Beech Hill Medical Practice: appointments, prescriptions, results, registration and local urgent help
Beech Hill Medical Practice Wigan is an NHS GP surgery on Gidlow Lane. This guide turns the official surgery pages into quick actions: what number to call, which phone option to choose, when online forms are open, how long prescriptions take, when to ask for test results, how to register, where to go when closed, and how to plan your visit.
Use option 1 for doctor appointments and general reception. Use option 2 for nurse reception, blood-test appointments and test-result calls. Phone lines are listed as open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6:30pm.
Beech Hill Medical Practice
278a Gidlow Lane
Beech Hill
Wigan
Lancashire
WN6 7PD
Official practice site lists 278a Gidlow Lane. NHS and CQC profiles may show 278 Gidlow Lane. Use the practice-site address for patient letters and directions.
Open directionsDecision hub: choose the safest route before you call
Use this when you are unsure whether to use Beech Hill Medical Practice, NHS 111, Leigh Walk-In Centre, pharmacy, GP Alliance hub or 999.
Life-threatening emergency
Call 999. Examples: chest pain, severe shortness of breath, stroke signs, collapse, severe bleeding, serious injury, seizure not stopping, severe allergic reaction, immediate danger to life.
Urgent but not life-threatening
Use NHS 111 online if aged 5+, or call 111. Call 111 if help is for a child under 5.
Urgent GP appointment
Use the appointment request form Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 10am, phone 01942 368398, or visit reception during opening hours.
Routine GP appointment
Use the appointment request form Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:30pm, phone the practice, or visit reception.
Repeat prescription
Do not phone for repeat requests. Use NHS App/NHS account, Patient Access, email, paper form or post.
Minor illness or injury
Leigh Walk-In Centre is listed for minor injuries and illnesses, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, 7am to 9pm.
Opening hours, phone options and best time to contact
| Day / route | Official detail | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8am to 6:30pm | Use online form early if urgent. |
| Tuesday | 8am to 6:30pm | CQC notes Tuesday early nurse appointments from 7am historically; confirm current slots with reception. |
| Wednesday | 8am to 6:30pm | Use option 1 for doctor/reception. |
| Thursday | 8am to 6:30pm | Do not leave prescriptions late before weekend. |
| Friday | 8am to 6:30pm | Order medication before Friday if possible. |
| Saturday / Sunday | Closed | Use NHS 111, GP Alliance hubs if booked, pharmacy or 999 depending on urgency. |
| Phone option 1 | Doctor appointments / reception | Use for GP appointment requests and prescription queries to surgery. |
| Phone option 2 | Nurse reception / blood tests / results | Use for nurse appointments and test-result calls. |
Appointments: urgent, routine, cancellation, home visit and access needs
999 for danger signs. NHS 111 if urgent and not life-threatening. GP form/phone if GP help is appropriate.
The official page lists the urgent appointment request form Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 10am, with response within one working day.
Routine appointment requests in the next 4 weeks can be made by form Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6:30pm, by phone, or in person.
Option 1 for doctor appointments. Option 2 for nurse or blood-test appointments.
The practice may offer phone, face-to-face, video call, text or email consultation.
Reply CANCEL to the reminder text, phone, visit reception, or email the practice.
Hello, my name is [name]. Date of birth: [date]. I’m registered at Beech Hill Medical Practice. I need help with [one clear problem]. It started [when]. It is [getting worse / not improving / affecting work or sleep]. I have tried [self-care or medicine]. Is this best for a doctor, nurse, blood test, pharmacist, walk-in centre, GP Alliance hub, NHS 111 or 999?
Repeat prescriptions: order route, 3-working-day timing and medicine questions
NHS App / NHS account
Shows repeat medicine and dosage so you can choose the items you need.
Patient Access
The practice lists its GP online system as Patient Access.
Email / paper / post
The practice also lists email, paper form at surgery, or posting the paper form.
Collection time
You can usually collect from the pharmacy 3 working days after ordering.
| Question | Answer | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Can I order repeat prescriptions by phone? | No. The official page says the practice does not take repeat prescription requests over the phone. | Use NHS account, Patient Access, email, paper form or post. |
| Where will it go? | You need to nominate a pharmacy. | Choose or update pharmacy in the app/website, at GP practice, or at a pharmacy. |
| How long should I allow? | Usually 3 working days after ordering. | Order before weekends, bank holidays and travel. |
| I have a medicine question. | Local pharmacists can answer many medicine and side-effect questions. | Use pharmacy first for common medicine questions. |
| I need to speak to surgery about prescription. | Ring reception during opening times, select option 1, use medication query form, or visit reception. | Have medication name, dose, pharmacy and issue ready. |
| What about old medicines? | The practice says return old medicines to pharmacy or bring them to surgery. Do not bin or flush them. | Return unused medication safely. |
Test results: exact time, option number and privacy-safe route
| Need | Official detail | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| View reviewed result | Once a doctor has reviewed your result, you can view it in your NHS account. | Check NHS App first if set up. |
| Ask by online form | The practice lists an online test-result request form. | Use for non-urgent questions. |
| Phone / visit | Phone or visit between 2pm and 3:30pm. | Ring nurse reception on 01942 368398, option 2. |
| Need more tests/treatment | The practice says it will contact you if results show more tests or treatment are needed. | Keep phone details updated. |
| Question about result | Fill in online form and someone will be in touch. | Explain which test, date, and concern. |
| Hospital ordered the test | Hospital/clinic usually owns the result and interpretation. | Contact that team first. |
Register with Beech Hill Medical Practice
The practice says to check you are in the catchment area before filling out a registration form.
The practice lists an online registration form.
You can visit reception when open and collect a paper registration form.
Full name, address, date of birth, phone, email, previous GP, NHS number if known, medication, allergies and carer details.
Do not start registration when you are already about to run out of regular medicine.
Sick notes / fit notes: 7-day rule and request route
| Situation | What to do | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Off sick 7 days or less | Usually use self-certification, not GP fit note. | Count weekends and bank holidays. |
| Off sick more than 7 days | Use online sick-note request form, phone or visit surgery when open. | Give exact dates and reason. |
| Hospital treatment | Ask hospital doctor if hospital is managing the condition. | Hospital teams can issue fit notes for hospital-managed care. |
| Need extension | Use request route and explain previous note dates. | Ask before the previous note expires if possible. |
| Employer wants more detail | Explain the request to the practice. | Some letters are private/non-NHS and may not be fit notes. |
Home visits: for housebound patients only
The appointments page says if you are housebound and need an appointment, the practice will do a home visit and phone you first to understand what is needed.
The practice links to the appointment request form for home visit requests.
You can phone the practice as soon after 8am as possible on 01942 368398.
Patient location, access code, dog/pet warning, carer phone, symptoms and medicines.
Do not wait for a home visit if the patient has danger signs.
Local urgent care: NHS 111, Leigh Walk-In Centre and Wigan GP Alliance
| Service | Official detail | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| NHS 111 | NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 for children under 5. | Urgent but not life-threatening medical help. |
| Leigh Walk-In Centre | Leigh Infirmary, The Avenue, Wigan. Open 7am to 9pm, 365 days. Phone 01942 264000. No appointment needed. | Minor injuries and illnesses such as sore throat, infections/rashes, viral infections, minor burns/wounds, fractures, sprains, limb X-rays, eye problems and minor head injuries. |
| Wigan GP Alliance hubs | Call 01942 482848. GP hub appointments listed 6:30pm–8pm Monday to Friday and 10am–4pm Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. | Evening/weekend GP access when booked. |
| Wigan GP extended-hours nurse | Nurse appointments listed 6:30pm–8pm weekdays and 10am–4pm Saturdays. | Cervical smears, contraceptive pill checks, and long-term condition reviews such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, PAD, IHD, stroke, AF and heart failure. |
| Emergency 999 | Use for genuine emergencies; official page highlights chest pains and shortness of breath as emergencies. | Life-threatening symptoms. |
Extra support numbers: mental health, community, district nurses and hospital
| Need | Contact / service | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Mental health talking support | Think Wellbeing: 01942 764450 | Stress, anxiety, low mood or mental wellbeing support. |
| Bereavement / empathy support | Empathy North West: 0303 303 1333 | Bereavement and emotional support. |
| Samaritans | 116 123 | Free 24/7 listening support from any phone. |
| Urgent mental health crisis | 0800 953 0285 | 24/7 crisis line listed by the practice. Use 999 if immediate danger to life. |
| District nurses | 0300 707 7700 | Community nursing support listed by the practice alert. |
| Community link worker | 01942 836967 | Money worries, debt, benefits, welfare, isolation, bereavement or housing issues. |
| Royal Albert Edward Infirmary | 01942 244000 | Hospital switchboard. |
Doctors, nurses and attached staff: who may help you
| Team / role | Officially listed detail | Patient tip |
|---|---|---|
| GP and clinical team | CQC inspection summary described partner GPs, salaried GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, advanced clinical practitioner, practice nurses, HCA and in-house pharmacist at inspection time. | Appointment may not always be with a GP; accept the right clinician for faster care. |
| Practice nurses | Extended-hours nurse services include cervical smears, pill checks and long-term condition reviews. | Book double appointment for some long-term condition reviews if advised. |
| Community midwives | Practice team page says maternity services are mainly undertaken by experienced midwives based at Wigan hospital. | Ask reception for current antenatal route. |
| Community nurses | Team page lists central telephone number 01942 807700, while additional-support alert lists district nurses as 0300 707 7700. | Confirm the correct current number with the practice if unsure. |
| Community link worker | Can support social issues affecting health and wellbeing. | Useful for money, benefits, social isolation, bereavement or housing. |
| Physiotherapist / counsellors / phlebotomist | Listed as attached staff on the team page. | Ask if direct booking or triage is available for your issue. |
Parking, accessibility, interpreters and arrival tips
Parking
Official contact page lists car parking, cycle parking and disabled parking.
Access
Disabled parking, disabled WC, wheelchair access and step-free access are listed.
Hearing / sign language
Induction loop and sign-language interpreter service are listed. Wigan patients can contact Action on Hearing for BSL interpreter support.
Interpreter service
The practice says it can access Language Line telephone interpreting. Tell staff when booking if you need this.
Feedback, complaints and contact-detail changes
| Task | Best route | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| General feedback | Use patient feedback form. | Form says it is not for urgent medical help. |
| Want a personal response | Enter contact details correctly. | Practice says contact details are needed for response. |
| Formal complaint | Call the Practice Manager or write to the practice. | Complaints page lists telephone 01942 368398 and email GP-P92010@nhs.net. |
| Change contact details | Use contact-detail form, phone or visit while open. | Keep mobile number updated for appointment reminders and results. |
| Urgent medical problem | Do not use feedback form. | Use 999, NHS 111 or GP appointment route depending on urgency. |
CQC rating and quality snapshot
CQC lists Beech Hill Medical Practice as Overall: Good. The inspection summary published 29 November 2022 describes the practice as part of Wigan North Primary Care Network and the Wigan locality of Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.
| CQC detail | What it says | Patient note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | Good | Use CQC for quality history, not live appointment availability. |
| Key question ratings | Safe Good, Effective Good, Caring Good, Responsive Good, Well-led Good. | Published inspection summary dated 29 November 2022. |
| Registered activities | Diagnostic and screening, maternity and midwifery, family planning, treatment of disease/disorder/injury and surgical procedures. | Shows CQC-regulated service areas. |
| Practice population at inspection | 12,215 patients at time of inspection. | Historic inspection figure, not current list size. |
| Training practice | CQC says the practice is a training practice for GPs. | You may occasionally see trainees under supervision. |
Map, directions and visit checklist
Address: Beech Hill Medical Practice, 278a Gidlow Lane, Beech Hill, Wigan, Lancashire, WN6 7PD. Use the map for travel planning; confirm opening, appointment type and access needs before leaving.
Bring to appointment
Medication list, allergies, hospital letters, forms, urine sample if requested, glasses/hearing aids, photo ID if needed for records, and carer details if someone helps you.
Send to a driver
Beech Hill Medical Practice, 278a Gidlow Lane, Beech Hill, Wigan, Lancashire, WN6 7PD. Phone 01942 368398.
Bus/train planning
The practice says it can be accessed by local bus route or train and links to Traveline for journey planning.
If you are late
Phone the practice if safe to do so. Missed appointments reduce access for other patients.
When Beech Hill Medical Practice is closed
| Problem | Use this | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | 999 | Chest pain, severe shortness of breath, stroke signs, severe bleeding, collapse, not responding. |
| Urgent medical help, not life-threatening | NHS 111 online or call 111 | Too unwell to wait, unsure where to go, need urgent advice. |
| Minor illness / medicine advice | Community pharmacy | Coughs, colds, sore throat, tummy trouble, aches and pains. |
| Minor injury or illness | Leigh Walk-In Centre | 7am–9pm, 365 days, no appointment needed. |
| Evening/weekend GP appointment | Wigan GP Alliance hub booking | Call 01942 482848 if appropriate and available. |
| Routine admin | Wait for practice opening or use non-urgent online route | Forms, routine results, fit-note request, feedback, medication queries. |
Official action links used
Use these official links after reading the practical steps above. This guide explains what to prepare before you click forms or phone.
Official practice website · Contact, hours, access, parking and urgent care · Appointments · Repeat prescriptions · Test results · Register with surgery · Sick / fit notes · Team · Additional support contacts · Patient feedback · Complaints · NHS profile · CQC profile