In normal circumstances you can contact the individual GP practices and enquire if they are taking new patients. You will need to live within the boundary of a GP practice to be able to register with them. You can find a GP practice within the Bury area, together with the addresses and telephone numbers here. If you have difficulty registering with a GP practice, please contact LaSCA (Lancashire and South Cumbria Agency) on 01772 221444.   

You should be able to see a GP within two working days. If you need advice from another healthcare professional, such as a nurse, you should be able to see them within one working day. However, if you don’t need to see someone straightaway, you should also be able to book an appointment more than two days ahead. For example:

• You may not need to see someone so quickly.
• You may want to see a particular GP.
• You may need an appointment at a particular time, or on a particular day.

Who will my appointment be with?

Ideally, your appointment will be with your own GP. However, if an appointment with your own GP isn’t available, the practice will make arrangements for you to see someone else within two working days. An appointment with another GP at your practice may be available.

What if I can’t get an appointment?

All GP practices have a complaints procedure. If you can’t get an appointment with your GP within two working days or with another healthcare professional within one working day, as a first step, it’s a good idea to talk to someone about it. You could speak to the practice manager or contact The NHS Bury CCG Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0161 212 6270 If the matter cannot be resolved locally you may wish to make a formal complaint. You can find more information about the NHS complaints procedure here or in the question below.

There are a number of ways that you can provide comments or raise any concerns that you might have regarding your own care or the care and treatment that your family receives.

You can make a complaint: 

• In writing
• By email
• By telephone

You can find more information about the NHS Complaints procedure here or contact:

The Complaints Manager
NHS Bury CCG, care of the Patient Services Team, Greater Manchester Commissioning Support Unit, St James House, Pendleton Way, Salford M6 5FW

T: 0161 212 6270. E: patientservices.gmcsu@nhs.net 

If you would like some help with making a complaint, there is a national service called the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS). ICAS can provide complainants with the information, advice and support needed to help them through the NHS complaints procedure. 

The level of support will depend on the needs of the client and can include assistance with writing a letter of complaint and attendance at any meetings arranged as part of the complaints procedure.

ICAS is completely independent of the NHS, is free and confidential and available to all NHS patients or their representatives. Their contact details in the North West are 0300 456 8350.

Transport can be arranged for patients whose medical condition prevents them from using other forms of public transport. For new patient appointments you can contact the NHS Bury CCG Referral Booking Service (RBMS) on 0161 762 3155 who will assess if you are eligible for patient transport and make the necessary arrangements.

If you are asked to make a follow up appointment, you will need to ask the receptionist at the hospital to arrange your transport at the time of booking your appointment.

If you have any concerns or questions about patient transport services you can contact North West Ambulance Service PALS service on 0345 112 6500.

The duty to provide a statement rests with the doctor who has clinical responsibility for the patient at the time. Hospitals are required to provide all certificates for social security and Statutory Sick Pay purposes and doctors' statements for both in-patients and outpatients who are incapable of work. The form Med 3 should be issued on discharge from hospital where a hospital doctor advises a patient to refrain from work, and the doctor was attending and had clinical responsibility for the patient at the time this advice was given. In such cases the Med 3 should be issued for an appropriate forward period. Responsibility for issuing further certificates rests with the doctor who assumes clinical responsibility for treating the incapacitating condition. In cases where the GP has not taken over responsibility for the incapacitating condition, responsibility for issuing further certificates will rest with the treating clinician. Further information can be found at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/fitnote/

For general dental advice and information, including the names of NHS dentists in the areas who are currently taking on new patients, you can contact the Dental Advice Bureau on 0161 447 9880. The service is available from 09.30am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday. (after 12.30pm the Dental Access Centre can be contacted during opening hours* for advice on 0161 447 9898).  NHS Bury CCG PALS Service can also provide you with this information. The PALS team can be contacted on 0161 212 6270.

If you have a dental emergency, you can contact the Dental Access Centre on 0161 447 9898.*The service is available from 07.45 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. If you have a dental emergency after 6pm Monday to Friday or at weekends and bank holidays, you can call NHS 111 by dialling 111.

You can find an NHS dental practice in Bury, together with the addresses and telephone numbers here.

The charge depends on the treatment you need. You will only ever be asked to pay one charge for each completed course of treatment, even if you have to visit your dentist more than once to finish it. You should expect to pay for either Band 1, Band 2 or Band 3. If you have to be referred to another dentist for another course of treatment you can expect a second charge. Some minor treatments including having stitches removed or repairs to dentures (if they can be repaired), are free. You may be eligible for help with all or part of the costs of your dental treatment. To see if this applies to you, see the leaflet “NHS Dental Services in England” which is available from any NHS dental practice or via the Department of Health website.  For advice on how to get help with health costs call 0845 850 1166 or see “Help with health costs” (HC11), which is available from Jobcentre Plus offices, NHS dentists, or from www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

NHS Bury CCG is taking part in an initiative called the NHS Summary Care Record.

This service is part of the National Programme for Information Technology, NHS Care Record Service. The first step towards creating a Care Records Service is known as a Summary Care Record (SCR). Click here to read more

Walk-in centres provide care to patients and visitors to the town, including health advice and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries without an appointment.

Experienced NHS Nurses provide treatment and advice on a variety of issue.  Anyone who lives in or is visiting the area can access this service and you do not have to be registered with a general practitioner.

You don't need an appointment, just walk in.

Prestwich Walk-in Centre - Fairfax Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 1BT.  Open 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm (patients accepted until 7.30pm).

Bury Walk-in Centre - Moorgate Primary Care Centre, 22 Derby Way, Bury, BL9 0NJ.  Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm.  Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays, 9am to 10pm.

There are many ways in which NHS Bury CCG involves patients and the public to ensure that NHS services are based on the needs of the community and that we continually improve the services we offer.

If you live in the Bury area and are interested in becoming involved, there are a number of opportunities available including:

• Joining our 'Get Involved!' campaign
• Reviewing draft literature
• Being sent information, so you can be kept up-to-date with our work
• Feeding in your views, queries and concerns via the PALS Service
• Attending one of our events
• Attending one of our public meetings
• Being a patient/public representative on one of our workstream groups to help in decision-making
  
• Taking part in consultations