Appointments

To request a same day appointment:

• Please call 01429 282600 on the morning at 8am.
• For out of hours urgent requests, our phone lines will say that we are closed. A message will provide details of how to contact 111 in the event of an emergency.

Why do receptionists ask such personal questions?

Routine Appointments

Routine pre-bookable appointments for GPs are available up to 2 weeks in advance and up to 12 weeks for the nursing team. These are for non-urgent and routine conditions. 

• Please do not call at 8am if your need for an appointment is not urgent. This is so we can deal with patients with urgent, same day, appointment requests.
• For routine appointments, we advise that you ring after 9am. By this time the urgent demand will have reduced and we can be more responsive to routine requests.
• If you contact us about an issue that does not need an examination e.g. results, discussing medications etc, you can request a telephone appointment.

Request a Routine Appointment Online

You can consult with us through eConsult.  You can also use this for admin requests such as a sick notes. 
Please allow our team 24 hours to review your request. 

Appointments Advice/Information

Before you make an appointment we would ask you to take a moment to ask yourself if you really need to see a doctor. Many illnesses are short lived and self limiting. Often they only need common sense remedies to relieve symptoms. Your local chemist can also provide help and advice (Community Pharmacy Referrals).  Children under the age of 16 must have an adult with them.

If you have been receiving dental treatment and you have a problem that is linked to that you must go to a dentist appointment for follow up treatment. Even if the issue is an infection or pain. If your dentist does not have any emergency appointments left call 111 who can direct you to a local emergency dentist.

Please remember the following points:

• Try to arrive on time for your appointment.
• Let us know in plenty of time if you are unable to attend your appointment.
• Try not to save up problems for one appointment. If you need a longer appointment for more than one problem please ask when booking.
• Remember to make a separate appointment for each person needing to see the doctor. One appointment = one person.

Outside Hours Care

Monday to Friday between 6.00pm and 6.30pm please telephone 01642 057024. This 6.00pm-6.30pm time period is covered for the practice by Hartlepool and Stockton Health, from Chadwick Practice, One Life, Park Road, Hartlepool, TS24 7PW

During normal practice opening hours, the practice remains your first point of contact for all routine requests.

NHS 111

In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed you can call 111 to speak to a triage nurse. Your needs will be assessed and advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.

• If you need medical help but it’s not an emergency call 111.
• If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999

NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help but it’s not a life-threatening emergency.

• Calls to 111 are FREE from landlines and mobiles.
• NHS 111 is available 24/7, every day of the year.

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.

More information about NHS 111

Walk in Centre

There is a walk-in centre situated in University Hospital of Hartlepool open 24 hours, 365 days a year. No appointment is necessary, however you can call 111 who can arrange to book an appointment for you.

Accident and Emergency - 999

Whatever the day or time, if you or someone else experiences severe chest pain or severe loss of blood call or emergency call 999.

Accident and emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can assess serious injuries and provide emergency treatment.

When to call 999

Call 999 for life threatening emergencies such as:

• Major accident or trauma
• Severe breathlessness
• Severe bleeding
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe chest pain

More information on when to call 999

Home Visits

To request a home visit:

• Please contact the surgery before 10am.
• Remember that we can see several patients at the practice in the time it takes for one home visit. Patients should have their appointments at the surgery if they can.
• Lack of transport is not a reason to request a home visit.
• If you need a home visit when we are closed on a evening or weekend please call 111. 
  111 can arrange home visits for you from the out of hours service.

Cancelling or Changing an Appointment

If you cannot make your appointment let us know as soon as you can. Another patient can then book the appointment time.

If you are cancelling an appointment please telephone us as soon as possible. At least 30 minutes before your appointment time. This will allow us to offer it to someone else.

Please remember that there may be a shortage of consultations and when you fail to attend you have prevented us from seeing someone else in your place. On average about 150 appointments are missed each month.

Cancellations notified less than 30 minutes before the consultation time will be recorded as failure to attend.

Repeated failure to attend booked consultations is a significant waste of NHS resources.

Did Not Attend Policy

Those who have failed to attend 2 or more appointments within the previous 3 months will receive a warning letter.  Warning letters last for 12 months.

DNA Policy