Open surgery operates from 08:30 to 10:00 each weekday, with reception doors opening at 0815. Patients should telephone 01539 718191 at 08:00 and we will provide you with an approximate time to see the duty doctor, based on a first come first serve basis. Patient's are welcome to call in at reception but risk there being limited or no availability. The open surgery is for urgent problems only; a regular appointment must be made for all ongoing problems or routine reviews.

Please note, we reserve the right to offer any doctor at any time in the open surgeries. We also reserve the right to to close the open surgery before 10.00 in exceptional circumstances.

Routine Appointments

Please book your appointment on-line, telephone or call at reception. If you can give some indication of how long you may need with the doctor this will help. If you feel that a telephone call from the doctor would be helpful please let the receptionist know as this can save an appointment.

When calling the practice, please be aware that the receptionist, on behalf of your GP, may ask for some brief information about the reason for your call, this is to ensure that you are booked into the most appropriate clinic to suit your needs. Our receptionists are here to help and are governed by the NHS code of confidentiality

Western Dales Primary Care Network - Working with your Practice to offer more appointments.

You can book an appointment on a Saturday or weekday evening provided by Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Saturday appointments (9am to 5pm) with a GP, Nurse or Health Care Assistant on rotation across Bentham, Lunesdale and Sedbergh Surgeries.

Evening Appointments via telephone (between 6.30pm - 8pm) with a GP, Mental Health Nurse or Pharmacist.

Monday/Wednesday/ Friday Evening:  GP telephone appointment

The clinician can access your record with your surgery (with your consent) and advise, treat and prescribe medication. They can order blood tests and onward referral if needed.

Tuesday Evening, Pharmacist – can advise on your medications, health advice and support your Long Term Conditions. These appointments are usually every Tuesday evening. 

Thursday Evening , Mental Health Nurse : are you feeling a bit low, anxious and need to talk. Accessing some support can prevent things escalating. These appointments are longer, with the same MH Nurse and usually every Thursday evening offering you continuity.

How to make your appointment: Contact your Surgery and ask for a weekend or evening appointment.  Nationally there is a problem with making these appointments available on line, it is coming soon, we hope.

Please call us as soon as possible if you need to cancel an appointment in order that we can give the slot to someone else.

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.

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Please tell us:

• If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
• If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
• If you need an interpreter
• If you have any other access or communication needs

Home Visits

If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need.

To request a home visit, it’s helpful if you phone the practice as soon before 10am giving some idea of the urgency.

NHS regulations state that all patients are to have a named GP responsible for their care.  We have allocated patients to GP’s according to the initial letter of their surname.

  Those with surnames beginning with:

This will NOT affect which doctor you can see on a day to day basis. You can make an appointment with the GP of your choice.

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.

Complete our SMS Reminder Form

If you're planning to travel outside the UK you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.

View the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice

Medical examinations for special purposes such as pre-employment, fitness to travel, elderly drivers, fitness to undertake sports etc., will require longer than a routine appointment.

These examinations do not form part of NHS Services, you will be charged for any such examination. Please inform the receptionist when arranging such appointments.

If you have been referred to a specialist consultant please click here to open the information leaflet about your referral. This leaflet could save you and your GP time. It provides excellent guidance on what to expect when you are referred by your GP to a specialist (or therapist). Please read this information carefully it may save you an unnecessary trip to the surgery by talking this process through with your specialist

Sedbergh Medical Practice is proud to be teaching practice and we regularly have medical students from Lancaster University Medical School on placement here working with our GPs and nurses.

Final year students will have their own booked appointments on Monday and Wednesday afternoons followed by an appointment with a GP. You may also be asked whether you are happy to consult with them for other appointments, ie open surgery, blood clincs etc. 

Third Year students may be asked by the doctors to take a history of your medical problem, and may sit in on your consultation. We also pre-arrange appointments for the following disiplines:- Physical or communication disability, Diabetes and Dermatology if you would be interested in speaking to the students about how this effects you please let us know, we are always looking for volunteers.

Student Nurses are also here with us on rotation and work closely with our practice nurses and healthcare assistants

You are perfectly within your rights to ask for the student not to be present if you so wish, please let the receptionist know.