Blackhall & Peterlee and Jupiter House Practices

Out of Hours
If you need urgent medical attention when the surgery is closed you can ring direct on 111. Otherwise Blackhall & Peterlee patients can call 0191 586 4331. Your call will be automatically transferred to an message, which will explain the options available to you. Jupiter House patients call 0191 587 2488, this will divert you direct to 111.

Appointments
These are made via the Reception Desk at all sites or via the phone. You may request to see a particular Doctor but this may involve a longer wait for the next available appointment.

Home Visits
These are for patients who are housebound and too ill to come to the surgery. If at all possible, please make requests for these before 10.00 a.m. This allows the Health Care Professional to plan their rounds

Health Charities

01 Dec - 28 Feb
Marie Curie

Marie Curie Cancer Care is a UK charity dedicated to the care of people with terminal cancer and other illnesses. Over the financial year 2010/11, we reached a total of 31,799 patients

01 Dec - 28 Feb
YouthHealthTalk

Youthhealthtalk enables young people, their family and friends, and professionals such as doctors and teachers to understand young people's experiences of health, illness and life in general. The website feature real-life accounts of issues such as effect on work and education, social life and relationships, consulting health professionals and treatment.

03 Sep - 28 Feb
Macmillan Cancer Support

One in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way. Macmillan provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

BBC Health

Government defeat over NHS bill

The government loses the first of a series of votes in the House of Lords on its controversial plans to overhaul the NHS in England.

Gene therapy 'gave me sight back'

Three US citizens who lost their sight in childhood have reported a dramatic improvement in vision after having gene therapy in both eyes.

Bug found in more hospital taps

Pseudomonas is detected in water outlets in the neonatal units at three more hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Man seeks assisted suicide ruling

A severely disabled man with "locked-in syndrome" has urged a judge not to decide to halt his High Court action to let a doctor end his life.

Care provider in new debt talks

The UK's largest care provider, Four Seasons, is in talks to find money to refinance its debts, but it denies union claims it is in financial difficulty.

Parkinson's cells 'made in lab'

Scientists in the US have successfully made human brain cells in the lab that are an exact replica of genetically caused Parkinson's disease.

Suicidal woman 'failed' by trust

A Stockport couple whose depressed daughter hanged herself after being allowed home from hospital win a six-year court battle.

Call for 'joined-up' elderly care

Older people needing social care are being let down and "passed like parcels" between fragmented services, a group of MPs says.

Hundreds seek NHS implant advice

Almost 1,000 private patients with PIP breast implants have contacted the NHS, according to MPs.

Lansley 'has PM's full support'

Andrew Lansley has David Cameron's "full support", despite a Downing Street source reportedly saying the health secretary "should be taken out and shot".

Health Protection Agency

Development made in breakdown of a Meningitis B vaccine component

Scientists from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) are a step closer to ensuring the stability of a component of a vaccine that may one day be used to protect against Meningitis B. The research is published today (Tuesday) in Vaccine.

Current alert level: Level 3 - Cold Weather Action in one or more regions of England

There is a 100% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions between 1000 on Wednesday and 1100 on Saturday in parts of England. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.

Update on Legionnaires’ Cluster Associated with a Hotel in Spain

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is aware of nine cases of Legionnaires’ disease in English holiday makers associated with the Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe, Costa Blanca since January 2012, in addition to four Spanish cases so far reported. Subsequently two of the English patients are reported to have died from their illness.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating an outbreak of a strain of Salmonella Newport infection among 30 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of December 2011. Cases of illness caused by the same strain have been confirmed in Scotland, Ireland and Germany.

Health Protection Agency confirms new incinerator study

A new study to further extend the evidence base as to whether emissions from modern well run Municipal Waste Incinerators affect human health has been approved by the Health Protection Agency.

HPA helps solve radon problems in West Oxfordshire homes

Hundreds of homes across West Oxfordshire have been found to have high levels of radioactive gas radon. Last summer, the Health Protection Agency invited about 9,000 householders across West Oxfordshire to apply for a free test for radon, a naturally occurring gas present in all homes.

HPA helps solve radon problems in Orkney homes

Hundreds of householders across Orkney are being advised to act to protect their health, after HPA tests detected high levels of radioactive gas radon.

Cornish radon hotspot targeted

Thousands of households in a part of Cornwall with historic radon problems are being offered a free test for levels of the radioactive gas radon.

New Guidelines to Control Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infections in UK Hospitals Launched

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) together with the group A streptococcal (GAS) Working Group* has today launched new guidelines for the investigation, control and prevention of GAS infection in acute healthcare settings, including maternity units, in the UK.

Whooping cough cases increase

Cases of whooping cough (pertussis) reported to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in England and Wales have more than doubled from 421 cases in 2010 to 1040 in 2011. Increases in levels of whooping cough are seen every three to four years and figures in 2011 are in line with cases reported in the last peak year of 2008.

Order Your Repeat Prescription Online

red pills These are produced by our computer and at LEAST 48 hours notice is required to process your request. Please ensure that at holiday times you arrange for your repeat prescription in ample time. You will receive a “tear-off” slip with each prescription, listing your repeat medication.

PLEASE CHECK THE ITEMS CAREFULLY TO ENSURE THEY ARE CORRECT.

When you need a repeat prescription you should return this slip to the surgery, either by handing it to a receptionist or placing it in the Repeat Prescription box, indicating the items you require. This will then be ready to collect after 4.00pm the next working day.

Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you wish your prescription to be posted to you (in which case allow at least one week). Alternatively, a request can be made by telephone, quoting your computer number and items required.

For web ordering your prescription will be ready as follows :

Ordered on a Monday - ready after 4pm Wednesday, Ordered on a Tuesday - ready to collect after 4pm Thursday, Ordered on a Wednesday ready after 4pm Friday, Ordered on a Thursday ready after 4pm the following Monday, Ordered on a Friday or over the weekend ready after 4pm the following Tuesday.

MEDICATION REVIEWS

At least once a year you will be asked to make an appointment to have your medication reviewed. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have regarding your medication. At the same time the Health Care Professional will ensure that your medications are still appropriate for your treatment and if necessary make any changes. The Doctor will not be able to continue to prescribe your medications unless you have been seen. A message will be placed on your prescription informing you when you need to make this appointment.

Further Information

For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS Direct

NHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services