Noticeboard

Telephones

With effect from Monday 26 October 2020, our telephone lines will be available between 08.00 and 18.00.  the practice will remain open until 18.30, Monday to Friday.

Covid 19 Vaccine

A trial is soon to be started at Synexus, Hexham General Hospital - please see our research page for more details if you are interested in taking part.

E-mail and e-Consult service

Please do not e-mail us directly with private or confidential medical information.  This is not a secure channel.  Please contact us via the e-Consult service instead. 

This is available via the online form found half way down the home page. Just click on the blue e-Consult box and follow the instructions.  This is a secure way of contacting us and the system will direct you appropriately.  If you need GP advice, you will receive a response the following working day and they will arrange any follow up or consultation that may be required.

Research project

If you'd like to take part in a research study about data sharing, please look at our Reseach page.

Face coverings and hand washing

In line with Government recommendations, if you are entering the surgery premises, please wear a face covering.  we also now have hand washing facilities at the entrance doors.  Please wash your hands when entering and leaving the building.

 

Patient Access Update

If you access our online services, Patient Access has started to offer private services through the portal.  These services are in no way endorsed by or connected to the practice.  patient access are also updating their security and shortly when you log in you will be asked to provide a 5 digit pin number.

Repeat medication

Pharmacies are taking longer to dispense medication due to supply issues.  Please allow 7 days before collecting your medication or check with the pharmacy.

Online booking

We have been advised not to offer online booking for face to face appointments for the time being.  Appointments are for telephone consultations only so please leave a contact number.  The GP or nurse will telephone you as close to the appointed time as possible.  However, they will not be able to call multiple times if they cannot speak to you.

 

 NATIONAL DATA OPT OUT

Information about the national data opt-out programme can be found at:

www.nhs.uk/your-data-matters or telephone 0300 303 5678

Mobile telephone numbers

Please make sure we have your up to date contact details.  We use mobile phone numbers to send appointment reminders and other appropriate messages.  If you provide us with a mobile telephone number we will assume you are happy to use this to contact you unless you tell us otherwise.

Carers

Please let us know if you are a carer so that we can refer you to Carers Northumberland for support, if you so wish.

Non NHS work 

This is not a priority for our team so it may take up to 3 weeks for us to provide insurance reports, to complete holiday cancellations forms etc. Please note there may be charges for these private services, so please ask.

 

Please also be aware that we cannot guarantee to turn around sick note requests within 48 hours, nor can we provide sick notes in advance.

Smoking and E-cigarettes

There is a blanket no smoking policy in the Primary Care Centre and Hospital site.  This extends also to e-cigrettes as there is no current evidence as to their efficacy or safety.

Online Booking and Medication Requests

To book appointments and order repeat medication 24 hours a day 7 days a week download an application form or please speak to one of our reception team.  for full details regarding security and consent please select item 4 in further information on the right of our home page

Application form for online access

Visitor Tansport for Wansbeck and North Tyneside

If a patient is transferred from Hexham General Hospital to Wansbeck or North Tyneside general hospitals for further treatment, a free daily shuttle car operates from Hexham to enable relatives to visit.  To book a place on this service, which leaves Hexham General Hospital at 1pm, contact 0344 811 8111 and ask for extension 5388.

 

Waiting Room BP Machine

The practice has a waiting room blood pressure machine. This machine is a highly sophisticated device which takes account of the diameter of your arm, and is tested and calibrated annually.

You will need to be shown how to use the Blood Pressure machine the first time, and it is advisable to check the blood pressure in both arms. Please allow 10-15 minutes extra for this before any appointment you may be attending. You are welcome to check your blood pressure using the machine whenever you are in the surgery. Two readings per year are about right for well controlled blood pressure, or one reading every 4 years for people without blood pressure problems.

Please let the receptionists know that you would like it checking the first time. You can just check it yourself using the machine for future readings but please sit down and rest for 5 minutes before using it so the reading will be accurate.

There are two possible outcomes, depending on whether you have an appointment or not.

Where you do not have an appointment to see anyone afterwards, please pass the printout to the receptionist who will note your details on the result and pass it to the on call GP, if required. You will be contacted if you need to take any further action. Please ensure that you are told which arm to have your blood pressure checked in future. The blood pressure does vary from arm to arm and it is best to always use the same arm for future readings (whether done by somebody, at home, or using the waiting room machine).

Where you do have an appointment with somebody immediately afterwards then please bring the printout to your appointment, and the clinician will advise you about the reading.



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