Tennant Street Medical Practice

05/08/2025

This is a new sexual health hub that opened on the 1st August. It totally replaces the previous one which had many complaints from patients.
It is being run by Hartlepool & Stockton Health which also run the Urgent Care Centre at North Tees and the Out of Hours service which is hosted at Tennant Street and another one in Ingleby Barwick. They have great experience in setting up new clinical services so I am confident patients will see a big improvement.

This service opens on 1st August 2025. Our schedule is:

10/07/2025

Our scores on the doors from patient feedback for June are as follows:
95% rated us good or excellent.
That'll do nicely!
Not everyone gets asked for feedback so for interest purposes we had 3,612 appointments last month.
In June 2024 we had 3,319.

09/07/2025

The practice is supporting an NHS England campaign to cut the cost of SMS messaging. So many patients now prefer to receive information via their phones but each message costs the NHS money. If you use the NHS App (and please do - it's great!) please switch on notifications within the App, you will still receive messages on your phone but it is free to the NHS.
If you press the head icon top right of your screen in the App and scroll down to Notifications you can switch them on.

03/07/2025

The Patient.info forums are now open – come join the conversation.

We’re excited to let you know that the Patient.info community forums are now open again!

The forums have long been a space for people to connect, share experiences, and support each other — and we’re thrilled to reopen that space for you.

Whether you’re navigating a diagnosis, managing long-term symptoms, or simply looking for others who understand what you’re going through, the forums are here for you, 24/7.

You can log in and pick up right where you left off. All of your previous posts and replies are still there — nothing has been lost.

We’ve also made some behind-the-scenes updates to improve your experience, with more to come.

Join us today and be part of a community that listens, shares, and supports.

See you in the forums,
The Patient.info Team

Connect with others who understand what you're going through. Whether you’re managing a new diagnosis, supporting a loved one, or simply looking for reassurance, our community of patients, carers, and health-conscious individuals is here to help. Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experi...

19/06/2025

You may have heard that weight loss injections will be available from the practice in June. There is however strict criteria for patients who are eligible:
A BMI of over 40. Check your BMI here: https://www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-body-mass-index/calculate-bmi-for-adults
AND FOUR out of the following five conditions:
Hypertension (high blood pressure) treated with medication
Sleep apnoea (confirmed at a sleep clinic)
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease (heart disease, vascular disease or stroke)
Hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol)
Please do not ask for an appointment if you are not eligible - we will be unable to prescribe as per NHS regulations.

Check your BMI to find out if you're a healthy weight for your height, and get advice on what to do next. This BMI calculator is for people over 18 years old.

12/06/2025

https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/news/buying-unregulated-medication-could-put-you-at-serious-risk/

Information from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

12/06/2025

https://northeastnorthcumbria.nhs.uk/here-to-help-you/health-advice-and-support/weight-loss-drugs-information-for-patients/

Advice for patients including not using unregulated weight loss drugs that are used and bought without professional healthcare advice.

11/06/2025

Cervical screening Awareness week starting 16th June 2025:
Cervical screening saves approximately 2,000 lives every year in England. The test is free and only takes 5 minutes and will always be completed by a female nurse.

When your invite comes, don’t delay - book your appointment that day.

For more information visit the website ➡️ screeningsaveslives.co.uk/cervical-screening or speak to your GP practice.

Cervical screening is offered to women from the ages of 25 to 64. It looks for abnormal cells in the cervix which might become cancer if left untreated. The test involves using a soft brush to take a sample of cells from the surface of your cervix. Cervical screening used to be called a ‘smear

06/06/2025

Scores for April 2025 from patients (1 being the lowest, 5 being the highest):
Score 1 = 4 patients
Score 2 = 8 patients
Score 3 = 8 patients
Score 4 = 44 patients
Score 5 = 474 patients

19/05/2025

13/05/2025

We are in the process of trialling some new software which has been approved by NHS England. This records the consultation with your GP and provides a typed transcript into Microsoft Word. Your GP can then cut and paste the relevant information into your record. Anything not relevant is permanently deleted.
So far the GPs are finding it useful and often more accurate and, most importantly, it allows your GP to look at you during the consultation rather than trying to listen and type at the same time.
Please be reassured that this has been thoroughly vetted by NHS England.
Any questions please ask on here - or ask your GP during your consultation.

14/04/2025

Don't forget the surgery is closed over the Easter Bank holiday weekend. Community pharmacies and the Urgent Care Centre will be open.