HOW THE PRACTICE RUNS

---

TOP

ROUTINE SURGERIES | OPENING TIMES | STAFF TRAINING | EMERGENCIES

VISITS | OUT OF HOURS | REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS | SICK NOTES | RESULTS

NEW PATIENTS | PRACTICE NURSES | CLINICS

ROUTINE SURGERIES

We operate a personalised list system. In order to enable continuity in your care we ask you to stick with one regular doctor wherever possible - this doesn't have to be the doctor that you are registered with. Each doctor has his or her own consulting times but the surgery is open between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. Monday to Friday for routine appointments which must be booked in advance (Tel. 01325 481321). Normally we do not see routine cases on Saturdays although exceptions can occasionally be made where work commitments preclude normal surgery times (by special arrangement).

TO CANCEL APPOINTMENTS ONLY TEL. 01325 749705

OPENING TIMES

 From the first of April 2004 there will be NO SATURDAY OPENING

EMERGENCIES

If you have a medical problem which has just arisen or become worse and you cannot be seen by your own doctor soon enough in a routine surgery appointment then there are emergency surgeries during working hours Monday - Friday . The appointments are much shorter than for routine consultations so the doctor will normally only be able to deal with the immediate problem and may direct you to your own doctor for further care. Not all acute illnesses require a prescription as many are self limiting. Be prepared to accept advice which may include recommendations to purchase medication from your pharmacist and to try self treatment first for similar episodes in the future. Emergency surgeries can be very busy and the doctor may be delayed by serious emergencies in the surgery or by urgent visits. Please telephone first wherever possible - 01325 481321 between 8.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. At other times only the emergency line (01325 462168) is answered - for urgent problems only please.

After 6 pm and before 8 am Monday to Friday and ALL WEEKEND after 6 pm Friday and up till 8 am Monday morning

RING 0870 240 6518

VISITS

Please do not ask for a doctor to call unless the patient is really too ill or infirm to come to the surgery. Remember that the doctor can see four patients in the time it takes to make one visit and there are better facilities for examination and treatment in the surgery. If the patient has a temperature or a rash, coming to surgery will do no harm - if there is the possibility that the patient has an infectious illness the receptionist can arrange for a safe waiting area. Please notify her immediately upon arrival.

Except in the case of acute emergencies all visit requests must be in by 10 a.m. on the day that the visit is required. Please be prepared to give some details so that the visiting doctor can assess priorities. The doctor may ring you if it seems that an alternative to a visit might be appropriate.

OUT OF HOURS CONSULTATIONS

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

---

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS

Repeat prescriptions may be ordered in the following ways:

• From this site just click here to go to the order form and follow the instructions given.
• By telephone - ring 749562 ONLY (and not any other practice number) between 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. and again between 2 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.
• By ringing our automated telehone ordering system, 24 hours a day, on 346687 have ready the following details:
  The patient's full name
  The patient's date of birth
  The patient's first line of address
  The list of medication required
  A daytime telephone number in case of queries
• By post.
• In person.

If you supply a stamped and addressed envelope we can post the prescription back to you. Otherwise the prescription must be collected - allow TWO FULL WORKING DAYS . If the collector is not the patient or a parent (in the case of a child) then we will require written authorisation. (The web order form has a space for this - otherwise a note signed by the patient will do). If you do not require all the items authorised for you please make this clear. If any items are not likely to be needed again please tell us - the doctor may wish to discuss this with you however. If you think you may be experiencing side-effects then you must discuss this with a practice nurse or a doctor.

The only items that will automatically be represcribed on request are those items on your reorder slip against which it is stated that you have unused repeats. If it says that you need to see the GP on the reorder slip then please make an appointment with the doctor (in the case of blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetic medication where your condition is stable then a nurse's appointment is usually sufficient and she can arrange the necessary checks.) If you've seen the doctor or nurse recently please enquire at reception. It may be that we can reauthorise your repeat without seeing you though it may be further stabilisation of your condition is necessary. If the item is not on repeat but you've had it previously as a repeat or a "one-off" prescription we may be able to prescribe it but it may take longer than 48 hours to authorise. The doctor may ask to see you however. In the case of medication that you've never had from us before you should make an appointment.

Please note that most drugs we prescribe by the generic name and not by the trade name. With many drugs the chemist may supply the medication in a manufacturers branded packet which often has the brand name printed prominently on it. Please do not use that name when ordering. The proper name will be on the reorder slip and on the chemist's own label. Incidentally, a drug may exist as several different brands and unfortunately the appearance of the drug may change - sometimes a mixture of brands may be supplied against one prescription. If in doubt check the chemist's label but if you remain concerned that a mistake has been made check with the chemist who has supplied you - unfortunately we are not in a position to sort out this problem for you.

SICK NOTES

Please remember to ask the doctor for a sick note if one is required. If, however, your sick note won't last until your next appointment or if your are attending a hospital clinic then we may be able to issue a pink sicknote (or med5) without a consultation. As with repeat precriptions please allow a minimum of 48 hours before your note needs to be repeated.

TEST AND X-RAY RESULTS

Please phone for these between 10.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. or between 3.00 p.m. and 4.00 pm when the staff will have more time to help you.

NEW PATIENTS

All newly registered adult patients will be asked to complete a questionnaire and have a consultation with the practice nurse within one month of registering. Patients on regular medication will need to see the doctor.

Newly registered patients can be treated straight away.

PRACTICE NURSES

Practice nurses - click here for details - are available between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. daily by appointment for dressings, ECG's, cervical smears, travel health advice, immunisations, health checks, advice and counselling. Blood tests need to be taken usually before the hospital collection - at approx. 4.00 p.m. The nurses also have a Health Care Assistant to help them who specialises in taking blood and doing ECG's.

SPECIAL CLINICS

We run the following special clinics for our own patients only - appointments are required:

• Open access clinics:
  • Family Planning Run by family planning  trained nurses with one of our GP's. All methods of contraception (except coil fitting at present) are available through the practice though any method requiring a procedure to be carried out needs to be discussed with the doctor or nurse first so that arrangements can be made for you.
  • Well baby / Child development Run by the health visitors.
  • Travel Clinic Run by Sister Gill. Provides advice re immunisations, medication and general travel health precautions.
• Clinics to which you must be referred by your own doctor:
  • Ante-natal Clinic Midwife run clinic with one of our GP's on hand. New patients must have a positive pregnancy test (either hospital, pharmacy or home test) and must please advise the reception staff that they are a new patient. If your circumstances are not straightforward then please book into a normal surgery - preferably with your own GP.
  • Asthma Clinic This clinic is primarily for newly diagnosed asthmatics or those having problems. Run by the practice nurse and a GP.
  • Diabetic Clinic Run by the nurses and a GP with chiropodist and dietitian in attendance. All the diabetic patients in the practice are offered an annual review check to monitor the effectiveness of therapy and to check for the development of complications. Patients should attend the nurse for blood tests and their optician for a free routine eye check at least two weeks before their clinic appointment.
  • Counselling Run by qualified and experienced counsellors.
  • Minor Surgery Your doctor will advise you if one of the many minor surgical procedures available in this clinic are appropriate for your condition.
  • Hypnotherapy Dr. Upshall runs a hypnotherapy clinic approximately twice a month - for habits, phobias, smoking etc..
  • Chiropody This is run by a chiropodist from the local chiropody department.
  • Physiotherapy This is run by a physiotherapist provided by the physiotherapy department at Darlington Memorial Hospital.
  • Stop-smoking Clinics these are currently being organised and run by Darlington PCT. These clinics provide specific advice about stopping smoking as well as nicotine replacement and Zyban.

Go to Home | Health tips | Top