Making an appointment
If you want to make an appointment with a doctor or nurse, please phone the surgery on 0191 295 8500 and listen carefully to the various options that you are presented with. For an urgent appointment on the same day, please ring as early as possible, phonelines are open from 8am and operate a first come first serve basis. You can make an appointment with a nurse without seeing the doctor first.
Appointments can also be made online or you can use our website to get a GP consultation via the homepage.
The cost to NHS of wasted appointments
Missed appointments cost the NHS thousands of pounds every year? Please phone the surgery as soon as possible if you cannot attend. This will help us to make appointments available to as many patients as possible. We do have a failure to attend letter and after 3 such notifications we will request you to register elsewhere.
Telephone advice/consultations
Sometimes you may want to speak to a doctor or nurse about something, but do not need to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment. If you would like to talk to someone over the phone, you can book this in with reception, which will take your number and arrange a suitable time. When phoning, please give as much information as possible to the receptionist.
Out of hours
What to do when your GP practice is 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
For more information on 111, please download these NHS 111 Frequently Asked Questions.
