Accessing Care at The Community Practice
Whether you need a routine or urgent appointment, you can contact us in the following ways:
Using Anima (Recommended)
Submit your request online via Anima between 8:00am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. Your request is sent directly to our clinical team for assessment.
When completing your request, please provide as much information as possible, including the days and times you are available for an appointment.
By Phone - Emma AI Receptionist
If you do not have access to Anima, please call us on 01268 222 188, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 6:30pm.
When you call, you may be greeted by Emma, our AI Receptionist, who can help collect information about your problem and complete an Anima request on your behalf. This helps ensure your enquiry is directed to the most appropriate clinician or team as quickly as possible.
If needed, Emma can also direct your call to a member of the practice team for further assistance.
Please be aware that if you choose to bypass Emma, telephone lines can be very busy and there may be longer waiting times during peak periods to speak to an available Care Navigator. We encourage patients who are able to do so to submit their request directly through Anima, as this is often the quickest way to contact the practice.
In Person
You can visit the surgery during opening hours and use our dedicated Anima patient computer to submit your request.
If you are unable to complete an Anima request yourself, a member of our team can assist you and submit one on your behalf.
How We Use Your Information
The information you provide helps us direct you to the most appropriate healthcare professional, whether that is a GP, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, mental health practitioner, or another member of the wider healthcare team.
⚠️ Important Information – Please Read Before Starting
Response Times
Health-related Anima requests received Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 12:00pm are reviewed by the duty GP on the same day.
Due to high demand, health-related requests submitted after 12:00pm may not be assessed until the next working day.
Please do not submit another Anima request or chase your enquiry within 48 hours for the same issue, as duplicate requests increase demand and can slow response times for all patients.
Administrative enquiries may take longer to process.
If you have not heard from us by 6:30pm and you feel you require medical advice that day, please contact NHS 111.
Emergencies
Do not use Anima for medical emergencies.
If you have a serious or life-threatening condition, please:
- Call 999, or
- Attend your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department.
Contact Details
Please ensure your telephone number and contact details are up to date so that we can reach you if we need further information or wish to offer an appointment.
Appointment Preferences
You will be asked to provide your preferred day and time for an appointment. We will do our best to accommodate your preferences; however, during periods of high demand, this may not always be possible.