Call your surgery
| Forest Hall White Swan | 0191 259 9666 |
| Garden Park | 0191 289 2525 |
Thank you to all patients who have provided feedback regarding the Klinik triage system. Due to the information received we have decided to move on from Klinik and adapt a new telephone based triage system with appointments bookable on the day.
There is no need for an 8.30am rush to the phone as appointments will be released throughout the day in time order.
In the morning a clinician will be with the admin team at the time of your call. All requests are discussed with an on-call clinician and appointments are offered at the time of the call if deemed appropriate.
As appointments are released on the day please do not phone to request an appointment if you are not available to attend that same day, unless you have been asked to do so by a clinician.
If you are not able to attend your appointment please let us know in time so that the time can be used for someone else. If you are late for an appointment you may be asked to re-book.
Can another Healthcare Professional help?
Sometimes the GP is not the most appropriate Healthcare Professional to deal with your ailment. Please see the information on see a Doctor or Healthcare Professional, which might help you decide whether a GP appointment is truly necessary or whether it might be better for you to see a Pharmacist, Optician, Dentist or other Healthcare Professional. You can even self-refer for some services without seeing your GP.
LIVI – A New Way to see a GP
Livi is a video GP service that allows patients to get a same-day video appointment, including out-of-hours on weekdays and over the weekend. With the app, patients can book an appointment or join a drop-in queue to see a GP – usually with waiting times of less than 30 minutes. This takes pressure for same-day appointments off your practice, reducing workload and future waiting times.
See a GP by video with Livi. Even at the weekend. Patients of Stephenson Park Health Group can now see an NHS GP by video using Livi. Get medical advice, prescriptions and referrals on the same day – both on weekdays and at weekends. The service is provided free on the NHS.
You can download the Livi app to your mobile phone or tablet, at the App Store or Google Play. Or visit www.livi.co.uk for more information. Livi GPs are all GMC-registered NHS GPS, who (with your consent) will be able to access your medical records and give you a considered, in-depth diagnosis based on your medical history.
Get the Livi app here.
Cervical Screening appointments
Please note, we are currently only allowing cervical screening appointments to be booked online – please only book this if you have received a letter stating your smear test is now due. Any appointments booked inappropriately will be cancelled.
Missed Appointments and DNA’s
Do you feel frustrated when you cannot get an appointment?
Every year wasted appointments cost NHS £162 million. This can cause serious delays in treatment for other patients. On average approximately 150 patients each month Did Not Attend (DNA) their appointment. This means the patient did not turn up for the appointment and did not contact the surgery in advance to cancel or change the appointment. This currently results in approximately 40 hours of wasted clinical time each month.
Additional information
Can I bring someone to accompany me to the Appointment?
We are generally very happy for patients to bring with them a carer, relative or even a friend. This often helps, particularly when they know you well and it allows them to tell us any observations they would make about you, which can help us in undertaking our assessment. Ultimately this will lead us more quickly to make an accurate diagnosis and therefore help you more.
Also, having someone with you means they can prompt you to ask questions that you may have forgotten, and after the appointment they can help in reminding you what was discussed.
Occasionally we might ask for them to leave but this would be unusual.
If you require interpretation services please contact us in advance of you appointment and we will arrange this.
If you have a suspected infectious disease
Please inform reception if you suspect an infectious disease, as this will enable us to deal with it appropriately during your visit to protect you, other patients and staff.
Giving Consent for Treatment
You have the right to accept or refuse treatment that is offered to you, and not to be given any physical examination or treatment unless you have given valid consent. If you do not have the capacity to do so, consent must be obtained from a person legally able to act on your behalf, or the treatment must be in your best interests.
Your valid consent (agreement to the course of action) is needed for the treatment that’s offered to you before any physical examinations or treatment can be given. If you haven’t given your consent, you can accept or refuse treatment that’s offered to you.
It’s important to be involved in decisions about your treatment and to be given information to help you choose the right treatment. When making treatment choices, you’ll often discuss the options with your doctor or another healthcare professional.
Urgent and emergency care services
Which Doctor?
As a patient, you are registered with the practice, not an individual GP. You can make an appointment with any of the Doctors at the practice. As medical records are now computerised, all Doctors, at any site can access your details. If you prefer, you can make an appointment with a Doctor of your choice. You may need to wait longer to get an appointment with a specific Doctor of your choice, as they may be in high demand at the time.