Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
If you need help with your appointment
Please tell us:
- if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
- if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
- if you need an interpreter
- if you have any other access or communication needs
Home visits
Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls.
Generally speaking children will not come to any harm by being brought down to the surgery, and they will be seen by the doctor much sooner. If you are concerned please phone 0151 290 4700.