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Appointments

Book or cancel an appointment at The Medical Group

Before you book an appointment

We are receiving unprecedented amounts of e-consults (around 200 per week). We would ask in the first instance that you look at the ‘I want help for my condition’ section of eConsult.

You can pick the problem area and click ‘I want to help myself’ which gives current advice and first line treatments for many health problems.

You can also see a pharmacist for minor conditions or check our self-help and self-referral information.

See a pharmacist

Many conditions can be treated without the need to see your GP.

Self-care

Help and support available from many National and Local Organisations

Visit our Self Help Zone

Please try this advice before submitting an e-consult to the practice. The eConsult service is available Monday to Friday only.

Book an appointment

We have a team of receptionists who are your first point of contact. When telephoning for medical attention the receptionist may ask you for a few details. All reception staff are fully trained and ask for these details in order that we can help you in the most appropriate way. Our receptionists are very busy at certain times of the day and we ask that you be patient. The receptionists ease the flow of patients for the Doctors, Nurses and health professionals and keep the practices running smoothly. They are here to help you.

Sometimes they may need to ask for further details. They are not being nosey and are bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the Doctors and Nurses. All medical information, which is held on your behalf, is governed by the Data Protection Act and staff are vigilant in ensuring that only essential information is made known to other practice staff.

Ways to book

Home visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 10:30am if you require a home visit.

You may only request a home visit if you are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP will only visit you at home if they think that your medical condition requires it and will also decide how urgently a visit is needed. It would be unusual for this to include any young person.

You can be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years.

Sickness certificates (fit notes)

You must give your employer a doctor's 'fit note' (sometimes called a 'sick note') if you've been ill for more than 7 days in a row and have taken sick leave. This includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays.

Visit our Sickness Certificates page

Request test results

You usually don't need to book an appointment to get your test results.

Find out how to get your results

Travel vaccinations

Information and advice for travelling abroad.

Visit our Travel Information page

Further appointments information

Transport

Ambulances

Transport is available for anyone who has a medical need for it, escorts may only be taken if there is a genuine medical need. Our reception staff will book your first journey to hospital, returns and repeats are organised by the hospital.

Please ring to book an ambulance between 1:30pm and 3:30pm only at least 48 hours before the appointment date.

Volunteer car scheme

Please ring the surgery where you are registered for more information. There is a volunteer car scheme, which operates in the following areas:

Brandon
Meadowfield
Ushaw Moor
New Brancepeth
Bearpark
Esh Winning
Langley Park

This can provide transport to the surgeries but not the same day; 48 hours notice is preferably required. Please ask reception staff for details. For Tow Law and Langley Park there is a GP access bus run by the county council which can accommodate wheelchairs, this is also available to our Langley Park patients.

The British Red Cross also offers transport for medical appointments and essential daily needs. They can help you regain your independence and give you a valuable lifeline to the things and the people that matter. They can offer you a driver with a vehicle providing door-to-door support and can also offer an escort who, if necessary, will stay with you throughout your journey. Transport can be booked by ringing 0191 3841360. There is a staring cost of £18 for this service.

GP training

The Medical Group is committed to ongoing education and is involved in teaching and training doctors, nurses and administration staff and we regularly have doctors who work with us at our practices as part of their training in general practice.

You may be asked if you would like an appointment with he/she if your usual GP is not available.

Appointment reminders

We now send appointment reminders to your mobiles phone via text message. We will also let you know if you have missed an appointment without cancelling.

If you do not want us to send text messages to your mobile phone please speak to a member of our reception team.