Downs Way Branch Route Hub
If you searched for Downs Way Medical Practice, the useful answer is not just one phone number. The practice has three sites, central phone handling, Anima/eConsult triage, online services, dispensary rules, test-result limits, registration steps and out-of-hours routes.
This guide turns the official practice information into a patient-first route map so you know whether to use Anima, phone Istead Rise, contact Summerhouse, use Patient Access, order a repeat prescription, check results, register, or use NHS 111.
About Downs Way Medical Practice
Downs Way Medical Practice is a multi-site NHS GP practice serving patients through Istead Rise, Shorne and Summerhouse. The official website now makes the patient route very clear: many requests should start online through Anima / Contact Us Online, while phone access remains important for people without internet access and for branch-specific issues.
NHS GP practice
Downs Way Medical Practice provides NHS general practice services from three named surgery locations.
Branch-first layout
Patients need to check whether their appointment, prescription, dispensary collection or reception query belongs to Istead Rise, Shorne or Summerhouse.
Best first step
Start with your task: medical help, nurse appointment, prescription, result, fit note, online access, registration or urgent out-of-hours care.
Downs Way Medical Practice Sites: Istead Rise, Shorne and Summerhouse
Use this table before calling or travelling. A common mistake is assuming every service happens at Istead Rise, even though the practice has three sites and branch-specific phone details.
| Site | Address | Phone | Useful note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istead Rise Surgery | Worcester Close, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9LB | 01474 247003 | Main CQC-listed site and central phone route for Istead/Shorne. |
| Shorne Village Surgery | Crown Lane, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 3DY | 01474 247003 | The official site says Shorne phone is centrally answered at Istead Rise. |
| Summerhouse Surgery | Beaconsfield Road, Bexley, Kent, DA5 2AE | 01322 402210 | Use Summerhouse details for Bexley branch-specific queries. |
| Universal practice number | All practice enquiries | 0300 456 2305 | Listed by the official contact page as the universal practice number. |
What Do You Need from Downs Way Medical Practice Today?
Use this section first. It gives the answer inside the page before sending you to the official action link.
Medical help / GP request
- Use Anima / Contact Us Online for medical help where possible.
- Phone only if you do not have internet access or need phone support.
- The clinical team triages the request and may respond by text, phone, video or face-to-face appointment.
Repeat prescription
- Use Patient Access, NHS App or the practice prescription route.
- Eligible dispensing patients should check Istead Rise or Shorne dispensary rules.
- Do not leave requests until the last day before weekends or holidays.
Test results
- The practice no longer gives out test results over the phone or via appointments.
- Use NHS App for recent blood-test information where available.
- If more detail is needed, use the Anima administration option.
Fit note / GP letter
- Fit notes, GP letters and recent results can be requested online.
- 7 days or less off sick usually means self-certification.
- More than 7 days may need a fit note from a GP or hospital doctor.
Online services
- Patient Access can book/cancel appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view summary record items.
- Ask reception to sign up for Patient Access.
- NHS App can also access NHS services and GP account functions.
Closed or urgent?
- Out of hours: call 111 or use NHS 111 online.
- Dire emergency: call 999.
- For branch closure, follow the phone system and central Istead Rise advice.
Surgery Times, Phone Cover and Enhanced Access
The official website says all appointments are triaged via Anima/eConsult-style online request, and patients should phone only if they do not have internet access.
| Location / route | Official reception pattern | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Istead Rise | Monday-Friday, 8:30am-6:30pm | Main site and central phone route for Istead/Shorne. |
| Shorne | Mon/Tue/Thu 8:30am-12:00pm and 3:30pm-6:30pm; Wed/Fri 8:30am-12:00pm | Telephone is centrally answered at Istead Rise. When Shorne is closed, contact Istead Rise. |
| Summerhouse | Monday-Friday, 8:30am-6:30pm | Use 01322 402210 for Summerhouse branch-specific queries. |
| Practice phones | Manned 8:30am-6:30pm | Follow phone-system advice if your usual surgery is closed. |
| Enhanced access | Evening/weekend appointments may be offered through local GP collaboration | Official page mentions Swanscombe Medical Practice access via The Ebbsfleet Academy, Southfleet Road, Swanscombe, DA10 0BZ. |
| Out of hours | Evenings, weekends and closures | Use NHS 111 online or call 111; call 999 for dire emergencies. |
Anima Appointments: What to Fill In and When to Phone
The official appointment information says appointment requests are triaged online. This does not mean reception is deciding who you see; the request is passed into a clinical triage route.
Check emergency first
If the problem is severe chest pain, severe bleeding or another dire emergency, call 999 before calling the practice.
Use Anima / Contact Us Online
Submit a medical or admin request online. Include symptoms, when they started, what changed, medicines, allergies, pregnancy or child/frailty context, and your best callback time.
Phone only when online access is difficult
The official surgery-times page says to telephone the surgery if you do not have access to the internet.
Expect the right response type
The practice may respond by text, telephone, video call or, where clinically necessary, face-to-face appointment.
Use the right booking route
Blood tests may be available online, via NHS App or phone once the clinician conversation has happened and the pathology request is raised. Nurse appointments should be booked by phoning the surgery.
Repeat Prescriptions and Dispensary Rules
Downs Way has two different prescription questions: how to request repeat medication, and whether you are eligible to use a practice dispensary. Do not mix them up.
| Prescription topic | Official detail | Patient action |
|---|---|---|
| Online repeat ordering | Patient Access and NHS App are listed routes for repeat prescriptions. | Use your online account if already registered; ask reception if you need Patient Access setup. |
| Dispensing eligibility | The practice dispenses for eligible Istead Rise and Shorne patients who live more than one mile from a chemist. | Ask the dispensary team if you are unsure whether you are registered as dispensing. |
| Istead Rise dispensary | Monday-Friday 8:45am-12:00pm and 3:00pm-6:30pm. | Avoid lunch closure if collecting from Istead Rise. |
| Shorne dispensary | Mon/Tue/Thu 8:45am-12:00pm and 3:30pm-6:30pm; Wed/Fri 8:45am-12:00pm. | Afternoon collection is not listed for Wednesday or Friday. |
| Housebound dispensing patients | The practice booklet says delivery is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays. | Confirm current eligibility and delivery details with the dispensary. |
| Medication safety | Repeat medicines are issued at the doctor’s discretion. | Request early enough for weekends and public holidays. |
Test Results: Why Phone Calls and Appointments Are Not the Result Route
No phone result service
The official test-result page says the practice no longer gives out test results over the phone or via appointments.
Use NHS App
The site suggests using NHS App to view recent blood-test information once registration is complete.
Need more detail?
Use the administration option through the online request service for a specific test-result query.
Wait times vary
Some tests take longer than others. The doctor or phlebotomist should be able to advise the likely wait.
Fit Notes, Sick Notes, GP Letters and Admin Requests
The official fit-note page says fit notes, GP letters and recent test results can be requested online, with the online route saying you can get what you need by the end of the next working day or sooner.
| Situation | Official guidance | Best route |
|---|---|---|
| Off sick 7 days or less | Your employer should not ask for medical evidence; self-certification is normally used. | Use the self-certification route rather than requesting a GP note. |
| Off sick more than 7 days | Your employer will usually ask for a fit note from a GP or hospital doctor. | Use the official online request route or follow practice guidance. |
| GP letter | The online route includes GP letters. | Explain exactly what the letter is for and whether it is NHS or private/admin. |
| Recent test-result admin request | The online route includes recent results requests. | Use admin request route if NHS App does not answer the question. |
Online Services: Patient Access and NHS App
Downs Way lists Patient Access and NHS App as useful online routes. This is not just for appointments; it can reduce phone pressure for repeat prescriptions and records.
Patient Access
The practice says Patient Access can book and cancel appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view summary record items. Speak to reception to sign up.
NHS App
The practice lists NHS App as a secure route to check symptoms, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view GP medical record and access 111 Online.
Security
NHS App sign-up checks identity in a similar way to secure banking apps. Use official links before entering personal information.
Proxy Access
Proxy access lets a person access another patient’s online account where appropriate. The official proxy page says it can include appointment booking/viewing, ordering medication and access to medical records.
What proxy can cover
Booking and viewing appointments, ordering medication and accessing medical records may be included.
Confidentiality first
Proxy access should only be used where permission, parental responsibility, carer role or another suitable basis applies.
How to start
Use the official proxy access page or speak with reception to understand what evidence or consent is needed.
Register with Downs Way Medical Practice
The registration page says the practice welcomes patients who live within the practice boundary and prefers to register whole families where possible.
Check the practice boundary
Use the official practice area map before applying.
Have your NHS number ready
The registration page says all patients need their NHS number to hand.
Choose online or in-person registration
The official site lists two ways: online pre-registration or in-person registration.
Complete the medical questionnaire
The practice asks for a medical questionnaire because records can take time to arrive from the previous practice.
Bring ID and address proof
One form of current photo ID and one confirmation of address are requested; for children, a long/full birth certificate is required.
Do not delay ID
If identification is not provided within one calendar month of the original join submission, the practice says the application will be shredded.
Clinics and Services Listed by Downs Way
Do not book everything as a GP appointment. The practice lists several clinic/service routes where the right clinician or appointment type matters.
| Service / clinic | Officially listed detail | Use this note |
|---|---|---|
| Antenatal clinic | Patients are seen by the midwife at clinics by appointment and also by doctors during surgery hours. | Ask reception which antenatal route applies. |
| Baby clinic | Practice nurses and doctors support child-development checks and immunisations. | Use the correct child-health appointment type. |
| Asthma clinic | Run by practice nurses with the nurse practitioner and doctors, by appointment only. | Book as the correct long-term-condition review. |
| Diabetic clinic | Run by nurse practitioner and practice nurses with GP support. | Check review timing before requesting GP appointment. |
| Family planning | Contraceptive care is provided by doctors and nurses during normal surgery hours. | Ask which clinician/appointment is appropriate. |
| Well Woman / smears | Practice nurses support smears and women’s health discussion. | Book the correct nurse appointment. |
| Minor surgery | Minor procedures are carried out by named doctors by appointment. | Discuss with the doctor first; reception books in waiting-time order. |
| Travel immunisation | Start checking requirements at least 10 weeks before travel; vaccination appointment often needed at least 6 weeks before holiday. | Check TravelHealthPro first, then book travel clinic telephone appointment. |
| Blood tests | Blood tests are available on selected mornings across sites; book via reception, which confirms available days. | Blood-test appointment follows the clinician request/pathology form route. |
| 24/7 ECG | Available by GP referral at Istead Rise Surgery. | Do not self-book without GP referral. |
Primary Care Network, Training Practice and CQC
Garden City PCN
The practice says it is part of Garden City Primary Care Network with Swanscombe Health Centre and Pilgrims Way Surgery.
Training practice
CQC and official surgery information describe Downs Way as a training practice, with GP trainers and trainees.
CQC rating
CQC lists Downs Way Medical Practice as Overall: Good. The latest review date shown by CQC is 6 July 2023.
Comments, Suggestions and Complaints
The complaints page says the practice tries to provide the best service possible, but has an in-house complaints procedure for patient grievances.
Written complaint route
Write to the practice manager at the Istead Rise Surgery address, detailing your concerns.
Consent matters
If the complaint is not made by the patient in person, patient consent will be necessary because of confidentiality duties.
Suggestions
Suggestion boxes are provided at each surgery, and suggestions can also be made using the online form.
Downs Way Route Planner
Choose your task and get a practical next step. This runs in your browser only and does not send information anywhere.
Select your task above.
Copy-and-Use Scripts
Anima / medical request
I am registered with Downs Way Medical Practice. My main problem is ______. It started ______. It is worse/better because ______. I take ______. My preferred branch is ______. I can take a call at ______.Prescription / dispensary query
I need help with repeat medicine ______, dosage ______. I usually collect from ______. I have ______ days left. I am / am not a dispensing patient.Test-result admin request
I had a ______ test on ______. I have checked NHS App / cannot see the result. I need to know whether there is a GP message or next step.Registration query
I live in the practice area and want to register. I have completed / not completed online pre-registration. I can provide NHS number, photo ID and address proof.Map: Downs Way Medical Practice, Istead Rise Surgery
Map shown for the main Istead Rise Surgery location. Check your appointment, prescription or dispensary instructions before travelling because Downs Way has multiple sites.
Official Resources
Use these links after reading the relevant section above. The article explains the detail first; the link is for action or verification.
Related MedicalGroupUK Guide
This live related guide helps users compare Istead Rise-specific access details.
Downs Way Medical Practice FAQs
What is the main Downs Way Medical Practice phone number?
The official contact page lists the universal practice number as 0300 456 2305.
What is the Istead Rise Surgery phone number?
Istead Rise Surgery is listed with 01474 247003.
What is the Shorne Village Surgery phone number?
Shorne Village Surgery is listed with 01474 247003, and the official site says the telephone is centrally answered at Istead Rise.
What is the Summerhouse Surgery phone number?
Summerhouse Surgery is listed with 01322 402210.
Where is Downs Way Medical Practice?
The main Istead Rise site is at Worcester Close, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent, DA13 9LB. The practice also lists Shorne Village Surgery and Summerhouse Surgery.
What are Istead Rise Surgery opening hours?
The official contact and surgery-times pages list Istead Rise reception hours as Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm.
What are Shorne Surgery opening hours?
The official pages list Shorne reception as 8:30am to 12:00pm and 3:30pm to 6:30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and 8:30am to 12:00pm on Wednesday and Friday.
What are Summerhouse Surgery opening hours?
The official page lists Summerhouse reception hours as Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6:30pm.
How do appointments work at Downs Way?
The official surgery-times page says all appointments are triaged via Anima/eConsult-style online request, and patients should phone only if they do not have internet access.
Can I phone instead of using Anima?
Yes, if you do not have internet access or need support. The official guidance says to complete the online form and only telephone if you do not have internet access.
How will the practice respond to an Anima request?
The official surgery-times page says patients may be responded to by text, telephone, video call or, where clinically necessary, face-to-face appointment.
How do I book a nurse appointment?
The appointment information says nurse appointments should be booked by phoning the surgery.
How do I book a blood test?
The appointment information says blood-test appointments are available online, via NHS App or by phoning the surgery once the clinician conversation has happened and the pathology request form has been raised.
How do I get test results?
The official test-results page says Downs Way no longer gives out test results over the phone or via appointments. Recent blood results may be available through NHS App, and specific queries can use the online administration option.
How do I request a fit note?
The fit-note page says fit notes, GP letters and recent test results can be requested online. If you are off work for 7 days or less, your employer should not ask for medical evidence; more than 7 days may need a fit note.
Does Downs Way offer Patient Access?
Yes. The online-services page says Patient Access can book and cancel appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view summary record items. Speak to reception to sign up.
Can I use the NHS App with Downs Way?
Yes. The practice lists NHS App for checking symptoms, booking appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions, viewing GP medical record, accessing COVID vaccination status and using 111 Online.
Who can use the practice dispensary?
The practice information says dispensing is available to eligible Istead Rise and Shorne patients who live more than one mile from a chemist and are registered as dispensing patients.
What are Istead Rise dispensary hours?
The published dispensary hours say Istead Rise is Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 12:00pm and 3:00pm to 6:30pm.
What are Shorne dispensary hours?
The published dispensary hours say Shorne is Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:45am to 12:00pm and 3:30pm to 6:30pm, and Wednesday and Friday 8:45am to 12:00pm.
How do I register with Downs Way Medical Practice?
The official registration page says patients who live within the practice boundary can register online or in person. Patients need their NHS number, a medical questionnaire, photo ID and address proof.
What happens if I do not provide ID after applying to register?
The registration page says if identification is not provided within one calendar month of the original submission, the application will be shredded.
Does Downs Way Medical Practice have disabled access?
Yes. The official contact page says all surgeries have disabled parking near the front door, ramp access, lifts, and disabled patient toilets at the sites.
What is Downs Way Medical Practice’s CQC rating?
CQC lists Downs Way Medical Practice as Overall: Good.
What should I do when the practice is closed?
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 for urgent non-emergency help. Call 999 for dire emergencies.
Is this the official Downs Way Medical Practice website?
No. This is an independent MedicalGroupUK.org guide. Use the official Downs Way Medical Practice website for live forms, current notices and current service rules.