You may make an appointment to see our practice nurse at either surgery.
The Practice Nurse clinics cover:
- Travel vaccinations (need to be requested a minimum of 6 weeks in advance)
- Immunisations
- Dressings
- Wound and ulcer management
- Smears and contraceptive advice.
- Long term condition reviews
This list is not exhaustive, and some appointments need to be arranged with a specialised Nurse; if you are unsure who you need to see, please ask a receptionist who will be happy to advise.
A phlebotomy clinic is held everyday by our Healthcare Assistants.
Please note, for hospital blood test requests, the Lincoln Clinical Diagnostic Centre is available.
These are run at both ends of the practice by appointment with the nurse.
This is run at both surgeries by appointment with the nurse.
Patients requiring medicals will usually be seen outside surgery hours so please mention the nature of the medical when booking. You may be asked for a deposit towards the cost of medical in advance of your appointment.
Minor surgical procedures under local anaesthetics are performed in the surgery by appointment.
Please note, this service is currently paused. We will let our patients know when this has resumed.
Joint injection clinics are currently being held on a Monday afternoon.
You require an assessment by a GP before being placed on the waitlist for this.
Antenatal clinics are run at both surgeries by the community midwife. The doctors see antenatal patients in their normal surgeries. Postnatal appointments take longer than usual and you should mention this when making an appointment.
Baby immunisations are undertaken by the Practice Nurse during her routine clinics.
Doctors perform 6-8week checks.
We can refer patients who wish to stop smoking to OneYou Lincolnshire.
Alternatively, you can self-refer by clicking here
The practice has a full compliment of community staff such as district nurses, health visitors and midwife.
The district nurse can be contacted directly by an answering machine on 01522 685786. Messages are collected regularly during the day. This service is designed for rountine messages and not an emergency service.
Home visit policy
At The Welby Group, we understand that some patients may not be able to come into the surgery due to medical reasons. While we aim to provide care in the most appropriate setting, home visits are only available when clinically necessary.
This guidance helps patients understand when a home visit might be offered, how to request one, and what to expect.
In an emergency
The Welby Group of practices is not suitable for emergencies. If you or someone else is experiencing:
- Chest pain
- Severe shortness of breath
- Heavy bleeding
- Collapse, stroke, or unconsciousness
Call 999 immediately.
When a home visit may be offered
You may be eligible for a home visit if:
- You are housebound due to illness or disability (please note if you can attend hospital appointments, you will need to attend the surgery).
- You live in a care home and cannot be brought to the surgery
Each case is reviewed by a clinician who will assess whether a visit is medically necessary.
When a home visit is not normally offered
We will not usually offer home visits for reasons such as:
- Lack of transport
- Bad weather
- Preference to be seen at home
- Feeling too unwell, but you can still travel
We understand these situations may be difficult, but our clinicians must prioritise care based on clinical need.
How to request a home visit
If you believe you need a home visit:
1. Call the practice before 11 am wherever possible
2. A trained team member will ask you about your symptoms and confirm your contact details
3. A clinician will then phone you back to assess whether a visit is needed
Depending on your needs, we may:
- Arrange a home visit
- Offer a telephone or video call
- Book a face-to-face appointment at the surgery
- Advise other services (e.g. A&E or 999 if needed)
Children and home visits
Children will usually be seen at the surgery. If there’s a serious concern, a clinician will assess whether a home visit is needed.
Safety and risk
Every home visit is risk-assessed to protect both patients and staff. In some cases, we may:
- Visit in pairs
- Use a chaperone
- Recommend an alternative care plan if a visit is not safe
COVID-19 and Infection Control
During outbreaks (like COVID-19), home visits are only made when:
- Phone or video appointments are not suitable
- A physical exam is essential, and the patient cannot attend the surgery
We aim to minimise in-person contact and will often liaise with wider community teams.
Out-of-area patients
Patients registered under the Out of Area scheme are not eligible for home visits. You should access services closer to home.
Transparency and fairness
We will:
- Publicise our home visiting criteria in surgery and online
- Always offer alternative care options if a home visit is not appropriate
- Ensure fair allocation of clinical resources to all our patients
Working together
By understanding when home visits are appropriate, we can ensure those most in need are seen safely and effectively.
If you’re unsure whether you or a loved one qualifies for a home visit, please call us for advice.
Contact us: 01522 811411
NHS and Private Healthcare
What Patients Need to Know
We understand that some patients may choose to access some or all of their healthcare privately. Patients have the right to make this choice, and we want to help you understand how private care and NHS services work alongside each other.
This guide explains what happens when you choose to see a private consultant, how NHS and private services work together, and what you can expect from your GP practice.
Important things to know
Your NHS care remains free
You will never be asked to pay for NHS treatment. The only charges you may be responsible for are standard NHS charges, such as prescription fees.
NHS funding cannot be used for private treatment
NHS services cannot pay for, subsidise, or reduce the cost of private healthcare.
NHS and private care must remain separate
If you choose to access private healthcare, NHS and private treatment cannot be combined for the same health issue. This helps ensure your care remains safe, clear and appropriately managed.
Your NHS waiting list position will not be affected
Choosing to have a private consultation or treatment will not move you up or down an NHS waiting list.
Accessing private healthcare
Do I need a GP referral for private treatment?
You can usually arrange private healthcare without a GP referral, although many private consultants and providers prefer patients to have one.
The British Medical Association (BMA) recommends a GP referral where appropriate, as this helps ensure the clinician caring for you has the relevant medical information needed to provide safe and effective care.
If you have private medical insurance (for example, Bupa)
If your insurer or private provider requires a GP referral, your GP can provide a referral letter containing relevant information from your medical records.
Please wait until you have received your referral letter before booking your private appointment, as this will help the consultant understand your medical background.
Some insurance forms or medical reports may require additional information and may carry a charge.
If you do not have private medical insurance
You can usually contact a private hospital, clinic or consultant directly to arrange an appointment.
Your private provider will be able to advise you about appointments, costs, investigations and any paperwork required.
Seeing a private consultant
Can I mix NHS and private care for the same condition?
No. NHS and private treatment cannot be combined for the same health issue.
For example, you cannot have one part of a treatment pathway privately and then ask the NHS to provide another part of the same treatment.
This ensures that your care remains safe, coordinated and follows NHS guidance.
What happens after a private consultation?
Your private consultant should send a letter to both you and your GP practice summarising your appointment, their recommendations and any treatment plans.
If your consultant recommends further tests, investigations or procedures, these will usually be arranged privately by the consultant or private provider.
If tests or investigations have been arranged privately, your private consultant is responsible for reviewing the results with you and explaining any next steps. Your GP practice may not have access to these results or be able to interpret them on behalf of the private provider.
Please allow up to 7 days for correspondence from your private consultant to reach and be reviewed by the practice before contacting us.
Tests, procedures and complications
What happens if I need a test, scan or procedure?
If your private consultant recommends a test, scan, procedure or surgery, they are responsible for:
- Arranging the test or procedure.
- Explaining what is involved and when it will take place.
- Arranging any medication needed as part of the private treatment.
- Reviewing and explaining the results with you.
These arrangements will normally need to be made through your private provider.
What happens if I develop complications?
Any non-emergency complications resulting from private treatment should be managed by your private provider.
Of course, NHS emergency services remain available if you require urgent or emergency care.
Prescriptions and medicines
What if I need new medicines following private treatment?
A private consultant may recommend a new medicine or suggest changes to your current treatment.
These medicines will usually need to be prescribed privately by the consultant or private provider.
Private hospitals often have their own pharmacies, and some private services can arrange medication delivery directly to you.
If you take a private prescription to an NHS pharmacy, you will normally need to pay the full cost of the medication rather than the standard NHS prescription charge.
Why might my GP not prescribe medication recommended by a private consultant?
Your GP will always consider recommendations from private consultants carefully. However, GPs must prescribe safely and follow NHS prescribing guidance.
There are several reasons why your GP may not be able to prescribe a medicine recommended privately:
- NHS and private treatment must remain separate for the same health issue.
- Some medicines require specialist monitoring by a hospital consultant.
- Some medicines can only be prescribed through a Shared Care Agreement between the specialist and GP.
- The medicine may not be approved for routine NHS prescribing.
- The treatment may not be recommended by NHS guidance or may not be available through NHS services.
If a medicine is recommended privately, you should check the ongoing costs, monitoring requirements and arrangements for repeat prescriptions before starting treatment.
The Welby Group approach to prescribing
Our priority is to ensure medicines are prescribed safely, effectively and in line with NHS guidance.
GPs must follow NHS prescribing policies and approved formularies, which provide guidance on which medicines are suitable for use within NHS care.
Medicines are generally categorised as:
Green medicines
Medicines that are usually suitable for GPs to prescribe.
Amber medicines
Medicines that usually need to be started and monitored by a hospital specialist, often with a Shared Care Agreement before a GP can prescribe.
Red medicines
Medicines that are generally not recommended for routine NHS prescribing.
Your GP may not be able to prescribe medication if:
- It is experimental or outside its licensed use.
- It requires specialist monitoring without an appropriate Shared Care Agreement.
- It is not routinely available through NHS services.
- It is not recommended within NHS prescribing guidance.
Examples may include some specialist treatments, disease-modifying medicines, IVF medications and certain ADHD treatments.
You can still choose to obtain these medicines privately through your consultant, but we recommend understanding the costs and monitoring arrangements before starting treatment.
Returning to NHS care
If you have received private treatment and wish to return to NHS care, you are entitled to do so.
Where possible, your private consultant should arrange the transfer of care by writing directly to the relevant NHS service.
If this is not possible, please ask your private consultant to send a letter to your GP practice with details of your treatment and any recommendations for ongoing care.
Working together for safe care
Whether you choose NHS or private healthcare, our priority is that you receive safe, coordinated and effective care.
If you are considering private treatment, we encourage you to discuss your options with your GP so we can support you with the right information and help ensure your care remains joined up.