We try to keep our GP appointments for patients with more serious health problems.
Before you book an appointment to see a doctor please consider whether an appointment with a practice nurse might be appropriate. They can help you with a wide range of medical problems. Alternatively one of our social prescribers may be able to provide you with help for non-clinical matters. Our receptionists can help you decide which is the right person for you to see.
Please find more information about the different options available to help you with your health on this page:
Self care
If you have a cough, cold, headache or other minor ailment try treating yourself at home first. Find out more about treatments for common minor ailments.
Please remember that self-care for common conditions can help free up our GPs’ time, making it easier to get an appointment when you have a more serious condition.
Local Support
The resources below may help you access community support groups and services in your local area that can support you with your wellbeing and your mental health.
Dorset Youth's website: a new 0-25 website which includes finding activities, SEND, MH support, knowledge hub, chat forum, parents and carers pages and YP pages.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists are highly trained health professionals and can give you confidential health advice for a range of common illnesses and complaints.
Don’t wait for a GP appointment for coughs, colds, aches and pains. Just call your local pharmacy a call or drop in – there’s no need to make an appointment.
Your pharmacists can also help you decide if you need to see a doctor or nurse.
Find out more information about how pharmacies can help you.
Social Prescribers
Social Prescribers assist your GP practice team to connect people with appropriate support for non clinical needs such as:
- Bereavement
- Loneliness and Isolation
- Housing, Financial Issues and Benefits
- Staying Fit, Active and Socially Connected
- Living Well with a Health Condition
- Carers and Support for Carers
- Health Wellbeing and Coaching
You can speak to a social prescriber to discuss your needs and they will help you. You can be referred to a social prescriber by a Doctor or Nurse, or you can request help from a social prescriber yourself by speaking to member of staff at the health centre and requesting that a social prescriber gets in touch with you.
The local social prescribing service works for all the GP Practices in the Sherborne area and a social prescriber is usually based at Yetminster Health Centre on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons.
NHS 111
111 is the free NHS non-emergency number.
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
Call 111 if:
- you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency
- you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- you don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP to call
- you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
Find out more information about how NHS 111 can help you.
A&E
A&E is for life-threatening accidents and emergencies only. Before you go there, ask yourself, “Is it a real emergency?”
If not, please consider using other local health services before you visit A&E.