Skerne Medical Group

29/05/2026

Diabetes Prevention. We're joining NHS England and Diabetes UK for this annual awareness week.

Type 2 Diabetes is no-one's fault. But it is a serious condition that can impact your health significantly if it left untreated.

Millions of people in the UK don't know they are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, but we're here to help.

An estimated 6.9 million people (1 in 8 ) live with prediabetes, but many are not aware of this. If left untreated, prediabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes, which can lead to serious health complications.

You are also at an increased risk of developing type 2 if you have had gestational diabetes — which affects up to 2 in 10 pregnancies.

There’s a range of risk factors at play, including family history and ethnic background but finding out your risk of developing type 2 diabetes means you can take action to protect your health.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week is taking place between Monday 25 and Sunday 31 May this year. We're joining NHS England as proud campaign partners for this annual awareness week.Type 2 diabetes is nobody's fault. But it’s a serious condition that can impact your health significantly if it’s lef...

28/05/2026

☎️ TELEPHONE SYSTEM ☎️
We are continually trying to improve our systems to make it easier for you to contact the surgery.
Telephone System - when contacting the surgery, you will be presented with some options. Please listen carefully to all of the options before making your selection, to be put through to the right team:
Selecting option 1 puts you through to the Reception Team to make, cancel or amend an existing appointment, you also have some of the features within the NHS app.
To order a prescription please select option 2 (this option opens at 3pm each day) a link can be sent to allow you to order your own prescription through online options via NHS app.
Press option 3 to receive your blood results (this option is open from 2pm) a link can be sent to allow you to view your results via NHS app.
Press option 4 to speak with one of the Secretarial team who deal with Hospital Referrals, Insurance Forms and Subject Access Requests.
You can also sign up for many features within your online record and using the NHS App

A simple and secure way to access NHS services and manage your health.

28/05/2026

Pneumococcal vaccine 💉💉- The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It's recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over. This vaccination can be given all year round, you do not have to wait until Flu season to receive this.
Check if you are eligible and contact us to book your appointment.

Find out about NHS vaccinations for babies, children and adults, including why they're important and how to get them.

22/05/2026

NHS asks the public to plan ahead and stay safe ahead of the May bank holiday weekend.
People across the North East and North Cumbria are being reminded to plan in advance, stay safe and use the right services ahead of the bank holiday.
Remember to stock up on medicine cabinet essentials, to avoid any unnecessary additional pressure on NHS services ahead of the weekend and Monday 25th, when our GP surgery will be closed.
Plan ahead - stock up your medicine cabinet with essentials such as paracetamol, indigestion tablets, 🩹plasters, and 🧴antiseptic cream, as well as making sure you have enough repeat prescriptions to last over the holiday period -
If you do need medical care and it's not life threatening, contact NHS 111 online or your nearest pharmacy which you can find https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Both services will refer you for further treatment should you need it.
Enjoy the bank holiday safely – take care when out gardening, tackling DIY or taking part in an outdoor activity, and try and reduce your alcohol intake.
Top tips for healthcare over the bank holidays:
Repeat prescriptions
Order online in plenty of time via your GP Practice website or call them – you need to be registered with your practice for this.
Order through the NHS App – download the app from Google Play or the App store, you can register without having to visit your practice. More information on the NHS App is available on the uk website.
Order in person, at your GP practice.
Be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
Community pharmacists are part of your expert NHS health care team and are excellent at giving lots of advice about self-care and medications to treat common health conditions at home.
Health advice and information is also available via the NHS App or the NHS website, or from your local GP practice website https://www.skernemedical.nhs.uk/ which link to a range of online services.
Minor illness or injury - If you do suffer a minor injury or illness, NHS111 online is a great place to seek advice and can help you reach the right place for your care.
Emergency care - If you or someone else has a life-threatening emergency and require emergency care, you should call 999, or go to your nearest Emergency Department. This includes signs of a heart attack, chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest. Signs of a stroke - face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking and sudden confusion (delirium). Severe difficulty breathing
For Mental Health Crisis please ring NHS111 option 2.
British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.
Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.
Alcohol - If you are concerned about how much you, or someone you know, drinks, there’s lots of help available, including talking to your GP.
You can find your local alcohol support service or contact:
Drinkline freephone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous: 0845 769 7555 See less
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21/05/2026

The Practice will be closed from 6pm Friday 22nd May and re-open Tuesday 26th May at 8am.
If you need help from a Pharmacy 💊🩹 whilst we are closed 🚫. Please use the link below to locate your nearest Pharmacy. https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Remember that Pharmacies can help with some minor illness:
Acute Otitis Media👂
Blood Pressure ❤️
Impetigo
Infected Insect Bites🐜
Shingles
Sinusitis😳
Sore Throat😤
Uncomplicated UTI's 🚽
For anything else that cannot wait until Tuesday 26th May, please ring 111

Find an open pharmacy near you on the NHS website. Check your local pharmacy's opening times, and find your nearest late night, 24-hour or out-of-hours chemist.

18/05/2026

🤳Did you know you can view messages about your care in the NHS App?

The NHS App is a simple and secure way to receive messages from your trusted health care providers.

Turn on notifications for the NHS App to stay up to date.

Find out more:

Use the NHS App to view your health information and manage your healthcare online using a phone, tablet or computer.

15/05/2026

Viewing messages about your care in the NHS App💬🔈
The NHS App is a simple and secure way to receive messages from your trusted health care providers.
Make sure to turn on 🔛 notifications 💬 for the NHS App to stay up to date.
Download the NHS App or find the same services on the NHS website:

Use the NHS App to view your health information and manage your healthcare online using a phone, tablet or computer.

15/05/2026

‼️For Patients attending a booked appointment ⏰ at the practice on Saturday 16th May, please be aware that Sedgefield Medieval Fayre will be taking place from 10am 🎠🏘🛡⚔️
Please allow sufficient time to travel and park in preparation for your appointment ⌚️
There may be parking restrictions and restricted access areas during the procession.⛔️🚫
Please plan ahead of your journey. ⌚️‼️

14/05/2026

Free Drop-In Support Sessions for Families
Durham SENDIASS are pleased to share details of free drop-in support sessions taking place across County Durham for families with neurodiverse children and young people.
These welcoming sessions are open to all families — no diagnosis is needed. They provide an opportunity to drop in, ask questions, and get information in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Families attending can:
•💬 Chat informally with professionals, charities, and local support groups
•📚 Access advice on education, health, care, and emotional wellbeing
•🤝 Meet and connect with other families who may be sharing similar experiences
The sessions are designed to be inclusive, friendly, and accessible, offering practical support while also helping families feel less alone.
Whether you’re at the very start of your journey or already supporting a neurodiverse child, these drop-ins provide a valuable chance to gather information, build connections, and feel supported.
📍 Find your nearest drop-in session:
👉 www.durhamsendiass.info/dropinsessions
Together, we can celebrate, value, and support neurodiversity across our communities.

Durham Special Educational Needs and Disability Information Advice and Support Service is a statutory service supporting parents/carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and children and young people with SEND