Appointments

GP /Advanced Nurse Practitioner routine appointments

Our surgery now follows a total triage system where all requests to book a doctor’s appointment are submitted via e consult.  Once received your request will be reviewed by a GP who will then arrange for one of our reception team to contact you within 24 hours to arrange a suitable appointment either face to face or telephone or recommend an alternative service to better suit your needs (see below for a range of available services)

The e consult system opens at 7am each weekday and remains accessible to patients until we reach capacity.  At this point anyone needing an urgent on the day assessment should contact the surgery via telephone.  For any routine requests that are not a same day emergency we ask that you submit an e consult when the service is available again.

We understand that not all patients have access to online services and /or e consult, in this instance you can either contact us by telephone or if this is not possible attend the surgery in person where one of our receptionist team will be happy to assist and complete the e consult form on your behalf.

Urgent appointment request (non-life threatening)

As above please submit an e consult and your request will be triaged by the duty doctor who will assess your clinical need and will then arrange for one of our reception team to contact you with details of an appropriate appointment.  If clinically urgent this will usually be a same day appointment.

Medical emergency

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies such as

  • Major accident or trauma
  • Severe breathlessness
  • Severe bleeding
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Severe chest pain

Home visits

If you are housebound or too ill to come to the surgery and require a home visit, if possible please contact the surgery before 10am.  Your request will be triaged by a doctor who will assess your suitability for a visit.

Extended access appointments

We also offer a range of appointments in the extended access service which covers the Hebburn and Jarrow area.  You may be offered an appointment with a doctor/nurse or other healthcare professional in this service outside of normal surgery hours either here at our practice or at one of our neighbouring practices. 

Nurse/Healthcare assistant appointments

Some Nurse/Healthcare appointments are available to book online via your NHS app or patient access or alternatively please ring and speak to one of our reception team who can arrange an appointment for you. For long term condition annual reviews, you may also be contacted via text with a link to self-book.

Help with appointments.

How to cancel – Our new telephone system has a’Check and Cancel’ option accessible 24hours a day by telephoning the practice main number 0191 4963770.

Interpreter – We have an Interpreting Service which will be arranged by one of our Team, if required, at the time of booking an appointment. 

Communication requirements – Please contact the practice if you require adjustments to be added to your patient record.

Help when we are closed

During core contracted hours (Mon-Fri 8.30am – 6.00 pm) we are able to provide advice and care. Outside of these hours

  • If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999
  • If you need medical help but it’s not an emergency call 111

When to call 111

You should call 111 when:

  • You think you need to go to A&E or to another NHS urgent care service
  • Your GP surgery is closed, and you need healthcare advice
  • You don’t know who to call for medical help

When to call 999

Call 999 for life threatening emergencies such as:

  • Major accident or trauma
  • Severe breathlessness
  • Severe bleeding
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Severe chest pain

Additional Services

Did you know the surgery has access to a number of different Healthcare professionals (HCP’s) who can help.  After your e consult has been assessed by the doctor our reception team may contact you and arrange an appointment with one of the following HCP’s if more appropriate for your needs.

Podiatrist

  • Foot ulcers (including people with Diabetes)
  • Callus and corns
  • Verruca’s
  • Rashes affecting the foot area
  • Bacterial and fungal skin infections e.g. athletes foot/ local infections
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Any toe nail problem e.g. Fungal nail infections
  • Acute ingrown toe nails
  • Paronychia
  • Suspected Charcot Arthropathy
  • Gout
  • Heel Pain / Plantar fasciitis
  • Metatarsalgia / Pain in ball of foot
  • Soft Tissue Injuries – sprains and strains
  • Structural deformities
  • Any foot and ankle (including post-operative) pain

Social prescribers

  • identifying unmet needs – especially for the frail and vulnerable, those at risk of hospital admission, loss of independence or those coming toward the end of their lives
  • providing direct support, through regular contact by phone or home visits
  • open invitations for a ‘catch up and cuppa’
  • regular ‘getting to know you’ events to meet with other people in similar situations.
  • referring patients to appropriate VCS (voluntary, community and social enterprise) services
  • continually building their knowledge of VCS groups and organisations that can help

Physiotherapist

(Patients must be over 16)

  • Neck Pain
  • Lower Back Pain
  • Soft tissue injuries e.g. sprains, ligaments
  • Arthritis
  • Sciatica
  • Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain
  • Hip, Knee, Ankle Pain
  • Trigger Finger / Thumb
  • Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

Mental Health Practitioners

  • Adults with complex mental health needs that do not fulfil criteria for specialist mental health services e.g. multiple interacting issues, multi-morbidity. These will generally be those deemed too complex for primary care but not unwell enough for secondary care or have mixed issues such as MH and Drug and Alcohol dependence or treatment resistant depressive or anxiety symptoms.
  • Older people where mental health issues manifest in different ways and there is significant overlap between conditions.
  • People with long term mental health conditions who are discharged from secondary care e.g. BPD/ Psychosis but have an ongoing need for care. This includes pts who engage with primary care but who choose not to engage with secondary care
  • Patients with recurrent suicidal feelings but who are not at immediate risk and who fall below the threshold for secondary care interventions.