Appointments

You can make or change an appointment by telephoning the Appointments number 0191 295 8520 or by coming into the Health Centre. If you are registered for online services, you can book GP appointments online using the link above.

Who will I see?

Some patients prefer to book the next available appointment however you are welcome to request to see a specific GP. If you wish to see a specific GP, please be aware whilst we will try our best to accomodate your request it may not always be possible due to the following reasons:

• Annual leave
• Sickness
• Some GPs work part-time

Clinical Pharmacist

You may get asked if you would like an appointment with our Clinical Pharmacist. This may be if you are due a review of your medication, are suffering side effects or from a common illness. For more information about what a clinical pharmacist can do, please see the leaflet below.

What is a Clinical Pharmacist?

When can I get an Appointment?

Our GP appointments are 10 minutes long on average, but you can ask for a longer one if you need it. Just let the receptionist know when you book. You can book in advance, up to three months ahead.

We have a bookable GP surgery for registered patients twice a day, Monday to Friday and one clinic on Saturdays and Sundays (excluding Bank Holidays)

The practice nurse and health care assistant also have appointments available Monday - Friday. For more information on clinic days and times, please see our opening times.

 Urgent Appointments

We will always ensure you are seen appropriately if you have an urgent problem.

If you require a same day appointment, please see the information about our Traige System.

Telephone Advice

A lot of things can be sorted out on the phone, which saves you a trip to the Health Centre, so we have made sure that you can arrange to talk to a GP by phone too. You can ring anytime we are open and leave a message for the doctor to ring you back. Make sure you are available and that your phone accepts incoming calls.

Interpreting Service

lf you would like an interpreter to attend your consultation, please inform the receptionist when you book your appointment.

Cancelling or Arriving Late for an Appointment

If you arrive too late for your appointment (after the end) we will try to fit you in. But this usually means you will be waiting to the end of the surgery (about an hour). If this is not convenient for you, then you should make a new appointment at a time when you can attend on time.

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please tell us as soon as possible, so that someone else can have it.

GP Appointments

Practice Nurse Appointments 

Health Care Assistant Appointments 

Telephone Triage

We currently operate a telephone triage system.

A lot of things can be sorted out on the phone, which saves you a trip to the Health Centre, so we have made sure that you can arrange to talk to a GP on the day.

If the GP cannot help you over the phone they will offer you a clinically appropriate appointment.

To request a telephone triage call, just call reception on the day. All you need to do is keep your phone handy and make sure your phone accepts incoming calls.

Telephone triage is available Monday - Friday 08:00 - 18:30. When the service is not available NHS 111 is the Out of Hours service on duty. In an emergency, call 999.

 You are STILL able to pre book appointments.

Home Visits

If you do decide a visit is necessary, please let us know straight away. We realise that no-one knows in advance that they are going to be ill, but if you can tell us in the morning it helps us to plan our work.

We do not do visits after 18:30 on weekdays or during the weekend (or on Bank Holidays). At these times, if you need a doctor urgently, please call NDUC Out of Hours GP service on 111.

A doctor will phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a district nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.

Walk-in Service

The Walk-in Service is for minor illness, minor injury and health promotion advice. It is available 08:00 to 20:00 every day of the year. As we close at 20:00, make sure you get here well before that time to avoid disappointment.

There are no booked appointments for the Walk-in Service. When you arrive, go to reception and say you have come to use the Walk-in Service. The receptionist will ask you to complete a form and then ask you to take a seat. Be sure to let her/him know if you feel your condition is too urgent to wait a few minutes.

The Walk-In Service is for...

Minor illnesses such as:

Coughs and colds, fever, headaches and dizziness

Minor ear, nose and throat complaints

Minor eye problems eg conjunctivitis

Stomach upsets, indigestion, constipation

New minor skin complaints

Urine infections, thrush

Minor injuries such as:

Superficial cuts, abrasions, and new dressings of wounds

Minor burns and scalds

Insect or animal bites

Minor head injuries

New muscle or joint injury, eg strains and sprains, back pain, tendonitis, fractured wrists

For lifestyle/health promotion such as:

Emergency contraception

Pregnancy testing and advice

Chlamydia screening and condom distribution

The Walk In service is NOT for…

More than minor illness or minor injury including

Serious medical emergencies

Serious head injuries, or loss of consciousness

Accidental or deliberate overdose of drugs or ingestion of poisons

Severe blood loss

Severe allergic reactions

Injury as a result of road traffic accidents

Asthma attacks or wheezy chests, especially in children

You should attend the Emergency Department for these

Chemical or traumatic eye injuries

Contact Eye Casualty or Emergency Department

Long term conditions and more than minor illness

Second opinions

Repeat prescriptions

Mental health concerns

Menstrual problems

Drug or alcohol addiction

Contact your own GP for help with these problems

Pregnancy related problems

Contact your midwife

All dental problems

Contact your dentist

Treatment…

If the nurse practitioner offers you some medication as part of your treatment, it will be subject to the usual NHS prescription charge (where applicable).