Irwell Medical Practice Bacup

Emergency first: This is an independent patient guide, not the NHS and not Irwell Medical Practice. Call 999 now for chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, heavy bleeding, serious head injury, severe allergic reaction, overdose, poisoning, a seizure that is not stopping, or someone not responding. For urgent help that is not life-threatening, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

Bacup NHS GP action guide

Irwell Medical Practice Bacup: appointments, Accurx, prescriptions, results and registration

Irwell Medical Practice is an NHS GP surgery inside Bacup Health Centre at Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup OL13 9NR. This guide gives the practical route for appointments, phone options, Accurx requests, repeat prescriptions, test results, fit notes, new-patient registration, home visits, access support, services, CQC and map directions.

Choose care route Request appointment Map and travel

Fast patient route finder

999

Danger signsCall 999. Do not wait for Accurx, reception or a GP call-back.

Need GP helpUse Accurx, reception, or phone 01706 335340 option 1.

Repeat medicineUse online services, NHS App, in person or post. Allow 48 working hours.

111

Closed or urgentNHS 111 online or phone 111 for urgent non-emergency help.

Main practice phone

01706 335340

Use this number for: appointments, Care Co-Ordinators, admin, secretaries, prescription queries during listed times, test-result questions, home-visit requests before 10am, interpreter requests, access needs, registration help and urgent surgery guidance during opening hours.

Tap to call Phone options

Address for maps and letters

Irwell Medical Practice
within Bacup Health Centre
Irwell Mill
Rochdale Road
Bacup
OL13 9NR

Use “Bacup Health Centre / Irwell Mill” in directions because the practice is based in a modern health centre on the former Irwell Mill site.

Open directions

Phone

01706 335340

Address

Irwell Mill, Bacup

Extended hours

Mon & Thu to 8:15pm

CQC

Overall Outstanding

Quick answer: Irwell Medical Practice is at Irwell Medical Practice within Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NR. The main phone number is 01706 335340. Opening hours are Monday 8am–8:15pm, Tuesday 8am–6:30pm, Wednesday 8am–6:30pm, Thursday 8am–8:15pm, Friday 8am–6:30pm, and weekends closed. Repeat prescriptions usually need 48 hours / two working days, excluding bank holidays. NHS.uk currently shows the surgery as accepting new patients.

What people usually need from “Irwell Medical Practice Bacup”

This article is arranged around real patient tasks, so users can scan and act without reading long paragraphs.

Search phrase	Real patient need	Best answer
Irwell Medical Practice Bacup	Phone, address, opening hours and map.	Use the quick answer, phone options and map sections.
Irwell Medical Practice appointments	Same-day triage, routine booking, Accurx and phone route.	Use Accurx, attend reception, or phone 01706 335340 option 1.
Irwell Medical Practice prescriptions	How to order repeat medicine and avoid running out.	Use online services, NHS App, in person or post. Pharmacies cannot order repeats for patients.
Irwell Medical Practice test results	Whether normal results are contacted and who can ask.	Practice contacts only if abnormal and action is needed. Adults’ results are normally given only to the patient.
Irwell Medical Practice register	Catchment and new-patient boundary.	New-patient boundary is listed as 3 miles; some moved-outside limits extend to 4 miles with exceptions.
Irwell Medical Practice CQC	Quality rating.	CQC lists the practice as Overall Outstanding.

Decision hub: choose the safest route first

Use this before phoning, submitting Accurx, travelling to Bacup Health Centre or waiting for test results.

Life-threatening emergency

Call 999. Examples include chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, heavy bleeding, serious injury, severe allergic reaction, overdose, poisoning or someone not responding.

Urgent but not life-threatening

Use NHS 111 online or phone 111. The official pages direct non-emergency urgent help to NHS 111 or urgent care services.

Same-day GP need

Use Accurx online request to avoid phone waiting, call option 1, or go to reception. Same-day triage requests go to Care Co-Ordinators and the Duty Doctor if needed.

Routine GP or nurse issue

Use Accurx, reception or phone option 1. You may be offered GP, registrar, physician associate, physiotherapist or mental health practitioner depending on triage.

Repeat prescription

Use online services/NHS App, in person or post. Do not rely on pharmacies to order for you; the practice says pharmacies are unable to order repeat prescriptions on behalf of patients.

Home visit

Phone before 10am if possible. Home visits are for genuinely housebound patients too ill to attend the surgery.

Phone options: call the right queue

The practice uses phone keypad options so patients can reach the correct team faster.

Official contact page Call 01706 335340

Phone option	Use for	Practical tip
Option 1	Care Co-Ordinators and appointments	Use for appointment requests, urgent same-day triage and booking help.
Option 2	Admin	Use for admin tasks, letters, forms and general non-clinical queries.
Option 3	Secretaries	Use for referral or hospital-letter related queries where appropriate.
Option 4	Prescription team queries	Listed times: Monday 10am–12pm, Wednesday 10am–12pm and Friday 10am–12pm. This is for queries, not routine phone repeat ordering.
Wait through options	Direct operator route	The official contact page says you can still get through directly if you wait until option information is finished.

Calling tip: for non-urgent matters, the practice asks patients to avoid the busiest time before 10am, especially Mondays. Contact online is available between 8am and 6:30pm.

Opening hours and extended access

Official opening hours Official appointments

Day / service	Official listed time	Patient action
Monday	8am to 8:15pm	Extended booked appointments run 6:30pm to 8:15pm.
Tuesday	8am to 6:30pm	Use Accurx/phone/reception during normal hours.
Wednesday	8am to 6:30pm	Prescription option 4 is listed 10am to 12pm.
Thursday	8am to 8:15pm	Extended booked appointments run 6:30pm to 8:15pm.
Friday	8am to 6:30pm	Do not leave repeat prescriptions until late Friday.
Saturday / Sunday	Closed	Use NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency help; call 999 for emergencies.
Bank holidays	Closed	Order repeat medicine early before bank-holiday weeks.

Extended hours note: extended hours are for booked appointments on Monday and Thursday evenings. The appointment page also says prescriptions can be collected during these extended times.

Appointments at Irwell Medical Practice: micro step-by-step

The appointment page says non-urgent issues should use the right service first, and urgent requests are best made through the Accurx Online Request Form to avoid phone waiting.

Official appointments page Contact online Call option 1

Check whether it is an emergency.
Use 999 for emergency symptoms. Use NHS 111 if urgent but not life-threatening, especially out of hours.

Try pharmacy/self-help for minor issues first.
The practice says many conditions can be dealt with without needing to see a GP.

Use Accurx for urgent appointment requests if suitable.
Requests go to Care Co-Ordinators and then the Duty Doctor if necessary. The practice says you will be contacted the same day with an outcome.

Use phone or reception if online is difficult.
Phone 01706 335340 and select option 1, or speak to reception in person.

Expect the right clinician, not always a GP.
You may be offered GP, GP registrar, physician associate, physiotherapist or mental health practitioner depending on need.

Attend on time and cancel early.
The practice says late patients may not be seen, and persistent appointment defaulters may be removed from the list.

Call / Accurx wording

Hello, my name is [name]. My date of birth is [date]. I am registered at Irwell Medical Practice. I need help with [one clear issue]. It started [when]. It is [getting worse / not improving / affecting sleep or work]. I have tried [medicine or self-care]. Is this best for a GP, physician associate, nurse, physiotherapist, mental health practitioner, pharmacy, urgent care or NHS 111?

Chaperone and interpreter: the practice says patients can request a chaperone when booking, on arrival, or during consultation. If you need an interpreter, notify the Care Co-Ordinator so this can be arranged.

Repeat prescriptions: safest route and timing

The repeat-prescription page says to allow 48 hours / two working days, excluding bank holidays, for processing.

Official repeat prescriptions NHS App guide Emergency prescription help Find a pharmacy

App

Online/NHS App

The simplest route is online services linked directly to your prescription record, including AccuRx and NHS App routes.

Slip

In person

Return the right-hand half of a previous prescription or submit a handwritten request with the required medicine.

Post

By post

Post the prescription slip or written request. Include a stamped addressed envelope if you need return by post, and allow at least 7 days.

Pharmacy limit

The practice says pharmacies are unable to order repeat prescriptions on behalf of patients, though they may collect/deliver medication if arranged.

Prescription issue	What it means	Best action
Routine repeat	Needs 48 hours / 2 working days, excluding bank holidays.	Use online/NHS App, AccuRx, in-person slip or post.
Pharmacy says it cannot order	Practice says chemists cannot order on behalf of patients.	Submit the request yourself, then collect from nominated pharmacy when ready.
Need delivery	Some pharmacies may deliver if you have signed up.	Contact your chosen pharmacy directly.
Posting request	Postal requests need longer.	Include stamped addressed envelope and allow at least 7 days.
Prescription query	Option 4 is listed for prescription queries at limited times.	Use Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10am–12pm where appropriate.
Running out urgently	48 hours may be too late.	Speak to pharmacy or use NHS 111 emergency prescription route.

Do not wait until the last tablet: order with at least 7 days’ safety margin. Weekends, bank holidays, postal delays, pharmacy stock, medication reviews and missing details can delay supply.

Test results: when to ask and who can receive them

The practice says it contacts patients by phone or letter only if a result is abnormal and treatment or further investigation is required. Normal results are not routinely contacted.

Official tests and results AccuRx admin request

Question	Official/practical answer	Action
Will I be contacted for normal results?	No. The practice says patients are contacted only if abnormal and action is needed.	Use AccuRx admin request or phone if you still need to ask.
How should I ask?	Use AccuRx admin request or telephone, avoiding the 8am rush.	Do not block appointment lines for routine result chasing.
Can admin explain results clinically?	Admin may give results or you may be asked to speak to nurse/doctor.	Ask for clinical follow-up if you do not understand the result.
Can family ask for adult results?	Adults’ results are not given to someone else except in exceptional circumstances.	Arrange consent if a carer/helper needs to speak.
Hospital ordered the test?	Hospital/clinic results should normally be chased with that service.	Use hospital letter/contact details first.

Register as a new patient

The practice registration page says its patient registration policy does not discriminate on race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation or appearance, disability or medical condition.

Official registration page NHS profile NHS GP registration guidance

Check the practice boundary first.
For patients new to the area, the official page lists the practice boundary as 3 miles and asks patients to check on Google Maps before registering.

If you moved outside the boundary, check the special limits.
The moved-outside limit is 4 miles with named exceptions along A681, A671 and B6238 routes.

Use NHS registration route where available.
NHS.uk currently shows Irwell Medical Practice as accepting new patients.

Plan medication before switching GP.
Order existing repeat medicines before transfer if you are close to running out.

Named GP is allocated.
The practice says new patients are allocated a named accountable GP at registration, but this does not stop you seeing another GP by choice.

Temporary patient rule: if you are away from home and need care, emergency treatment can be available for 14 days. Temporary registration can last up to three months, but you cannot register temporarily where you are already registered locally.

Online services, NHS App and Patient Access

Official online services NHS App page Personal data and record access

Online task	Official detail	Practical tip
Patient Access registration	Bring two forms of identity, one photographic. You must be 16+ and apply in person.	Ask reception for a personal registration letter.
Create account	Register an account and password online before logging in.	Enter registration details exactly as they appear on the letter.
NHS App	Can support repeat prescriptions, appointment booking/cancelling where enabled, symptom checking and GP record viewing.	Use official NHS App only.
Medical record access	Practice uses Patient Access to records and online repeat prescription booking.	Ask reception if you want record access enabled.
Security	Practice may refuse access and withdraw online services for abuse.	Never share NHS login, Patient Access password or linkage information.

Sickness certificates / fit notes

Official sickness certificate page GOV.UK SC2 self-certification

7 days or less

You do not need to give your employer a fit note or other medical proof from a healthcare professional.

SC2

Self-certification

Your employer may ask you to complete an SC2 self-certification form.

More than 7 days

You must give your employer a doctor’s fit note if you have been ill for more than 7 days in a row and taken sick leave.

Hosp

Hospital doctor

A fit note can come from a GP or hospital doctor, depending on who is treating you.

Count every day: the 7-day rule includes non-working days such as weekends and bank holidays.

Home visits: who they are for and how to ask

Official appointment and home visit guidance Call surgery

Situation	Likely route	Important note
Genuinely housebound and too ill to attend	Phone before 10am if possible.	Duty Doctor usually calls back to assess need.
Mobile but no transport	Usually attend surgery or use other advice route.	Home visits are not for convenience or transport difficulty alone.
Severe emergency at home	Call 999.	Do not wait for a GP home visit.
Dog at home	Secure dog outside or in another room.	The practice specifically asks this before health professional visits.
Phone assessment	Be available to answer phone.	A responsible person should answer and deal with the questions if the patient cannot.

Clinics and services: who can help without always seeing a GP

Official clinics and services Official team page

Need	Best team/service	Examples from official pages
Practice nurse	Nurse appointment	Asthma, B12, BP checks, childhood immunisations, COPD, contraceptive reviews, CHD checks, dementia reviews, Depo injections, diabetes reviews, flu/pneumonia, health checks, medication reviews, new patient checks, smears and travel vaccines.
Healthcare assistant	HCA appointment	Blood pressure checks, ECGs, new-patient checks, phlebotomy and weight management.
Pharmacy technician	Medication support	Medicines optimisation, medication reviews/reconciliation, lifestyle advice, switching medication, repeat prescription and repeat dispensing issues.
Mental health practitioner	Mental health appointment where suitable	Low-level anxiety, depression, eating disorders, panic attacks, OCD, stress preventing work, early memory concerns, bereavement and sleep hygiene.
Mental health exclusions	Use crisis/existing mental health service where appropriate	Not suitable if already supported elsewhere, needing crisis service, or severe needs not possible within four sessions.
Health and wellbeing coach	Lifestyle and wellbeing support	Inactivity with long-term conditions, less than 30 minutes exercise per week, or BMI 25+.
Social prescribing	Link worker support	Loneliness, isolation, stress from work, money, housing, or managing long-term conditions.

Enhanced access: Rossendale appointments may be offered at Bacup Health Centre on Mondays and Thursdays, or Ilex View Medical Centre in Rossendale on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Sometimes other Burnley, Hyndburn or Ribblesdale sites may be offered sooner.

Travel vaccinations and medicines before leaving the UK

Official travel information Fit for Travel TravelHealthPro GOV.UK travel advice

Travel need	Official detail	Action
Travel consultation	Arrange at least 6–8 weeks before departure if possible.	Complete the online travel form early.
Vaccination appointment	A second nurse appointment may be needed for actual vaccination.	Second appointment should be at least 2 weeks before travel.
Private travel vaccines	Some vaccines are private and incur extra charge.	Ask cost before appointment.
Antimalarials	Must not be issued on NHS prescription.	Buy from pharmacy or travel clinic/private prescription where needed.
Usual medication for travel	GP may supply temporary periods between 1 and 3 months where safe and appropriate.	Tell prescription team your travel dates.
More than 3 months abroad	NHS prescriptions will not be provided to relatives to send abroad.	Arrange medical care in destination country.

Disability access, parking, hearing loop and guide dogs

Official disability access policy Official contact page

Disabled parking

The building has disabled parking on the front car park. Blue Badge information is signposted through local council routes.

Lift

Lift access

The disability access page says there is lift access to all floors.

Loop

Hearing support

Reception has a hearing loop system, and the practice has a portable loop system for use within surgery.

Large

Large print / visual support

Patients who are blind or partially sighted can ask for a CD or large-print practice leaflet.

Dog

Guide dogs

Guide dogs are welcome, with awareness requested for other patients and staff who may have allergies or fear of dogs.

Ask

Tell staff early

If you have additional needs, tell staff so the practice can help now and record support needs for future visits.

Local arrival tip: Bacup Health Centre is in the town centre on Rochdale Road. Allow extra time for traffic, parking, lifts, reception check-in and mobility needs, especially if your appointment is time-sensitive.

Private letters, forms and non-NHS work

Official non-NHS/private fees page Request doctor’s letter

Check if a doctor must sign.
The practice notes that not all documents need a doctor’s signature, such as some passport applications.

Bring all forms together.
If several forms are needed, present them together rather than one-by-one.

Ask cost in advance.
The BMA recommends patients are told in advance if they will be charged and how much.

Do not expect overnight turnaround.
The official page says forms can take up to 4 weeks for GP completion and return.

Private work warning: give the exact organisation requirement, deadline, forms, patient consent, address and whether the document needs factual confirmation, medical opinion or full report.

Doctors, care co-ordinators and support teams

Official doctors page Care co-ordinators and prescribing team Secretarial team

Team	Official detail	Patient tip
GP team	The practice says it has 6 GP partners, 7 salaried GPs and is a large training practice with GP registrars.	For ongoing issues, ask whether continuity with a clinician is possible; urgent issues may need the fastest suitable clinician.
GP registrars	Doctors nearing the end of GP training may see patients.	They are medically qualified doctors working in GP training.
Care Co-Ordinators	They are trained to direct patients to the best possible service and are bound by confidentiality rules.	Answer triage questions clearly and respectfully.
Prescribing team	Supports prescription processes and repeat medication queries.	Use the correct prescription route and allow processing time.
Secretarial team	Supports referrals, online consultation admin queries, calls from patients/hospitals and practice operations.	Use option 3 for secretarial/referral-related queries where appropriate.

CQC rating and quality snapshot

CQC lists Irwell Medical Practice as Overall: Outstanding. CQC says the report was published on 5 January 2018 and the latest review on 6 July 2023 found no evidence requiring reassessment at that stage.

Official CQC profile CQC inspection summary

CQC area	Rating shown	What it means for readers
Overall	Outstanding	Quality history is strong, but appointment availability must still be checked with the practice.
Safe	Good	One of the five key CQC questions.
Effective	Good	One of the five key CQC questions.
Caring	Outstanding	Rated highest in this category.
Responsive	Good	One of the five key CQC questions.
Well-led	Outstanding	Rated highest in this category.

Phone-number note: use the practice’s own current contact number, 01706 335340, for patient action. CQC profiles can show historical or regulatory contact details.

Feedback, complaints and Patient Participation Group

Official contact and feedback Official complaints policy Patient Participation Group

Need	Route	Practical note
Quick feedback	Friends and Family Test or practice feedback route.	Useful for telling the practice what worked or what could improve.
Formal complaint	Use complaints procedure / ask reception for complaint form.	Include dates, site, team, what happened, impact and desired outcome.
Complaining for someone else	Written permission is normally required.	The policy says the practice cannot discuss someone else without express written permission unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Patient Participation Group	Leave contact details with the practice if interested.	PPG is for feedback and improvement ideas, not formal complaints.

Complaint wording that stays clear

I am raising a concern about [what happened] on [date]. It involved [appointment / prescription / result / phone call / referral / access]. The impact was [brief impact]. I would like the practice to review [specific issue] and respond with [explanation / correction / apology / next step].

Map, directions and Bacup visit checklist

Address: Irwell Medical Practice within Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NR. Confirm your appointment time, clinician/team and whether you need a prescription collection, form drop-off or access support before leaving.

Before leaving home

Take appointment details, medicine list, hospital letters, sample containers if requested, glasses/hearing aids, forms, ID if needed for online access, and payment method for private work.

For drivers or carers

Send the full destination: Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup OL13 9NR. Use the front car park if disabled parking is needed.

If you are late

Call if safe to do so. The appointment page says late patients may not be seen and may be offered an alternative time/date except for medical emergencies.

If mobility is difficult

Plan extra time for parking, lift access, reception, waiting area and any hearing-loop or communication support.

What to do when Irwell Medical Practice is closed

NHS 111 online Find a pharmacy NHS urgent care guide

Problem	Use this	Examples
Life-threatening emergency	999	Chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, heavy bleeding, not responding.
Urgent but not life-threatening	NHS 111 online or call 111	You need help now but it is not an emergency.
Urgent same-day issue	Urgent care service / NHS 111 advice	Use when practice is closed and the issue cannot wait.
Medication emergency	Pharmacy or NHS 111 emergency prescription route	Running out before a repeat can be processed.
Routine admin	Wait for opening hours or use online route if available	Fit notes, forms, routine results, record updates and feedback.

Official action links used

Use these after reading the practical steps above. The article explains the route first so users do not land on official forms without knowing what to prepare.

Official practice website · Contact and phone options · Opening hours · Appointments · Repeat prescriptions · Tests and results · New patient registration · Online services · NHS App · Sickness certificates · Clinics and services · Travel information · Disability access · Non-NHS private fees · Doctors and team · NHS profile · CQC profile

Irwell Medical Practice Bacup FAQs

What is Irwell Medical Practice phone number?

The main phone number is 01706 335340. Option 1 is for Care Co-Ordinators and appointments, option 2 for admin, option 3 for secretaries and option 4 for prescription queries during the listed prescription-team times.

Where is Irwell Medical Practice?

Irwell Medical Practice is within Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NR.

What are Irwell Medical Practice opening hours?

The official opening-hours page lists Monday 8am to 8:15pm, Tuesday 8am to 6:30pm, Wednesday 8am to 6:30pm, Thursday 8am to 8:15pm, Friday 8am to 6:30pm, and weekends closed.

Does Irwell Medical Practice offer evening appointments?

Yes. Extended hours are run with booked appointments on Monday and Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:15pm. The practice also says prescriptions can be collected during these extended times.

How do I book an appointment?

Use Accurx, attend reception in person, or phone 01706 335340 and select option 1. Urgent appointment requests are best made using the Accurx Online Request Form where suitable because it can reduce phone waiting.

Will I always see a GP?

Not always. Depending on triage, you may be offered an appointment with a GP, GP registrar, physician associate, physiotherapist or mental health practitioner.

How do I order repeat prescriptions?

Use online services, AccuRx, NHS App, return the right-hand half of a previous prescription in person, submit a handwritten request, or post your request. Pharmacies cannot order repeat prescriptions on behalf of patients.

How long do repeat prescriptions take?

The official repeat-prescription page says to allow 48 hours or two working days, excluding bank holidays. Postal requests should allow at least seven days and include a stamped addressed envelope if return by post is needed.

Can I ask my pharmacy to order my repeat prescription?

No. The practice says pharmacies are unable to order repeat prescriptions on behalf of patients, although nominated pharmacies may still collect or deliver medication if that service has been arranged with them.

How do I get test results?

Use an AccuRx admin request or telephone the practice while avoiding the 8am rush. The practice says it contacts patients only if a result is abnormal and treatment or further investigations are required.

Can someone else get my test results?

Adults’ results are normally given only to the patient, except in exceptional circumstances. Arrange consent if a family member or carer needs to help.

Is Irwell Medical Practice accepting new patients?

NHS.uk currently shows Irwell Medical Practice as accepting new patients. The official practice page says new patients should check they live within the practice boundary, which is listed as 3 miles for patients new to the area.

How do I request a home visit?

Phone the surgery before 10am if possible. Home visits are for genuinely housebound patients who are too ill to attend the surgery. The Duty Doctor usually calls back to assess the need.

Does the building have disabled access?

The disability access page says the building has disabled parking on the front car park, lift access to all floors, a reception hearing loop, a portable loop system for surgery use, large-print/CD practice leaflet support and guide dogs are welcome.

What is Irwell Medical Practice CQC rating?

CQC lists Irwell Medical Practice as Overall Outstanding. The CQC profile shows Safe Good, Effective Good, Caring Outstanding, Responsive Good and Well-led Outstanding.

What should I do when Irwell Medical Practice is closed?

Use NHS 111 online or call 111 for urgent medical help that is not life-threatening. Call 999 for emergencies. For routine admin, prescriptions, test results and forms, use the official online route or wait until the surgery reopens.

Independent directory disclaimer: medicalpracticeuk.org is not the NHS, not NHS 111, not CQC and not Irwell Medical Practice. This guide is for general patient information only. Opening times, appointment routes, Accurx availability, prescription processing, registration boundary, team details, access facilities, private-fee guidance, services and CQC information can change. Always confirm important details with the official practice website, NHS.uk, CQC, NHS 111 or the surgery before relying on them.

Irwell Medical Practice Call surgery