Appointments

Urgent Appointments

To request an urgent appointment (Monday to Friday):

• Phone us on 0191 236 2366, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.00pm.
• Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6pm
• We politely ask patients who request an urgent appointment to contact the practice as early as possible. This helps give our on-call team time to triage your request and place you onto the most appropriate pathway.

At the Doctors request, our Receptionists will ask you a few questions when you call.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable healthcare professional to help you.

Routine Appointments

To request a routine appointment:

• Phone us on 0191 236 2366, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.00pm
• Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.00pm

At the request of the Doctors, our Receptionists will ask you a few questions when you call.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable healthcare professional to help you.

Your Appointment

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

• By phone
• Face to face at the surgery
• On a video call

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or Changing an Appointment

To cancel your appointment:

• Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
• Using the GP online system – SystmOnline

• Phone us on 0191 236 2366, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 6.00pm
• Reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason, please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else.

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 as soon after 8.30am as possible.

Alternatives to GPs

In a number of cases it might be worth considering an appointment with an advanced nurse practitioner, physician associate, pharmacist, paramedic, physiotherapist or practice nurse rather than a doctor. We are fortunate to have a variety of skills to enable patients to be seen quicker and by an appropriate practitioner.