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, heavy bleeding, collapse, a serious allergic reaction, a seizure that is not stopping, serious self-harm, overdose, or someone not responding. If it is urgent but not life-threatening in England, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

Bacup NHS GP surgery guide

Irwell Medical Practice Bacup: call, book, order medicine and choose the right NHS route

Irwell Medical Practice is an NHS GP surgery inside Bacup Health Centre at Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup OL13 9NR. This page gives the phone number, keypad options, opening hours, AccuRx appointment route, prescriptions, Patient Access, registration boundary, home visits, Enhanced Access, fit notes, travel vaccines, accessibility and CQC rating.

Choose care route Book appointment Order prescription

Fast route card

999

Danger signsCall 999 or go to A&E. Do not wait for online triage.

AppointmentsCall 01706 335340 and select Option 1, or use AccuRx.

PrescriptionsAllow 48 hours / 2 working days, excluding bank holidays.

111

Closed or unsureUse NHS 111 if you need help now and it is not an emergency.

Main practice phone

01706 335340

Phone options: Option 1 for Care Co-ordinators and Appointments, Option 2 for Admin, Option 3 for Secretaries, and Option 4 for Prescriptions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12pm.

Tap to call Use phone script

Practice address

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

Use the full “Bacup Health Centre / Irwell Mill” wording for maps, taxis and family members helping you travel.

Open directions

Phone

01706 335340

Address

Irwell Mill, Rochdale Rd, Bacup OL13 9NR

Extended hours

Mon & Thu to 8:15pm

CQC

Outstanding

Fast answer: Irwell Medical Practice Bacup is inside Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NR. The practice phone number is 01706 335340. Opening hours listed by the practice are Monday 8am–8:15pm, Tuesday 8am–6:30pm, Wednesday 8am–6:30pm, Thursday 8am–8:15pm and Friday 8am–6:30pm. It is closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays. Online contact is listed as available between 8am and 6:30pm.

Decision hub: what should an Irwell patient do first?

Use this before calling, sending an AccuRx request or travelling to Bacup Health Centre.

Life-threatening emergency

Call 999 or go to A&E. This includes serious self-harm, overdose, collapse, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, chest pain or severe bleeding.

Urgent same-day GP issue

Use the AccuRx online request form, phone 01706 335340 Option 1, or attend reception. Requests go to the Care Co-ordinator team and Duty Doctor if needed.

Routine ongoing problem

Ask for a pre-booked appointment with the doctor of your choice. This is best for complex, continuing or follow-up problems.

Medication repeat

Use online services, NHS App/Patient Access where set up, in-person written request, or post. Pharmacies cannot order repeats on your behalf.

Minor condition

Try a local pharmacy, NHS self-help information or NHS 111 symptom checker before booking a GP appointment when it is safe to do so.

Urgent but not emergency

Use an urgent care centre route or NHS 111 if you need help now but it is not a 999 emergency.

Opening hours and extended hours

The practice lists weekday opening with longer booked-appointment access on Monday and Thursday evenings. It is closed at weekends and on bank holidays.

Official opening hours Official contact page NHS profile

Day / service	Official listed time	What patients should do
Monday	8am to 8:15pm	Extended evening is for booked appointments.
Tuesday	8am to 6:30pm	Use phone, online contact or reception during normal access.
Wednesday	8am to 6:30pm	Prescription phone option is listed 10am to 12pm.
Thursday	8am to 8:15pm	Extended evening is for booked appointments.
Friday	8am to 6:30pm	Prescription phone option is listed 10am to 12pm.
Saturday / Sunday	Closed	Use NHS 111 if urgent and not life-threatening.
Bank holidays	Closed	Order prescriptions early and check official closure notices.
Online contact	8am to 6:30pm	Use for medical enquiries, messages, record updates, contact-detail changes, referral follow-up and doctor’s letter requests.

Busy phone warning: the practice asks patients with non-urgent matters to avoid the busiest telephone time before 10am, especially on Mondays, where possible.

Phone options: choose the right keypad route

The practice uses keypad options so patients can reach the right team without going through a general operator.

Option	Team	Use it for
Option 1	Care Co-ordinators and Appointments	Urgent appointment requests, routine appointments, triage help, cancellation, interpreter request or appointment-location questions.
Option 2	Admin	Letters, forms, registration queries, record updates and general administration.
Option 3	Secretaries	Referral follow-up and hospital/secretarial queries.
Option 4	Prescriptions	Prescription queries only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12pm.
Community Desk	01706 235332	Dental, podiatry/chiropody, district nurses, health visitors, musculoskeletal, school nurses, treatment room and speech & language.

Phone script that saves time

Hello, my name is [name]. My date of birth is [date]. I am registered at Irwell Medical Practice. My main issue is [one clear sentence]. It started [when]. I need [same-day help / routine appointment / prescription query / result or referral update / home visit]. Is this best for AccuRx, Option 1, GP, nurse, pharmacist, physio, mental health practitioner, urgent care centre, NHS 111 or 999?

Appointments: AccuRx, urgent same-day, routine GP and text reminders

For non-urgent issues, Irwell asks patients to choose the right service first because an appointment may not be necessary. Urgent appointment requests are best made using AccuRx, but patients can still phone or attend reception.

Official appointments page AccuRx request form NHS 111 symptom checker

Check if pharmacy or NHS 111 can help first.
Irwell says many conditions can be dealt with without seeing a GP. Use local pharmacy advice or NHS symptom checker where safe.

Use AccuRx for urgent appointment requests.
Requests go to Care Co-ordinators and then the Duty Doctor if needed. You may receive a text reply, phone call or same-day appointment.

Phone Option 1 if you cannot use the form.
Call 01706 335340 and select Option 1, or attend reception if that is the only practical route.

Use routine appointments for complex or continuing problems.
Pre-booked appointments let you see the doctor of your choice where possible.

Keep contact details current.
The practice uses text confirmations and appointment reminders; wrong details can cause missed messages.

Appointment outcome	Who may handle it	Useful detail
Text advice	Duty Doctor / care team	Some urgent requests may be handled by text without needing an appointment.
Phone call	Duty Doctor or clinician	Keep the phone available after submitting the triage form.
Same-day face-to-face	Partner GP, salaried GP, locum GP, STGP, ACP, PA or medical student with supervision	Booked if the Duty Doctor thinks you need to be seen that day.
Same-day non-GP support	Mental health practitioner or first-contact physio	May be available same day, but not always.
Routine booked appointment	Doctor, nurse or clinic team	Use for ongoing, complex, review or follow-up issues.

Late or missed appointments: the practice says if you are late you may not be seen, and persistent appointment defaulters may be removed from the list.

Home visits, interpreter and chaperone requests

These are small official details that matter for older, disabled, housebound and anxious patients.

Home visit timing

If you require a home visit, phone the surgery before 10:00 if possible. Home visits are for genuinely housebound patients who are too ill to attend.

☎

Duty Doctor callback

The Duty Doctor will usually call back to assess the need. Make sure you or a responsible person can answer the phone.

Dog

Pet safety

If you have a dog, the practice asks you to place it outside or secure it in another room before the health professional visits.

Interpreter

If you need an interpreter when seeing the Doctor, notify the Care Co-ordinator and they will arrange this for you.

Chaperone: Irwell says intimate examinations are only carried out with express agreement, and patients can request a chaperone when booking, on arrival or during the consultation.

Enhanced Access: evening and Saturday appointments in Rossendale

Irwell lists Enhanced Access appointments through East Lancashire Alliance for GP, ANP, Nurse and Healthcare Assistant care. These can be face-to-face, telephone or video appointments.

Official services page Official appointments page

Location	Listed times	Who may be available
Bacup Health Centre, inside Irwell Medical Practice	5pm to 8:45pm on Mondays and Thursdays	GP, ANP, Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant.
Rossendale Health Centre, inside Ilex View Practice	5pm to 8:45pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays	GP, ANP, Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant.
Wider Enhanced Access service	Monday to Friday 17:00–20:45 and Saturday 09:00–17:00	GPs, ANPs, PNs, HCAs and Clinical Pharmacists may be offered across local sites.

Why this helps: clinicians in the Enhanced Access service can access your GP record, see results/letters/consultations and add notes back to your GP record for continuity of care.

Repeat prescriptions: 48 hours, pharmacy rule, online, in person and post

Irwell asks patients to allow 48 hours, or two working days excluding bank holidays, for repeat prescription requests to be processed.

Official repeat prescriptions page Official online services page NHS App

Route	Official detail	Patient tip
Online services	Irwell says the simplest and quickest route is online services linked directly to your prescription record.	Use NHS App, Patient Access or AccuRx route where appropriate.
Local pharmacy	Pharmacies are unable to order repeat prescriptions on behalf of patients.	You can still collect from a nominated pharmacy, and some pharmacies may deliver if you have joined that service.
In person	Return the right-hand half of a previous prescription or submit a handwritten request.	For someone else, include patient name, date of birth and exact medication requested.
By post	Post the prescription slip or written request to the practice.	Include a stamped addressed envelope if you need it returned by post.
Postal timing	Practice says allow at least 7 days if requesting by post.	Do not use post for urgent medication needs.
Prescription phone option	Option 4 is listed Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 12pm.	Use for prescription queries, not as the main repeat ordering route unless advised.

Order early: allow for two working days, bank holidays, postal delays, pharmacy preparation and medication-review checks.

Patient Access and NHS App: setup rules patients miss

Irwell’s online services page says Patient Access can be used to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions and discover local health services by mobile or computer.

Apply in person if using Patient Access registration.
The practice says you must be 16 or over, apply in person and bring two forms of identity, one of which must be photographic ID.

Ask reception for a personal registration letter.
This letter gives the information needed to register for EMIS/Patient Access facilities.

Create the account online first.
Patient Access says you must register an account and password before logging in.

Enter details exactly as shown.
If the details do not match the registration letter, registration will not be accepted.

Third-party warning: Irwell says third party requests will be refused. The practice also reserves the right to refuse access or withdraw online services if the system is abused.

Register with Irwell Medical Practice Bacup

The NHS profile says Irwell Medical Practice is currently accepting new patients. Irwell’s registration page says the practice boundary for new patients is 3 miles and advises patients to check this on Google Maps before registering.

Official new patient page NHS Irwell profile NHS GP registration guidance

Registration point	Official detail	Patient action
New to the area	Practice boundary is 3 miles.	Check distance before starting registration.
Moved outside boundary	Limit is 4 miles, with listed road-based exceptions.	Contact the practice if you have moved and are unsure.
Temporary patient	Emergency treatment can be provided for 14 days; temporary registration can last up to 3 months.	After 3 months, re-register as temporary or register permanently.
Named GP	Irwell assigns a named accountable GP to each patient, and new patients are allocated one at registration.	You can still see any GP of your choice where available.

Policy note: Irwell says its registration policy does not discriminate on race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition.

Services and who may handle your request

Irwell’s services page shows that many patient needs can be routed to the correct professional without waiting only for a GP.

Official clinics and services Official team page

Need	Possible Irwell route	Useful official detail
Medication review / polypharmacy	Clinical pharmacist or pharmacy technician	Pharmacist supports chronic disease medicine management, structured medication reviews and medicines optimisation.
Asthma, COPD, diabetes, smears, B12, BP, contraception review	Practice Nurse	Practice Nurse services include long-term condition reviews, smears, injections, immunisations and health checks.
Blood pressure, ECG, phlebotomy, weight management	Healthcare Assistant	HCA route can be faster than GP for checks and tests.
Routine/emergency clinical problems	Physician Associate where appropriate	Can support face-to-face, telephone and online consultations, tests, care planning and follow-up, with exclusions for complex needs.
Sprains, sports injuries, arthritis, back/neck/spine pain, numbness, sciatica	Physiotherapist	Irwell lists physiotherapists Euwan and Saima and gives exclusion criteria such as acutely unwell, under 16 or acute mental health.
Low-level anxiety, depression, panic, OCD, stress, bereavement, sleep problems	Mental Health Practitioner	Irwell lists Steve for brief psychological support; crisis or severe mental health needs are excluded.
Isolation, money/housing stress, community support	Social prescribing link worker	Can link patients to community groups, activities, information, debt/legal support or local resources.

Adult immunisation

Carers support

Childhood illness advice

Contraception

Minor surgery

Smoking cessation

Dietician

Mental health support clinic

Drug rehabilitation clinic

Sick notes / fit notes

Irwell’s fit-note page follows the standard NHS rule: if you are off work for 7 days or less, you do not need to give your employer a fit note from a medical professional.

Official sickness certificate page SC2 self-certification guidance

Situation	What to do	Patient note
Off work 7 days or less	Use self-certification if your employer asks.	Your employer may ask you to complete form SC2.
Off work more than 7 days in a row	Request a GP or hospital fit note.	This includes weekends and bank holidays.
Hospital treated you	Ask the hospital doctor if they are responsible for the fit note.	Do not assume the GP can issue instantly without evidence.
Need an extension	Use the practice request route and give dates.	Give job role, reason, previous note end date and return-to-work plan if known.

Travel vaccines and medication for trips abroad

Irwell asks patients to arrange travel consultation early. Vaccines need time to work and some require a course over several weeks.

Official travel information Fit for Travel TravelHealthPro

Travel need	Official detail	Action
Travel consultation	Arrange at least 6–8 weeks before departure if possible.	Complete the online travel form and check destination advice.
Vaccination appointment	Second appointment may be needed with the practice nurse; vaccines may need ordering.	Second appointment should be at least 2 weeks before travel.
Private travel vaccines	Some are ordered on private prescription and may incur extra charges.	Ask about cost before the appointment.
Antimalarial medication	Irwell states malaria prevention medication must not be on NHS prescriptions.	Use pharmacy or travel clinic/private prescription where needed.
Usual repeat medication for travel	GP may supply usual medicines for temporary periods between 1 and 3 months where safe and appropriate.	Tell prescription team your travel dates when ordering.
More than 3 months abroad	NHS prescriptions will not be provided to relatives to send abroad.	Arrange care in destination country.

Disabled access, parking, hearing loop and guide dogs

Irwell’s disability access policy gives practical visit details that should be visible in the article, not hidden behind a link.

Official disability access policy

Disabled parking

The building has disabled parking on the front car park.

Lift

Lift access

The building has lift access to all floors.

Loop

Hearing support

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

Large print / CD

If you or a family member is blind or partially sighted, ask staff for a CD or large-print practice leaflet.

Dog

Guide dogs

Guide dogs are welcome, but the practice asks patients to be aware of other patients and staff with allergies or fear of dogs.

Need

Tell staff early

If you have additional needs, tell staff so support can be arranged and recorded for future visits.

Doctors and clinical team

The official team page lists GP partners, salaried GPs and GP trainees. Availability can change, so use the official team page for current names before relying on a named clinician.

Dr Kate Ealing

Dr John O’Malley

Dr Tom Wade

Dr Afraz Zafar

Dr Rebecca Roxburgh

Dr Sam Smith

Dr Katherine Thompson

Dr Kirstie Caine

Dr Emily Mills

Dr Taherah Al-Husseini

Dr Anss Muhammad

Dr Nicola Cooper-Moss

Dr Kazim Riaz

Dr Ali Hammosh

Dr Zama Raza

GP trainees

Physician Associate

Physiotherapist

CQC rating: Outstanding

CQC lists Irwell Medical Practice as Overall: Outstanding. The report was published on 5 January 2018, and CQC’s latest review on 6 July 2023 said it had not found evidence requiring reassessment at that stage.

CQC Irwell Medical Practice

CQC area	Listed rating
Overall	Outstanding
Safe	Good
Effective	Good
Caring	Outstanding
Responsive	Good
Well-led	Outstanding

Focused inspection ratings: CQC lists Outstanding for long-term conditions, families/children/young people, older people, working-age people, people experiencing poor mental health and people whose circumstances may make them vulnerable.

Map: Irwell Medical Practice at Bacup Health Centre

Address: Irwell Medical Practice within Bacup Health Centre, Irwell Mill, Rochdale Road, Bacup, OL13 9NR. Use the map for travel planning only. Confirm appointment time before travelling.

Before leaving

Check appointment time, bring medication packets, hospital letters, forms, samples if requested, glasses/hearing aids and photo ID if needed for online services setup.

If mobility is difficult

Use disabled parking at the front car park and lift access to all floors. Tell staff about additional needs before or on arrival.

Official sources used

This independent guide converts official public information into practical patient steps. Always confirm time-sensitive details directly with Irwell Medical Practice, NHS.uk, NHS 111 or CQC.

Irwell official website · Official contact page · Official opening hours · Official appointments page · Official prescriptions page · Official online services · Official registration page · Official services page · Official fit notes page · Official travel page · Official access policy · NHS Irwell profile · CQC Irwell rating

Irwell Medical Practice Bacup FAQs

What is the phone number for Irwell Medical Practice Bacup?

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 Prescriptions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12pm.

Where is Irwell Medical Practice?

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

What are the opening hours?

The practice lists Monday 8am to 8:15pm, Tuesday 8am to 6:30pm, Wednesday 8am to 6:30pm, Thursday 8am to 8:15pm and Friday 8am to 6:30pm. It is closed Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.

How do I request an urgent appointment?

Use the AccuRx Online Request Form, attend reception or phone 01706 335340 and select Option 1. Urgent requests go to the Care Co-ordinator team and then the Duty Doctor if needed.

Can the Duty Doctor respond without booking an appointment?

Yes. Irwell says some issues may be dealt with by the Duty Doctor through a text or phone call without needing an appointment.

How do I book a routine appointment?

Routine appointments can be requested through AccuRx, in person at reception or by phoning 01706 335340 and selecting Option 1. Routine booked appointments are best for complex or continuing problems where a chosen GP may be most suitable.

How do I order repeat prescriptions?

Use online services, NHS App/Patient Access where set up, request in person using the right-hand half of a previous prescription or a handwritten request, or post your request to the practice. Pharmacies cannot order repeats on behalf of patients.

How long do repeat prescriptions take?

Irwell asks patients to allow 48 hours, or two working days excluding bank holidays, for repeat prescription requests to be processed. Postal requests should allow at least 7 days.

Can I collect prescriptions during extended hours?

The appointments page says the practice is also open to collect prescriptions during extended practice opening hours on Monday and Thursday from 18:30 to 20:15.

How do I request a home visit?

Phone the surgery before 10:00 if possible. Home visits are for genuinely housebound patients too ill to come to the surgery. The Duty Doctor will usually call back to assess the need.

Does Irwell offer Enhanced Access appointments?

Yes. Enhanced Access is listed at Bacup Health Centre inside Irwell Medical Practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 5pm to 8:45pm, and at Rossendale Health Centre inside Ilex View Practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 8:45pm.

Is Irwell Medical Practice accepting new patients?

The NHS profile states that Irwell Medical Practice is currently accepting new patients. The practice registration page says the new-patient boundary is 3 miles.

What is Irwell Medical Practice’s CQC rating?

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

Is disabled access available?

The practice access policy says the building has disabled parking on the front car park, lift access to all floors, a reception hearing loop and a portable loop system for use in surgery.

Independent directory disclaimer: medicalpracticeuk.org is not the NHS, CQC, NHS England, NHS 111 or Irwell Medical Practice. This page is general public information, not medical advice. We cannot book appointments, issue prescriptions, register you, view your record, cancel appointments, chase referrals or contact the surgery for you. Always confirm current opening hours, appointment capacity, AccuRx availability, prescription rules, registration status, clinics, accessibility arrangements and urgent-care instructions with Irwell Medical Practice, NHS.uk, NHS 111 or CQC before relying on them.

Irwell Medical Practice Call 01706 335340