Out of hours: 111
Phone: 01934 624242
Email: bnssg.168enquiries@nhs.net
168 Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare BS23 3HQ

Urgent Appointment Availability

Important Update On Urgent Appointment Availability

 

We want to be open and transparent with our patients about a recent change to how we are managing appointments at 168 Medical Group.

Why this change is happening

Since 1 October 2025, GP practices have been required to follow national guidance to remain open Monday to Friday, 8:00am–6:30pm for routine appointment requests. We are fully compliant with this requirement and remain committed to providing routine care throughout these hours.

However, this change has not been accompanied by any increase in staffing or resources. As a result, there may be times during the day when continuing to offer urgent / on-the-day appointments is no longer safe, either for patients or for our staff.

What this means for urgent appointments

When we reach the point where it is no longer safe to continue:

  • We may need to close urgent / on-the-day appointment requests for the remainder of the day

  • At that point, we will not be able to offer any further urgent GP requests

This decision is made only when necessary, to protect patient safety and staff wellbeing. We will always do our best to remain open for urgent care for as long as possible each day.

 

Alternative services for urgent care

If urgent appointments are closed, patients will need to seek help from the most appropriate alternative service:

  • NHS 111 (online or by phone)

  • Community Pharmacy for advice and treatment of minor conditions

  • Minor Injury Unit (MIU)

  • A&E for serious or life‑threatening emergencies

  • 999 in an emergency

 

Important information about request types

If an urgent problem is submitted as a routine request after urgent appointments have closed, we may need to close that request and advise the use of alternative services instead. We appreciate that this may be frustrating, but it is necessary to ensure safe care and to follow national guidance.

 

Our commitment to you

We understand that this change may be worrying or disappointing for some patients, and we are truly sorry for the inconvenience it may cause. This is not how we would choose to deliver care, but it reflects the difficult balance we must maintain while meeting national requirements with the resources currently available.

Please be assured:

  • We are following government guidance

  • We are doing everything possible to remain accessible and safe

  • We continue to review demand and capacity daily

Thank you for your understanding and patience while we work within these constraints to provide the safest possible care.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why can’t the practice just keep offering urgent appointments as before?
National guidance now requires GP practices to remain open for routine requests throughout core hours. Without additional staff or funding, continuing to offer unlimited urgent appointments alongside this would not always be safe.

How will I know if urgent appointments are closed for the day?
When urgent capacity has been reached, askmyGP will be closed for "urgent" requests, the reception staff and phone answering staff will not be able to log an urgent request. At that point, urgent GP appointments will no longer be available that day.

What should I do if my problem feels urgent but appointments are closed?
Please contact NHS 111, visit a community pharmacy, attend a Minor Injury Unit, or use A&E / 999 for serious or life‑threatening emergencies. These services are designed to support patients when GP urgent capacity is unavailable.

Can I submit my urgent issue as a routine request instead?
If an issue is urgent but submitted as a routine request after urgent appointments have closed, we may need to close the request and advise you to use an alternative service. This helps us manage requests safely and fairly.

Does this mean the practice is closing?
No. The practice remains open Monday to Friday, 8:00am–6:30pm for routine care, in line with national guidance.

Is this a permanent change?
We hope not. We review demand and capacity regularly. If circumstances, resources or national guidance changes, we will reassess how we provide urgent care and update patients accordingly.