**IMPORTANT PATIENT NOTICES**
12th September 2022:
As from 12th September 2022 all Covid clinics will be live on the National Booking System (NBS) and you can book into a clinic from week commencing 19th September. You can book via the NHS website www.nhs.uk or by calling 119. Unfortunately, the practice is no longer able to book or cancel your Covid jab over the phone for you.
If they don’t have a phone number for you then the NBS will send you a letter advising you when you are eligible for your booster.
This is the national page to book appointments via NBS – or 119
This is the local council website which is updated every week
https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/covidvaccine
12th September 2022:
Following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II, a bank holiday has been declared for Monday 19th September and the practice will be closed. We will re-open Tuesday 20th September.
24th August 2022:
The Initial Response Service/Crisis Team now has a freephone number 0800 6522 868. This number can be used by patients or anyone wanting to contact the service and is available 24/7
15th August 2022:
Please see below a request from Healthwatch Sunderland:
This year the people of Sunderland told us that they would like us to look at GP Access as one of our main areas of work. In response to this we have designed this this survey to help us discover how people access their GP practices, what is working well and what needs improving.
The survey should take no longer than 5 -10 minutes to complete and the closing date for the survey is 30th September 2022.
Click here to complete the survey
Please share it with your family and friends too!
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21.2.2022
From the 1st of April 2022 we are changing the way we invite patients in for their yearly health checks.
All patients will now be invited for their checks to take place on their birth month.
For example, if your birthday is 16 June and you have a mobile number or email address in your records you will receive a text or email message a couple of weeks before to make an appointment with the nurse.
If you suffer from more than one chronic disease i.e., diabetes, hypertension, asthma etc, you will have all the checks carried out at the same appointments. Although this will entail a longer appointment it will reduce the number of times you need to come to the practice throughout the year.
Whilst this invite system is being set up, it may mean some of your yearly checks may be delayed. We ask all patients if you have any issues regarding your health to please contact the surgery and not to wait for the invite.
Please make sure we have your up-to-date mobile number and email address and inform the practice if this changes in the future.
23.9.2021
The Social Prescribing Link Worker Team work on behalf of all GP Practices in Sunderland to provide non‐medical support and interventions. We can support with:
- Housing worries
- Money worries
- Being more physically active
- Connecting with others
- Mental & physical wellbeing
- Managing long term conditions
- Weight management
- Preventing future ill health
- Finding local support groups specific to a health condition or
personalised goal
https://www.sunderlandgpalliance.co.uk/sunderland-social-prescribing-self-referral-form/
All referrals go from the website to a secure email which is manned daily.
16.9.2021
Menopause Support – You are not alone, 30% of women will be going through the same as you! A menopause focus group in Sunderland have created a webpage to help you start accessing support and advice Menopause support group in Sunderland or wellbeinginfo.org/self-help/health/menopause
9.6.2021:
GP Data for Planning and Research
NHS Digital has been directed to collect, process, analyse and disseminate general practice data to support the purposes set out in the GP Data for Planning and Research Direction 2021.
NHS Digital has developed a planned replacement for the GP Extraction Service (GPES), to collect data for planning and research from general practices in England. This new approach is the culmination of engagement with the British Medical Association (BMA ), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the National Data Guardian (NDG) for the past three years.
This collection is called GP Data for Planning and Research and its purpose is to support the data needs of the health and social care system including policy development, public health, planning and commissioning of services and research. This new collection is designed to reduce the number of requests for a ccess to data received by general practice.
Once fully established, NHS Digital will undertake a managed transition from the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES) to the new GP data service. NHS Digital will also work with other organisations to enable transition from existing data flows to the new service.
More information about this data collection and the general practice obligation to provide data for this purpose is contained in the Provision Notice issued by NHS Digital to GP practices. The Data Provision Notice includes appendices whic h explain data minimisation, additional protections, pseudonymisation and the data set specification.
More information on the legal basis for collecting, analysing and disseminating this data can also be found in the NHS Digital GP Data transparency pages.
EMIS is supporting the GP Data for Planning and Research collection including ensuring identifiable patient data items are de-identified (pseudonymised at source) before they leave the GP practice.
If you decide you wish to opt-put you can complete the form, and either post or e-mail it into us. We will then ensure your preference is coded onto your medical record. Opt out form
Please read the practice’s privacy policy relating to this Privacy Notice for Direct Care
8.6.2021:
Urgent Eye Problems:
Emergency Eye Department at Sunderland Eye Infirmary: Patients with urgent eye problems which need to be assessed the same day can now self-refer to the Emergency Eye Department. Please ring 0191 569 9952 before attending in person
18.6.2020
Please see a link to the Learning Disability Matters website for families, it has a range of resources to support family resilience and health and wellbeing of children and young people with a learning disability.
https://learningdisabilitymatters.co.uk/covid-19/
31.3.2020:
**24 Hour domestic abuse helpline is open – 0800 066 5555**
Wearside Women in Need’s advisors offer confidential, non-judgemental support and information to survivors, anyone experiencing domestic abuse, and their friends and families. We know that the Covid-19 outbreak will have serious impacts on the lives of victims and children. We fully recognise the enhanced risk and hardship that restrictions are putting upon those who are in abusive and controlling relationships. Our plea to all community members is to be vigilant and look after the people around you. If you have concerns, report to the Police – all police referrals are assessed and forwarded on to support services.
**IMPORTANT PATIENT NOTICE**
Please note we are closed Monday – Friday between the times of 12noon – 1.30pm. Only emergency telephone calls may be dealt with during this time.
During September 2017 we will begin to use a text message reminder service for appointments. Could you please ensure we have your most up-to date mobile phone number. If you do not wish to receive texts from us please let one of our receptionists know.
Our Practice is highly patient focused and we have a multidisciplinary approach to patients’ health care. We aim to deliver the best for our patients by combining the skills of the practice team with other health and social care workers in the community.
We provide modern health care facilities and focus on continually improving the health of our patients and residents of the community.
This website is aimed at providing you the important information about our practice, our services and our staff in addition to some other useful information and tools available for you to use. Please have a look around and send us any comments or suggestions if you like. We can use your comments and ideas to improve our online services and develop the content of this site accordingly.
A ‘healthy lifestyle’ is what we recommend:
- Stop smoking
- Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and veg
- Exercise regularly
- Keep alcohol intake within recommended limits
URGENT CARE SERVICES IN SUNDERLAND ARE CHANGING……..
Patients in Sunderland will be able to access NHS urgent care services more simply and closer to home after 1st August 2019.
From 1st August 2019, the best way to access NHS urgent care services will be to contact your GP practice or local pharmacy, or call NHS111 when they are closed.
Urgent care is for minor injuries or illnesses which need medical attention the same day, but are not serious enough for the Emergency Department.
From 1st August 2019, these will be the main urgent care services for patients in Sunderland:
- GP Practices – collectively providing extra appointments in evenings, weekends and bank holidays. These can be booked through your GP practice, at one of five locations around Sunderland, Washington and Houghton.
- Pharmacists – local pharmacists are highly trained and provide free, confidential advice on minor illnesses from sickness and diarrhoea to hay fever.
- Urgent care centres at Pallion or Bunny Hill health centres, open 10am – 10pm Monday to Friday; 8am – 10pm weekends and bank holidays, no appointment needed.
- NHS111 0 if you have an urgent need which is not life-threatening, NHS111 health advisors are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help you get the right medical attention for your needs.
To find out more, please visit http://www.sunderlandccg.nhs.uk
