Urgent Appointments
We will always deal with genuine urgent cases quickly as possible.
Please let reception know if you are requesting a same day appointment.
Our GP Partners advise our receptionists on appropriate appointments. You will be asked some questions when contacting us as to the nature of your illness, and our reception team will care navigate you to the appropriate service accordingly. This may mean that you are asked to attend a Walk in Centre, located on Ponteland Road and Molineux (we also have limited numbers of appointments that we can book at Molineux Walk In Centre), your local pharmacy or other service (such as A&E or Eye Casualty). It is worth reading Getting the Right Help to identify where we may signpost you before contacting us, as most minor ailments (such as chest infections, sinusitis, shingles, etc) can be dealt with by other healthcare services without needing to see us. This helps us to keep our appointments available for those who truly are unable to be seen and treated elsewhere, as their medical history is too complicated, are disabled or elderly.
Pharmacy First is a newly established scheme, working alongside the previously established Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (CPCS), wherein pharmacists can treat a number of minor ailment conditions:
- Acute Otitis Media (1 to 17 years)
- Impetigo (1 year and over)
- Infected insect bites (1 year and over)
- Shingles (18 years and over)
- Sinusitis (12 years and over)
- Sore throat (5 years and over)
- Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (women 16-64 years)
Treatment for these conditions would be given like a prescription; if you do not pay for prescriptions, you would not pay for treatment.
There are many existing conditions which you have already been able to see you pharmacist about. These include:
- Aches and pains - such as, back pain, headache and period pain.
- Accidents - such as, sprains, minor cuts, and grazes
- Colds, flu and other infections - such as, cough, congestion, fevers and/or temperature.
- Ear care - such as, ear wax.
- Eye care - such as, conjunctivitis, styes.
- Hay fever - which is not controlled by standard over-the-counter treatments.
- Rashes.
- Skin problems - such as, athlete’s foot, cold sores, or mild eczema or psoriasis.
- Stomach aches - such as, constipation, diarrhoea, or indigestion.
We operate a telephone triage service for patients who consider their problem to be clinically urgent. If you feel you have a clinically urgent problem during surgery hours, ring 0191 274 3724. The receptionist will ask for some basic information about the problem and a contact telephone number. We appreciate your understanding and patience of this. You may then be given advice, issued with a prescription or given an appointment or home visit.
Home Visits
We have the proper equipment here at the surgery so we encourage you to come to the surgery. However, we do appreciate this is not always possible. If you need a home visit, we ask that you please let us know by calling reception before 11:00am.
You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. The clinician will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it. They 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.
Extended Access Hub - Same Day Appointments
Patients who need to be seen urgently on the same day can also access additional appointments in a local treatment centres with a GP.
To book an appointment, telephone 111. Tell them that you require an appointment at the EXTENDED ACCESS HUB. 111 will then ask you a series of questions about your condition. They may also book you an appointment at your nearest treatment centre.