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St. Marys Road, Ferndown, BH22 9HB

Telephone: 01202 897000

Please call NHS 111 or visit our Opening Hours web page for more options on what do when we are closed.

September Activity Update

Posted on October 31st, 2026

The Orchid House Surgery Figures (1st to 30th September)

Number of calls received 5888
Number of appointments booked 5303
Number of appointments booked per day 195 – 313
Number of DNA’s (Did Not Attend) 155 (2.9%)

SystmConnect – 6-month update

It’s now been 6 months since we introduced SystmConnect, our new way of requesting GP appointments.

We know that changing the way you access your GP can take some getting used to, so we’d like to thank all our patients who have given it a try and shared their feedback with us.

Why did we change?

Previously, appointments were offered largely on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning patients often needed to call at 8:30 am for an on-the-day appointment. We know this wasn’t convenient for everyone, particularly those who were working or had the school run.

Changes to the GP contract also mean that practices can no longer simply ask patients to call back another day if appointments are full.

How does SystmConnect work?

You complete a short form explaining why you need our help. A clinician then reviews your request and decides:

  • How quickly you need to be seen
  • What type of appointment you need
  • Which clinician is most appropriate

This means appointments can be prioritised according to clinical need, rather than who gets through on the phone first.

How are we doing?

We are already seeing shorter telephone queues and patients being seen within clinically appropriate timescales.

We have also made improvements to make SystmConnect easier to find and use, based on your feedback.

Need help completing the form?

You can still call us or visit reception, and our team will be happy to complete the form with you.

Thank you for your patience, support and feedback!