Patient Access
How To Request An Appointment
Appointments can be made via:
- Booking an appointment online via Patient Access
- Calling the practice on 0121 550 1010
Urgent Appointments
We offer routine appointment which can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance. We also offer a limited amount of same day (urgent) appointments. Call at 08:00 for morning appointments and 14:30 for afternoon appointments; note these appointments are for urgent on the day appointments only and you will be triaged by a member of our reception team before booking. Please use the urgent appointments appropriately so that people who need an appointment quickly have this option.
Routine Appointments
We offer routine appointment which can be booked up to 2 weeks in advance.
Home Visits
If you think you need to be seen at home then you should telephone 0121 550 1010 before 11:00, tell us the reason why you need to be seen and leave a contact telephone number.
Home visits are made to the terminally ill and the bed bound and are at the doctors’ discretion. Doctors are only required to visit a patient at home for medical reasons, not social ones (e.g. lack of transport) or for your convenience. While waiting for the doctor, make sure your phone line is kept free and if you feel better or decide to go out, let the doctor know so you don’t waste their time.
If a doctor can’t get a response when they arrive they may be worried that you’re unconscious inside and you may return to find your front door has been broken down.
In the time it takes to see one person at home, your GP could see between two and four patients at the surgery. In addition the medical care your GP provides when visiting may be limited due to a lack of specialist equipment only available at the surgery. Wasting time on unnecessary home visits can delay someone else getting the (sometimes life-saving) treatment they need.
Online Service
If you would like to register for this free service please complete our Register for Online Services form.
Cancelling An Appointment
If you are unable to keep or need to change your appointment please let us know using our Cancel An Appointment triage as soon as possible, this may enable someone else to be seen.
You can also cancel your appointment by replying CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message or by calling the practice.
Minor Eye Conditions (MECS)
The Dudley Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) provides an assessment and treatment for people with recently occurring minor eye conditions. The service is provided by MECS accredited optometrists (also known as opticians) across Dudley who have specialist knowledge, training and skills.
Minor eye conditions that can be treated within the service include:
- Red eye or eyelids
- Dry, gritty and uncomfortable eyes
- Irritation and inflammation of the eyes
- Significant recent sticky discharge from the eye or watery eye
- Recently occurring flashes and floaters
- Painful eye
- In-growing eyelashes
- Recent and sudden loss of vision
- Foreign body in the eye
If you are concerned about your eyes or eyesight, or if you are unsure whether your symptoms can be assessed and treated by the service, please contact one of the participating optometry practices who will advise you.
If you have an eye condition that is being regularly monitored by your optometrist or hospital eye service, this will not be covered by MECS; for example cataracts, diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.
Who is the service for?
The service is for people registered with a Dudley GP and it is for people of all ages. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at the appointment.
How do I book an appointment with the service?
The service is provided by a number of MECS registered optometrists across Dudley and some adjoining areas. You will need to telephone the approved optometrist directly (self refer) to make an appointment. On contacting the optometry practice, you will be asked some questions about your symptoms in order to assess how quickly you need to be seen by the service.
Depending on your systems, you will be seen within 24 or 48 hours. Appointments are available during normal working hours. Some optometry practices offer appointments at the weekend.
Please take your glasses and a list of your current medication with you to the appointment. The optometrist may put drops in your eyes which enlarge the pupils in order to get a better view inside your eyes. You should not drive until the side effects of these drops have worn off, which may take a few hours.
What will happen at my appointment?
The optometrist will discuss your eye history and the symptoms you are experiencing. You will receive an eye assessment, advice and treatment appropriate to your symptoms. You may need a follow-up appointment, and if so, this will be booked at the end of the appointment.
If your condition is more serious, the optometrist will book you an urgent appointment at a hospital eye clinic for further care. If you need a routine appointment with a hospital, the optometrist will refer you for this.
You may also be advised to make an appointment with your GP if your eye conditions is related to your general health. You can find out which practices participate in this service by visiting www.primaryeyecare.co.uk.
The following Halesowen opticians are currently participating in this service:
- Specsavers: 0121 504 4940
- Cacoulis: 0121 422 3356
- Boots: 0121 550 1610
- Scrivens: 0121 501 1010