Townhill Medical Practice Caterham: Rapid Health appointments, prescriptions, results and registration
Townhill Medical Practice is an NHS GP surgery at Guards Avenue, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5XL, now listed on the Modality East Surrey Medical Practice website. This guide turns the official pages into practical actions: when to use Rapid Health, when to phone, how to order medicine, what not to use the form for, how to register, where to park, and what to do when closed.
Use this for: Rapid Health help if online is difficult, urgent same-day support, home-visit requests before 11am, interpreter appointment needs, nurse appointment routing, registration questions, access needs, and help with prescription Voice Connect sign-up.
Townhill Medical Practice
Guards Avenue
Caterham
Surrey
CR3 5XL
Use the exact Guards Avenue address in maps. This helps avoid confusion with Caterham Valley, Coulsdon, Warlingham or other nearby GP practices.
Open directionsDecision hub: use the correct NHS route first time
Start here before filling a form, calling, travelling, or waiting for a callback.
Call 999 now
Chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, severe bleeding, severe burns, seizure not stopping, severe allergic reaction, acute confusion, overdose or not responding.
Need GP help today
Use the Rapid Health online form during opening hours. If online is difficult, phone the surgery and reception can go through the form with you.
Routine GP request
For appointments within the next 7 days or more, use Rapid Health and include clear symptom details, start date and what outcome you need.
Nurse appointment
Rapid Health is not used for nurse appointments such as blood tests, cervical screening, vaccinations and injections. Use the admin/contact route or phone.
Repeat prescription
Use NHS App, online prescription form or registered Voice Connect. Do not use ordinary phone request or paper repeat slip.
Surgery closed
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 for urgent non-life-threatening help. Call 999 for emergencies.
Opening hours and best time to contact Townhill Medical Practice
The official Townhill surgery page lists normal weekday opening from 8:00am to 6:30pm and weekends closed.
| Day | Official listed opening | Patient tip |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Use online form early for same-day GP help. |
| Tuesday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Good day for routine admin and non-urgent requests. |
| Wednesday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Keep phone/email accessible after submitting a request. |
| Thursday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Order medicines early if you need them before the weekend. |
| Friday | 8:00am–6:30pm | Do not leave urgent prescriptions or paperwork until late afternoon. |
| Saturday | Closed | Use NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency help. |
| Sunday | Closed | Use 999 for emergencies and NHS 111 for urgent advice. |
How to request a GP appointment
The official appointment page says you can request an appointment using an online form, by phoning the surgery, or in person. For same-day urgent GP requests, the official page directs patients to complete the online form where possible.
Use 999 for danger signs. Do not wait for Rapid Health or a call back.
The appointment page points patients to pharmacies and local services for some conditions because this can be faster.
Submit one clear problem with symptoms, start date, worsening signs, medicines tried and preferred contact details.
The official page says reception staff can go through the form with you if you cannot use it online.
The appointment page says to cancel as soon as possible, using the link in your confirmation email where available.
Hello, my name is [name]. Date of birth: [date]. I am registered at Townhill Medical Practice. I need help with [one clear issue]. It started [when]. It is [getting worse/not improving]. I have tried [medicine/self-care]. I am worried because [reason]. Is this best for Rapid Health, a GP, nurse, pharmacist, NHS 111, or 999?
Rapid Health: what to use it for — and what not to use it for
Rapid Health is the Modality East Surrey online form for telling the surgery about your condition or symptoms. If an appointment is needed, the system may let you choose an appointment time online.
| Use Rapid Health for | Do not use Rapid Health for | Better route |
|---|---|---|
| Same-day urgent GP request | Life-threatening symptoms | Call 999. |
| Routine GP appointment request | Home visit request | Phone surgery before 11am. |
| One clear medical issue | Interpreter appointment need | Contact surgery directly. |
| Registered patient aged 16+ | Nurse appointments such as blood tests, cervical screening, vaccinations and injections | Use admin/contact section or phone. |
| Symptoms and condition details | Annual health checks for diabetes, blood pressure, breathing or heart problems | Use appropriate review/admin route. |
| GP triage request | Medication review with clinical pharmacist | Use medication review/contact route. |
| Appointment need within 7+ days | Postnatal checks, 6-week baby checks, contraception advice, NHS Health Checks or follow-ups | Use the correct online/admin/contact route or phone. |
Repeat prescriptions: NHS App, online form or Voice Connect
The official prescription page says repeat prescriptions cannot be ordered by ordinary phone request for patient safety, and paper repeat prescription requests are no longer accepted.
NHS App / NHS account
Best route if you can use online services. You need NHS App or NHS account login details.
Online prescription form
Use when you need to provide medication name and dosage through the official form route.
Voice Connect
Voice Connect allows prescription ordering by phone after registration with the practice. You need date of birth, registered phone number and 6-digit PIN.
Not accepted
Paper repeat prescription requests are no longer accepted. Ordinary phone repeat requests are not accepted for patient safety.
| Prescription issue | Action | Patient tip |
|---|---|---|
| Routine repeat medicine | Use NHS App, online form or registered Voice Connect. | Order before your last few doses. |
| Medication name/dose needed | Online form asks for medication name and dosage. | Copy exactly from the box or NHS App. |
| Pharmacy nomination | Online prescriptions can be sent electronically to a chosen pharmacy. | Check your nominated pharmacy before submitting. |
| Medicine review due | Regular medicines should be checked at least once a year. | Request review if side effects or medicine changes occur. |
| Medicine question | Local pharmacy can advise on medicine use and side effects. | Ask a pharmacist for non-urgent medicine questions. |
| Unused medicine | Return old/unused medicines, including inhalers, to a pharmacy. | Do not put medicines in household bins or flush them. |
Test results: online, phone after 2pm or in person
The official test results page covers recent results such as blood tests, urine tests, x-rays and ultrasounds.
| Route | Official rule | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Online form | Practice says it will respond within 5 working days. | Use for routine result questions. |
| Phone | Call after 2pm. | Avoid morning appointment pressure for routine results. |
| In person | You can ask at the surgery. | Take ID if asked. |
| Someone else asking | Results are usually given directly to the patient for privacy. | Permission may help if the patient has difficulty understanding. |
| Hospital-arranged tests | Contact the hospital/clinic that ordered the test. | They should interpret their own investigations. |
Fit notes: 7-day rule and hospital treatment route
| Situation | Rule | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Off work 7 days or less | You usually do not need a GP fit note. | Use self-certification unless employer policy says otherwise. |
| Counting days | Include weekends and bank holidays. | Use full calendar dates, not only working days. |
| Off more than 7 days | Employer usually asks for a fit note. | Use the official fit-note request link. |
| Hospital treatment | Ask the hospital doctor for the fit note. | Do not wait for GP if hospital is managing the condition. |
| Practice needs more detail | They may ask you to make an appointment in person or by phone. | Give exact dates, condition and work limitations. |
Home visits: phone before 11am if you cannot leave home
The official appointment page says Rapid Health is not used for home visits. If you cannot leave your home and need an appointment, phone the surgery before 11am.
| Situation | Likely route | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Truly housebound and need GP help | Phone before 11am. | Explain symptoms and why attendance is not possible. |
| Transport difficulty only | Ask reception about safe alternatives. | Transport difficulty alone may not mean home visit is appropriate. |
| Need interpreter | Contact surgery directly. | Rapid Health is not for interpreter appointment needs. |
| Emergency symptoms | Call 999. | Do not wait for GP home visit if danger signs exist. |
Register with Townhill Medical Practice
NHS currently shows Townhill Medical Practice as accepting new patients. The official registration page says you usually need to live within the practice boundary and the online registration process takes around 15 minutes.
The official page says you usually need to live within the boundary to join.
The form asks for your 10-digit NHS number. You can find it on prescriptions, appointment letters or NHS online service.
The official page says records can take around one month to transfer, and during that time you may not be able to renew prescriptions.
The official page says registration takes around 15 minutes.
Ask the surgery about temporary patient registration.
Useful services and self-help routes
The Modality East Surrey services page lists several routes that may be quicker or more appropriate than a standard GP appointment.
Disabled access, parking and baby-changing facilities
The official Townhill surgery page lists disabled toilet, step-free access, wheelchair access, car parking, disabled parking and baby-changing facility.
Wheelchair and step-free access
Disabled toilet, step-free access and wheelchair access are listed. Call ahead if this is essential for your visit.
Parking
Car parking and disabled parking are listed. Allow extra time at busy clinic periods.
Bringing children
Baby-changing facility is listed. Bring nappies, wipes and appointment details if attending with a child.
Interpreter or support need
Rapid Health is not used for interpreter appointment needs. Contact the surgery directly so support can be arranged.
Hello, I have an appointment/request at Townhill Medical Practice. I need help with [wheelchair access / disabled parking / interpreter / baby changing / carer support]. Can this be added to my appointment or request before I attend?
CQC rating and provider-change warning
CQC information for Townhill Medical Practice is not a simple single current-rating page. The older Townhill Medical Practice profile shows Overall Good and was archived when the provider changed. A later CQC profile under Modality Partnership says the provider changed and the service was archived on 15 January 2025. Treat CQC information as historical/inherited unless the current CQC page clearly shows a new live rating.
| CQC item | What official CQC pages show | How to explain it to readers |
|---|---|---|
| Older provider profile | Archived on 18 June 2019 and shows Overall Good. | Useful historical quality information. |
| Later Modality profile | Provider changed; archived on 15 January 2025. | Do not present as a fresh current inspection. |
| Historical inspection summary | 2017 follow-up found improvements and ratings amended to Good. | Use “historical/inherited Good” wording. |
| Best user action | Check the live CQC page before relying on rating. | Ratings can change after provider changes. |
Map, directions and Guards Avenue visit checklist
Address: Townhill Medical Practice, Guards Avenue, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5XL. Use this map for planning only. Confirm appointment time, form route, access needs and opening details before travelling.
Before travelling
Check appointment time, whether it is GP/nurse/admin, whether Rapid Health or phone route is needed, and whether you need to bring medicine packets, samples, letters, forms or ID.
If someone else is driving
Send the full address: Townhill Medical Practice, Guards Avenue, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5XL. Phone: 01883 331900.
If you are late
Call reception as soon as possible. Some time-limited appointments may need to be rearranged.
If mobility is difficult
Plan extra time for parking, entrance, waiting room movement and communication needs.
When Townhill Medical Practice is closed
The official appointment page says to call 111 or use NHS 111 online when you need help outside normal opening hours. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
| Problem | Use this | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency | Call 999 | Chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, collapse, severe bleeding, not responding. |
| Urgent but not life-threatening | NHS 111 online or call 111 | Too unwell to wait, unsure what care is needed, urgent advice when closed. |
| Medication problem | Pharmacy or NHS 111 if urgent | Running out, side effects, emergency supply. |
| Routine repeat prescription | NHS App, online form or Voice Connect | Repeat requests during normal processing route. |
| Routine admin | Online contact form or phone during opening hours | Letters, fit notes, non-urgent forms, record requests, follow-up questions. |
Official action links used
Use these after reading the practical route above. This article explains what each official link is for so patients do not land on the wrong form.
Official Townhill surgery details · Appointments · Rapid Health online form · Contact surgery online · Repeat prescriptions · Test results · Fit notes · Check referral · Register as a patient · All services · NHS profile · CQC newer archived profile · CQC older archived profile