Please note all contacts with the surgery are via telephone triage first - do not just turn up!

As from 7 January 2023, Dispensary will be open on alternate Saturdays - see home page for specific open/closed dates and times.  Please note: Reception is closed every Saturday!

Please note dispensary is closed Monday to Friday between 13:00 and 14:00 and does not accept telephone calls until after 10:00am each morning. However, you can email Dispensary on bhc.dispensary@nhs.net

Afternoon and evening surgeries and all clinics are available by appointment only. Afternoon appointments can be booked and are 10 minutes long although patients can request double appointments if they feel they need more time. In general, patients who are new to the practice are best advised to book an afternoon slot for their first appointment with a doctor rather than using the Open Access surgery.

You may see the practice nurse by appointment only. 

Bookable appointments are available, Monday to Friday, afternoon and evenings only, and on Saturday mornings, between 09:00 and 12:00. No phone calls will be taken during Saturday morning surgery.

To make an appointment please telephone 01449 740254

You may see the doctor of your choice, no matter with whom you are registered, although it is sensible to see the same doctor if you are receiving on-going treatment. There will be occasions when the doctor of your choice is not available, in which case you will be asked to see another doctor.

As from Saturday 7 January 2023 the Dispensary will open every other Saturday for collection of medication. 

NOTE Reception desk will be closed! See home page for specific open/closed dates for Dispensary. 

Phone calls will not be taken during Saturday morning surgery.

If you need to speak to a doctor or nurse during the day by telephone, you may do so between 08:15 - 08:30 or 14:00 - 16:00, Monday to Friday.

If they are currently not available then the doctor or nurse will call you back on a number you provide.

For general enquiries please telephone 01449 740254.

For Dispensary queries please telephone 01449 740254 and press Option 2 AFTER 10am, Monday to Friday or email them on bhc.dispensary@nhs.net  

Suffolk GP+ is for people who urgently need a doctor’s appointment or are unable to see their GP during normal GP hours. Appointments can be made via Reception during our usual opening hours.

Please note: patients cannot refer themselves to this service. The service is staffed by local Suffolk GPs and Nurse Practitioners in Ipswich, Felixtowe, Stowmarket, Leiston and Wickham Market and is an NHS service delivered by the Suffolk GP Federation.

You will be given a booked appointment and will be seen by a suitable local GP or nurse who will have access to your medical records (once consent is given).

Click here to visit the Suffolk GP+ website

Please help us to plan our day by telephoning your requests for home visits before 10:00.

The doctors and our nurse practitioner are happy to do home visits when necessary, but they are time consuming as we cover a large area of Suffolk. Often visits are requested from patients who are feeling very unwell, or with a poorly child, and do not feel able to sit and wait in the surgery.

We do understand this and we are happy to arrange a time when you or your child can be seen at the surgery within a few minutes, thus eliminating the need for a home visit. Our receptionists will arrange this if you wish.

If you telephone the surgery after 18:30 you will be automatically transferred to the out-of-hours deputising service. Use the night and weekend on-call services for genuine emergencies that cannot wait until the next working day.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.