Appointments

GP\ANP Appointments

All requests for a GP or ANP are treated as urgent until they have been triaged. GP or ANP appointments are classed as unplanned care. You can submit medical and administrative requests for any clinician.

How the practice deals with urgent medical problems

  • same day appointments – if you have a genuine urgent problem, we will see you that day
  • your problem will need to be assessed, please give clear details on the online for or to a member of the admin team
  • you may be contacted by a doctor who may direct your to emergency care
  • if after triage, your problem is not deemed urgent you will be given an appropriate alternative appointment within 5 days or within 10 days

To request an appointment:

  • Use an online form to request an appointment with a doctor or ANP.
    • Online forms will be unavailable when we are at capacity or closed.
    • We will respond within one working day.
    • If we are closed or at capacity and you need medical help, please contact 111, or 999 in the event of an emergency.
    • Do not use other forms to request appointments.
  • Phone us on 01388 528555
  • Visit the surgery and speak with a receptionist.

We are open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm, except bank holidays.

If you’re calling to request a doctor appointment, our admin team will recommend requesting one on our website. Alternatively they may send you a text message with a link to the SystmConnect page on our website.

For those without internet access, the admin team can fill out a form on your behalf. Additionally, if you are unable to use online systems, our admin team are available to assist by completing the form for you.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse, or health professional to help you.

You will normally be sent a link to book your appointment or you may be contacted by phone.

Our on-call doctor will triage all requests on the same day. Our aim is that you will be directed to the right clinician, at the right place, at the right time, first time!

  • If your issue is urgent we will aim for a GP or Nurse Practitioner to see you the same day.
  • For routine issues we will aim to see people typically within a week, but at busier times of the year this could be longer. We aim for this never to go beyond 2 weeks.

Routine Appointments – within 5 or within 10 days

Following triage, you will sent a link to book your appointment. If you do not have a mobile phone number, you will be contacted by phone to book your appointment.

For routine issues we try to book patients to be ween within 5 working days or within 10 working days (1 week or 2 weeks)

Urgent\Same Day Appointments

An urgent appointment is a same-day or next-day consultation with a healthcare professional for medical issues that need prompt attention. These appointments are reserved for conditions that, if left untreated, could worsen or cause significant discomfort.

If you have a genuine urgent problem, we will see you that day and you will be contacted by phone to book your appointment.

We want to see all urgent issues on the same-day but appreciate that this may not be convenient for all patients. If you are unable to attend on the day you will advised that it has been deemed clinically appropriate to be seen on the day. You will be asked to attend the overflow clinic at Bishop Auckland General Hospital or sent a link to book an appointment within 5 days.

If the same day capacity has been reached, you may be directed to alternative services such as NHS 111 or directed to other services.

Emergencies

Contact surgery during the opening hours: 01388 528555. Emergency appointments are available to be booked each day. Please only request an Emergency appointment if your problem is a genuine emergency.

Nurse and HCA Appointments

Nurse and HCA Appointments are called planned care appointments.

Online Form

  • You can use the online Health Review form to request a health review for certain conditions such as Asthma and COPD.
  • We will respond within one working day.

Booking link

  • The practice uses text messages to send booking links to patients for planned care. If you have received a text message to book your appointment, please follow the link.

Phone us on 01388 528555

  • Please try and call after 2.00pm to book your appointment. The phone lines are less busy during this time.

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
  • by text or email

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

Cancelling an appointment

To cancel your appointment:

  • Use your NHS account – (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • Using the GP online system – SystmOnline
  • Use the patient invitation link you received by text to book your appointment.
  • Phone us on – 01388 528 555

SystmOnline

Login to Online Services
Register for Online Services

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 is 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, you can request a home visit. Please contact the practice to request a home visit. A clinician may call you back before visiting, to understand what you need.

Please call before 11.00am if a home visit is required that day. A doctor, paramedic, district nurse, or practice nurse may visit you at home.

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
  • If you think you are having a heart attack.
  • If you think you are having a stroke.