Appointments
Opening Times
Monday - Friday |
08:00 to 13:00 |
14:00 to 18:00 |
How to See the Doctor
To make an appointment please ring the surgery. Please ensure that you make 1 appointment for each patient that needs to be seen. If you have multiple problems please discuss making a double appointment with reception.
If there are no appointments available urgent cases will be seen by arrangement with the reception staff.
Alternatively you can submit an e-consultation by clicking 'get started' on the banner to the right, and a member of the team will contact you within 2 working days
Appointment System
We offer same day appointments, pre-bookable appointments and triage appointments with a variety of clinicians. When contacting the surgery by telephone, or in person, please inform the receptionist of the reason for your appointment in order that you can be seen by the most appropriate person.
Hints and tips for the Appointment System
Register for online appointments. This will give you the ability to book an appointment as soon as they are released in the surgery and means you are not restricted to trying to get through on the telephone line at 08:00. Please bring photographic ID to reception and ask them to register you for this.
You can also book and cancel an appointment via the NHS App. You can download the NHS App via these links Download on App Store
Download on Google Play Store.
Please ring after 08:00 as the telephone system operates 08:00 to 13:00 and14:oo to 18:00. Please listen to the options you are given when you get through and press the appropriate number. This will direct your call to the service which you require. We try to keep the surgery line free between 08:00 and 10:00 for appointment requests and home visits.
Monday is our busiest day for appointment requests. It is not necessary to ring on Monday to obtain an appointment for that week as we release appointments on a daily basis.
The surgery offers the option of a telephone consultation. If you feel your problem could be dealt with on the telephone please ask the receptionist to make you a routine telephone consultation.
If you do not have a telephone or access to a computer you can call in to make an appointment during opening times.
Home Visits
If it is not possible to get to the surgery and you need a home visit, please ring the surgery before 10.00am.
The receptionist will require as many details as possible about the patient to be visited and the doctor may ring you back. Visits are done at the Doctor’s discretion.
Home visits are for truly housebound or end of life patients. If you are able to leave your home then you will be asked to come down to the surgery. Home visits are not performed for transport issues.
If you require a doctor urgently please tell the reception staff when making the call.
Cancelling or changing an appointment
To cancel an appointment please ring the surgery.
We are in the process of setting up an appointment cancellation facility via our practice website and also an sms service whereby patients can text to cancel an appointment. Once these processes have been set up the website will be updated with the relevant information.
If you need help when we are closed
If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999
If you need medical help but it’s not an emergency call 111
During normal practice opening hours, the practice remains your first point of contact for all routine requests.
NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help fast but it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Calls to NHS 111 are FREE from landlines and mobiles and NHS 111 is available 24/7, every day of the year
When to call 111
You should call 111 when:
- You think you need to go to A&E or to another NHS urgent care service
- Your GP surgery is closed and you need healthcare advice
- You don’t know who to call for medical help.
When to call 999
Call 999 for life threatening emergencies such as:
- Major accident or trauma
- Severe breathlessness
- Severe bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe chest pain
Community Pharmacists
In addition to dispensing prescriptions the large network of community pharmacies across Co Durham and Darlington provide a wide range of services e.g. minor ailments, sexual health and smoking cessation services.
A number of pharmacies provide extended opening hours including opening in the evenings and at weekends, details of all pharmacies in County Durham and Darlington can be accessed via www.durhamIpc.org.uk , click on the ‘pharmacies’ link on the left hand side of the home page. We recommend that you telephone a pharmacy to check they can provide the service you need before you set off.
Travel vaccinations
If you're planning to travel outside the UK you may need to be vaccinated against some of the serious diseases found in other parts of the world.