Appointments

How to book an appointment

We operate a triage system for the majority of our appointments with our GPs and Nurse Practitioners. The best way to get an appointment with a clinician is to submit an eConsult, (the link for this is on our homepage). Your eConsult will then be triaged by a GP who will decide who is the best person to treat you. This allows GPs to obtain investigations first, utilises all of our clinicians appointment capacity, and allows us to signpost patients elsewhere if necessary. If you are unable to complete an eConsult, please contact the practice on 0191 4772243 during opening hours and a receptionist will be able to take your information over the phone.

The standard appointment time is 15 minutes. We no longer offer double appointments with our GPs. It is at the GPs discretion whether they will be able to deal with more than one presenting complaint in one appointment. If they require more time, they may ask you to make a further appointment.

You are able to express a preference for a particular practitioner, but please be aware this may mean you have to wait longer for an appointment.

Please let our reception team know if you require any special assistance, including interpreters, for your appointment.

Our Appointments Explained

There are 4 types of appointments:

1. Same day – a limited selection of appointments are released each morning at 8:30am each morning. These appointments tend to be used for new illnesses/conditions that are more urgent and need to be seen the same day.
2. In advance – appointments in advance that are booked after a GP has triaged and decided it’s more appropriate to wait to be seen
3. Telephone – doctors and nurses are often able to provide advice to patients on the telephone.
4. Long Term condition management – we monitor patients who have long term conditions on a regular basis at specialist clinics. Patients with these conditions will be sent a letter inviting them to make an appointment.

We also offer online appointment booking. If you are interested in this service, please download an App such as the NHS app or Patient Access or ask the reception team.

Life Threatening Emergencies

For real life-threatening emergences such as those below: RING 999

• Chest pain (suspected heart attack)
• Suspected stroke
• Suspected meningitis
• Anaphylactic shock (severe allergy)
• Heavy bleeding or deep lacerations
• Fluctuating levels of consciousness or completely unconscious
• Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing with a change in colour
• New seizure, fit or uncontrollable shaking

For immediately serious conditions such as the following, GO TO Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY

• A fever and lethargic (drowsy) child
• A feverish and floppy (unresponsive) infant
• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden, severe abdominal pain
• Accidental or intentional overdose of medication
• Trauma (including falls) and possible broken bones or road traffic accident

I need a sick/fit note

We can offer you a fit/sick note in most instances if you have already been seen by another health service:

• A&E
• Out Patient
• Walk-in Clinics

Please raise your request in eConsult