Appointments

We offer same-day appointments with our GPs. Our advanced practitioners, nurses and healthcare assistant appointments are pre-bookable. We also have appointments available to book online. When contacting our surgery, our receptionists will take a few details to ensure that you are booked with the most appropriate person to help you. Each appointment is usually 15 minutes, this is long enough to deal with one problem. If you have several problems that need attention, please consider this when you book your appointment.

When telephoning the surgery your call may be placed in a queue, please be aware staff are dealing with other patients and will answer your call as quickly as possible. Please see our consultation guide and same day help for your poorly child which you may find helpful. All telephone calls to and from the surgery are recorded for quality and training purposes.

Appointments

To request an appointment:

  • contact your GP practice online to request an appointment. The condition should not be urgent as the practice will respond in 48 hours (Excluding weekends as the surgery is closed).
  • book your appointment using the GP online system – Patient Access
  • phone us Monday to Friday during opening hours
  • visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday
  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination.
  • evening or weekend appointments are available on request by calling the surgery. These are provided by Gateshead Extra Care Service which offers pre-bookable appointments at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Blaydon Primary Care Centre.

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Access the GP online appointment system

Manage your appointments via our online service: Get more information about online access, or please ask a member of the reception team.

Login for Online Services

Extended Access

We recognise that sometimes it is not easy to see us during working hours and therefore we offer early morning appointments with our Advanced Nurse Practitioners, GPs, and Health Care Assistants from 7:00 am and late evening appointments up to 7:30 pm on Wednesday.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • face to face at the surgery
  • telephone
  • group consultations

Cancelling or changing an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • if you need an interpreter
  • if you have any other access or communication needs.

Home visits

If you are housebound and need an appointment, we will do a home visit. We will phone you first to understand what you need.

To request a home visit, it’s helpful if you phone the practice between 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The doctors may go out on their home visits anytime between finishing morning surgery and starting afternoon surgery. If you phone after the doctors have already left the building, we may not be able to visit until the following day, unless it is an emergency.

Help from your pharmacy

Did you know that your local pharmacy can help you with a lot of minor ailments; and a lot of treatments are covered by the Pharmacies.


Additional information about your appointment with us
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?

We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.

Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.

Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.

If you require interpretation services please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.

Chaperone Policy

We will always respect your privacy, dignity and your religious and cultural beliefs particularly when intimate examinations are advisable – these will only be carried out with your express agreement and you will be offered a chaperone to attend the examination if you so wish.

You may also request a chaperone when making the appointment or on arrival at the surgery (please let the receptionist know) or at any time during the consultation.

Giving Consent for Treatment

You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.

Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.

It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.

If you have a suspected infectious disease

Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff. 

Interpreter

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and this will be arranged.

Intimate Examinations

During your care, a doctor may need to examine you in order to provide you with the best care. Occasionally this may involve an examination of intimate areas. We understand that this can be stressful and embarrassing. If this sort of examination is necessary:

  • We will explain to you why the examination is necessary and give you the opportunity to ask questions.
  • We will explain what the examination will involve, including whether you can expect it to be painful or uncomfortable.
  • We will obtain your permission before carrying out this examination You will be offered a chaperone.
  • At all times we will respect your privacy during the examination and while dressing and undressing.

Your doctor and the nursing staff will be happy to discuss any concerns you have about this.

Private Medical Examinations

Medical examinations for special purposes such as pre-employment, fitness to travel, elderly drivers, fitness to undertake sports etc, will require longer than a routine appointment.

These examinations do not form part of NHS Services, you will be charged for any such examination. Please check the fee chargeable when you require to arrange any such examination.