Appointments

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE ONLINE SERVICE THIS IS A FACE TO FACE APPOINTMENT WITH A DOCTOR.  YOU MUST WEAR A FACE MASK WHEN ATTENDING THE PRACTICE.

Check out the link below for more information on eConult.

eConsult Patient Video

All surgery times are by appointment. Please telephone or visit the surgery during opening hours for an appointment. We provide an on-line appointment booking service. Please ask at reception for details on how to register for this.

The main door is closed at 18:00.

Please note: on Monday and Wednesday evenings, after 18:00, only patients with pre-booked appointments will be allowed in.

When attending for your appointment please ensure you arrive promptly. If you are late for an appointment it will be at the discretion of the doctor or nurse whether you are seen.

As a registered patient you have the right to express a preference regarding which doctor you wish to see, however, due to holidays or absences beyond our control, this will not always be possible. You will be offered an alternative doctor.

Interpreters cannot be booked via the online service so any patient needing an interpreter will still need to contact reception in the usual way.

Do you really need to see a GP? 

Can the Pharmacist help?

Minor Ailment Scheme
Most Pharmacies also run a Minor Ailment Scheme for common health problems like aches and pains, skin conditions, common colds and stomach upsets.
Check with your Pharmacy to see if they run a Minor Ailment Scheme, the Pharmacist will be able to assess your needs, give you advice, suggest medicines if appropriate and refer you to a GP if necessary.
When Pharmacies provide medicines as part of the Minor Ailment Scheme, you get the medicines on the NHS.
If you normally pay a prescription charge,  the charge will apply.  If you are exempt from prescription charges - if you are under 16 or over 60, for example, if you have a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) - you won't pay for the medicine.

Unwell Child

Same day help for your poorly child. If your child has become unwell in the last few days and you would like urgent advice then please contact the surgery and we will arrange for a clinician to speak to you and if necessary to see your child, today - this could save you an unnecessary trip to A+E or a Walk-in Centre. Can we also make you aware of the Little Orange Book, which provides expert help for parents and carers on how to manage common problems in babies and small children – ask at reception for a copy.  You can also download a free NHS app which gives helpful advice.

Try the new NHS App

‘If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.

You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.

If you already use the Systmonline App or use the link via the website, you can continue to do so. You can use the NHS App as well.

For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp'

Telephone Advice

If you feel that advice from a doctor or nurse given over the telephone would be sufficient for your problem then please telephone reception and they will put you on the telephone list for the doctor or nurse who will call you back.

Emergencies During Surgery Hours

If you need to be seen as an emergency please telephone reception. You will be put on the telephone list for the 'Doctor on call' who will ring you back.  If you need an emergency home visit, reception will put you in contact with the doctor on call.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Non-attendances are monitored and if recurrent, the individual will receive a written reminder.

Home Visits

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. In this respect, if you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 10:30. Any requests after this time will be deferred until the next working day unless urgent, in which case, you will be put in contact with the on-call doctor.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to enable the doctor to schedule house calls

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

For more information see the DirectGov website (where this information was sourced).

Training in General Practice

Prospect Medical Group is appointed as a training practice within the Northumbria Vocational Training Scheme. Once every 6 months a new doctor joins the practice as part of their training.

These doctors are fully qualified and undergoing further training before taking up their own practice. We also have medical students visiting the practice as part of their undergraduate training.

As part of this training you may occasionally find another doctor or a medical student “sitting in” on your consultation, or there may be a video camera being used. This will not be done without your permission and you will be asked before you see the doctor.