Non-urgent advice: Have you considered self-care?
Many things get better by themselves, or with simple measures. If you need help with self-managing your problem we have a symptom checker and resources to help you.
We also have developed guidance on common conditions to help you receive the right care quickly. These include coughs and sore throats, back pain, urine infections, and more.
Routine help
If your problem is not suitable for self care, please contact Reception to arrange an appointment with a member of our clinical Team. We have a whole range of clinicians who are expertly trained to help you including GPs, practice pharmacists, nurse practitioners, paramedics, physician associate, or first contact practitioners. We have routine and same day appointments available with our Clinical Team.
Urgent help
It can be difficult to know what is an isn’t urgent – as a guide if you feel your problem cannot wait until the next working day then please call Reception who will be happy to help you. Note that GPs do not provide an emergency service – if you are worried you are seriously unwell or need help immediately then please attend your nearest Emergency Department.
Non-urgent advice: Emergencies and minor injuries
If you feel your problem is an emergency then please instead call 999 or attend the nearest Emergency Department (A&E) which for most patients is University Hospital North Durham. Examples of when to seek emergency help are chest pain, signs of a stroke, serious bleeding, or reduced consciousness.
If you have recently sustained a minor injury then book a Minor Injuries Unit appointment (Shotley Bridge Hospital is the closest MIU). You can book this using NHS 111 online or calling 111. Examples of minor injuries include deep cuts, bites, falls (not at high speed or from heights), or whiplash (from low speed, low damage accidents).
Nurse and health care assistant appointments
Nurses
Our experienced nurses can help with a wide range of issues including wound care, vaccinations, compression bandaging, injections, long-term condition reviews (asthma, COPD, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and more), cervical ‘smear’ screening, contraception advice, and provide lifestyle advice.
Health Care Assistants
Our skilled HCAs as they’re known can do an awful lot such as taking bloods (phlebotomy), checking blood pressure (BP), heart tracings (ECG), weight and heights, diabetic foot checks, and more.
Home visits
We know you can’t plan when you’re ill but wherever possible please request a home visit prior to 11am as we carry out visits between our morning and afternoon clinics. When you request a home visit a clinician will review your request and usually call you first to gather some more information.
We offer home visits for patients who are registered as housebound with us. Wherever possible we ask all other patients to attend the practice if you need an examination. Attending the practice means we can see more patients, we have the correct lighting, equipment, and computer systems available to provide better care.
Extended hours
Need to see a GP or nurse in the evening or weekend?
Contact our reception team who can advise on available evening and weekend GP appointments. These appointments are held at Consett Medical Centre and Tanfield View Surgery (Scott St, Stanley DH9 8AD).
GPs in central Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside are working together to offer extra GP appointments from 6.30pm on weekday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings.
If you need to cancel your extended hours appointment please call our reception team within normal working hours. Outside of normal working hours please call 07548 652124.