Total Triage
From 1 October 2025, in keeping with the New GP Contract, Government directive and many other GP Surgeries in England, we are moving to the Total Triage System for appointment provision.
Instead of telephoning the practice, all requests for GP and urgent appointments will require the completion of a simple online triage form, accessed from a smart phone, NHS App or our website, where you will describe your symptoms/needs.
The form will then be assessed by a senior clinician.
Please visit the dedicated page for more information Total Triage – Drayton Medical Practice

Private Shared Care Agreements
An increasing number of patients are resorting to seeking private health care to manage their symptoms, given the length of NHS waiting lists.
Sometimes, patient care is shared between a specialist and a GP, and there is a formal ‘shared care agreement’ that sets out the responsibilities of each party. Such agreements usually require the GP to arrange prescriptions and investigations once the patient’s condition is stable, with the specialist overseeing/guiding management accordingly.
All shared care agreements are voluntary, and GPs have no obligation to accept such an invitation from a specialist.
The British Medical Association advised that Share Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principles of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care.
We worry that private providers may not adhere to the same safety standards as NHS providers, and problems can emerge if private providers discharge patients who require an ongoing prescription that requires specialist monitoring/review, or the patient decides to stop paying to see the private specialist.
Our role is to provide NHS care, not to support private services.
Therefore, in keeping with many other GP surgeries, we have decided not to engage with future private shared care agreements and so will not be prescribing new specialist medications in such situations.

Latest News
Dr Rob Richards
12th August 2025It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce the departure of Dr Rob Richards from Drayton Medical Practice. […]