Bishopgate Medical Centre
Reception Hours are 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday
No telephone access from 1pm -2pm
CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION - UPDATED 17th June 2020
The Health Visitor team now have a virtual baby clinic see further information on the services tab
IN LINE WITH CURRENT NHS GUIDANCE FROM MONDAY 15TH JUNE ANY PATIENT ENTERING THE SURGERY WILL NEED TO HAVE A FACE COVERING - A MASK IS PREFERABLE BUT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE THEN A SCARF OR SIMILAR WILL SUFFICE.
As we are someway from returning to the "new normal" please do not attend the surgery unless you have been instructed to by one of the clinicians - all appointments are still by telephone at the present time. On some occasions the GP or Nurse Practitioner may decide that they need to see you Face to Face or to have a blood test and they will explain to you how to go about this.
All High Risk Shielding patients should by now - 24th April have received their letter from either us at the practice or centrally from NHS England. We have 695 of these patients. We also had 30 patients who had self identified as needed to shield but when we have reviewed their records only 3 of them fit the criteria. We have written to the other 27 to say that they do not need to shield.
However even if you are not in the shielding group but are struggling for someone to do your shopping or collect your medication you can now self refer to the NHS GoodSam Volunteers - the number is 0808 196 3646 and you will be assigned a volunteer that can help you.
Although the prescription line option is only available from 9 -12 we will accept prescription requests on an afternoon - just press the make appointment option on the phone.
The doors to the practice are now locked and patients only allowed in for appointments arranged by a clinician. Please do not attend the surgery unless we have requested you to do this. You cannot pick up prescriptions or sicknotes you must nominate a chemist for medications to be sent electronically.
To reduce your chances of catching COVID-19 and reduce pressure on Bishopgate Medical Centre during this busy time, appointments will be carried out over the phone, via video consultations or by e-consultations unless there is a clinical need for you to come into the practice. This will help minimise risk while continuing to ensure people get the care and advice they need.
DUE TO THE DEMAND ON PHONE LINES YOU MAY RECEIVED CALLS FROM US FROM WITHHELD NUMBERS IF YOU HAVE CALLED US AND BEEN INFORMED YOU WILL BE CALLED BACK DURING THE DAY THEN PLEASE ANSWER IF IT SHOWS WITHHELD.
TO HELP US HELP ALL OUR PATIENTS PARTICULARLY THE OLDER GENERATION AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS TRY AND USE ONLINE SERVICES WHERE POSSIBLE
- USE ECONSULTATIONS FOR ROUTINE MATTERS THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY NEED A FACE TO FACE APPOINTMENT
ORDER YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS ON LINE - THIS WILL HELP KEEP THE PHONE LINES FREE FOR THE GPS TO CALL PATIENTS
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NOMINATED PHARMACY SO YOU DO NOT NEED TO COME TO THE SURGERY TO COLLECT YOUR PRESCRIPTION.
PLEASE TRY TO NOT TELEPHONE THE SURGERY ON A MORNING WHEN THE LINES ARE REALLY BUSY.
THE GP OR NURSE MAY DECIDE YOU NEED A VIDEO CONSULTATON - THESE ARE REALLY EASY TO USE IF YOU HAVE A SMARTPHONE - WATCH THE YOUTUBE BELOW TO SEE WHAT IT ENTAILS
111 Coronavirus information https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
Econsult
Bishopgate Medical Centre is one of the largest practices in County Durham.
We currently have in excess of 13,280 patients registered with 5 Partners in the practice. We also have 3 salaried GPs - Dr James Carlton, Dr Jenny O'Brien and Dr Emma Donohue. We have 5 part time practice nurses and 3 part time nursing assistants. We also employ 4 nurse practitioners who work alongside the doctors - Charlotte Porteous, Sonia Fendell, Karen Marshall & Rachel Girard. This is an enthusiastic and highly motivated General Practice always seeking ways to improve services for patients within the very limited resources of the NHS.
Within the practice you will be able to access GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Chronic Disease Nurses, Practice Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Midwife Clinic, Heart Disease Clinic, Smoking Cessation, Asthma Clinic, Hypertension Clinic, Diabetic Clinic, Parent Support Group, Childhood Immunisation Clinic, Pain Management Clinic. Unfortunately from November 2019 we are unable to provide a travel service except for those vaccines that are available on the NHS. We are no longer a Yellow Fever Centre.
Parking is free at Morrisons, you no longer need a parking permit but parking is limited to a maximum stay of 3 hours.
(Site updated 17/06/2020)