Whickham Practice

15/07/2025

Measles cases are rising.

You may have seen on the news this has resulted in a childs death, with others in hospital after contracting the measles virus.

Measles spreads easily and can cause serious illness, especially in babies, pregnant women and those with weak immune systems.

The MMR vaccination is safe and offers lifelong protection.

If your child is not up to date with their measles vaccinations please contact the practice.

For more info, visit: http://nhs.uk/MMR

22/06/2025

WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS.

The local guidance for prescribing Mounjaro for weight loss from GP surgeries is not yet finalised. We will let you know when it is.

We do know that only the following group of people will be eligible during the first year. These are nationally set criteria and we will not be able to change these. We will let you know when we have further information.

Please don't arrange an appointment to ask for Mounjaro for weight loss at the moment, as we are not able to start it yet.

Thank You

07/06/2025

Have you registered to use the NHS App yet?

If you haven't and you're a bit unsure how to go about setting it up, this video will talk you through it.

This 13 minute video covers:
* How to download the NHS app
* How to use the symptom checker
* How to create an NHS login ID
* How to use the login to access the app
* How to register with the NHS app
* How to book an appointment at your practice with the NHS app
* How to access your medical records
* How to confirm your donor preferences with the NHS app
* How to access your settings and more information in the NHS app

Do you know how to register with the NHS app?Do you know what it can do?Watch this video to see this walkthrough guide and share it with your practice if the...

21/05/2025

The ICB are proud to partner with Shout to offer free and confidential mental health crisis text support to anyone in the North East or North Cumbria.

📲Simply text the word ‘CALMER’ to 85258. Shout’s mental health professionals are available 24/7 and can help if you’re feeling stressed, isolated or low.

👉https://ow.ly/CoeN50VSoHs

21/05/2025

21/05/2025

From itchy bug bites and stings to hay fever sniffles and sneezes, health teams across the North East and North Cumbria are encouraging people to get fast 'walk-in' care from their local pharmacy🤧

Check out the link in the comments to read the full story⬇️

21/05/2025

📣NEWS POST❗

Health experts in the North East and North Cumbria are warning people about the risks of using weight loss medicines bought from private clinics or online. Check out the link in the comments to read the full story⬇️

14/05/2025

🎉 Happy National Receptionist Day! 🎉

Wishing all of our remarkable reception and awesome admin staff a Happy National Receptionist Day. Thank you for all that you do and for keeping the cogs turning!

Our tremendous team are the backbone of our practice. They are the first friendly faces you see when you walk through our doors. They manage appointments, handle patient inquiries, and ensure that all your medical records are up-to-date. They also coordinate with our clinical staff to make sure you receive the best care possible.

From juggling phone calls and emails to managing the daily appointments schedule, organising medication boxes and assisting with administrative tasks, their roles are diverse and vital.

13/05/2025

We are seeing an increasing number of people parking in our car park and then leaving the car park by foot to go to the high street without coming in to the medical centre to use our services. And we're not just talking 30-40 minutes - there are a couple of cars that come in and park all day.

This is causing issues for patients who have appointments and are unable to park, especially those patients who have mobility and disability issues and are unable to access the disabled parking bays.

Please can we ask that you park considerately and only use the car park if you are attending the medical centre.

We are currently in conversation with our landlord regarding those users who are abusing the car parking on a regular basis.

If you experience issues with parking whilst attending the practice we would encourage you to report it to NHS Property Services on 0808 196 2045 or email them at customer.service@property.nhs.uk

13/05/2025

‼️ All GP Practices in Gateshead will be closed today (Tuesday 13th May) from 12.30pm for staff training‼️

If you require medical assistance during this time, please contact your local pharmacy, 111 online or by telephone, or contact 999 in an emergency.

We will re-open at 6pm for routine pre-booked appointments.

Thank you.

13/05/2025

The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) have launched a new campaign focusing on "the call I just took".

Receptionists are not "just admin"- they are patient advocates navigating complex systems to get people the care they need.

But constant abuse is pushing them to breaking point. Burn out is rising, and we are losing skilled staff who can no longer absorb the emotional toll.

This campaign is a call for compassion - because protecting our reception teams protects access to care.

You don't know what happened on the call they just took.

Receptionists are not ‘just admin’ — they are patient advocates, navigating complex systems to get people the care they need. They are the gateway to the cli...

12/05/2025

At the end of another International Nurses Day, we want to say a big thank you to our brilliant nursing team; heroic HCA's, noble Nurses, fantastic Phlebotmists, passionate Nurse Practitioners, great GPAs and terrific TNAs - you are fantastic and appreciated.