We aim to offer services which are young people friendly. We welcome young people and aim to put them at ease when they come to the practice.
We have compiled some useful information which young people have told us is important to them when it comes to their health.
We have also provided information on your rights as a young person. Please click here
40 Plus Health Checks
Everyone aged 40-74 who does not have a pre-existing heart condition is eligible for a health check once every five years. It is a free check-up of your overall health. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as:
During the check-up you’ll discuss how to reduce your risk of these conditions.
If you think you are eligible but have not been invited, please get in touch with us to request an appointment.
You can view more information here NHS Health Check – NHS
Annual health check Learning Disability and Autism
All patients aged 14 years and over with a learning disability and/or autism are eligible for an annual health check. An annual health check can help you stay well by talking to a doctor or nurse about your health and finding any problems early, so they can be sorted out.
You do not have to be ill to have a health check – in fact, most people have their annual health check when they are feeling well.
If you have a learning disability or care for somebody who does, make sure we are aware of this because not everyone may be on the practice’s Learning Disability register. You can do this by telling our reception team, doctor or nurse.
Once on the register you will receive an invite each year to attend an appointment.
You can view more information here Learning disabilities – Annual health checks – NHS
Carers health checks
The carers health check is the same as the NHS Health Check but is about looking after you as a Carer. It will focus on your own health and wellbeing and whether there are any areas you need support with. It is a chance to talk about your concerns and hopes for the future. The check covers the questions which Carers have told us are important.
Please get in touch to book your appointment.
Please make appointments with the practice nurse at least 2 months before your intended travel. Vaccinations take about one month to take full effect.
For further information on travel vaccination click here
We recommend flu injections for persons aged 65 or over and for people with diabetes, chest, heart and kidney disease at any age. They are usually given between September and December.
Please telephone the surgery in September for availability and appointment.
Please navigate to our Flu Campaign Page for information on our Flu Clinics.
Recommended for people aged 65 or over. One injection is recommended with no need for a booster. Pneumonia vaccine is also recommended for people with diabetes, chest, heart and kidney complaints, If you had spleen removed (splenectomy) or any immune problems.
A booster injection needed every 5 to 10 years.
Please refer to our Family Health Page for further information on Childhood Immunisations
The Social Prescribing Link Worker Team work on behalf of all GP Practices in Sunderland to provide non‐medical support and interventions.
All referrals sent from the website to a secure email which is manned daily.
AAA stands for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to your body. It runs from your heart down through your chest and abdomen.
In some people, as they get older, the wall of the aorta in the abdomen can become weak. It can then start to expand and form what is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The condition is most common in men aged 65 and above. Men are six times more likely to have an aneurysm than women and your risk of having an aneurysm increases if you are or have been a smoker, you have high blood pressure or you have a close family member who has had one.
If you have an AAA you will not usually notice any signs or symptoms; this means cannot tell if you have one, will not feel any pain or notice anything different. Large aneurysms are rare but can be very serious. As the wall of the aorta stretches it becomes weak and can burst, causing internal bleeding. Over 80% people die when an aneurysm bursts.
An aorta that is only slightly larger than normal is not dangerous; however, it is still important to know about it so that we can check if the aneurysm is getting bigger.
AAA screening is a free NHS national programme that screens men aged 65 plus to check if they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The screening is by invitation and uses an ultra sound scan. If you are a man aged over 65 you are more at risk of an abdominal aortic aneurysm than any other demographic so this is why you will be invited for screening.
We offer screening so we can find aneurysms early and monitor or treat them. This greatly reduces the chances of the aneurysm causing serious problems.
Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or diagnosed with an aneurysm can request a scan by contacting their local programme directly on: 0191 445 2554
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Abdominal aortic Aneurysm screening Programme is hosted by The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, but you will be invited to a clinic local to where you live for your scan. Our centre covers all Lancashire and South Cumbria localities.
There are a range of AAA leaflets that can be downloaded from GOV.uk some in different languages as well as easy read and also one for the transgender population please see link below:
Please click on the following links:
The NHS does not pay for some of the services we provide.
These include:
Our fees for these services, which are in line with BMA approved national guidelines, are displayed in the surgery.
Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities which, if left untreated, could lead to cancer.
All women between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for cervical screening test every 3 to 5 years. Screening starts from age 25 and every 3 years onward. From age 50 tests are done every 5 years.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme provides breast screening every three years for all women from age 47 and over. Women between the ages of 47 and 73 are routinely invited. Although you are not routinely called for screening after the age of 73, you can telephone for appointment for screening after age 73.
Telephone breast Screening: 0191 445 2554
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69 years., From 2014 people up to the age of 73 will be invited. People in this age group will automatically be sent an invitation, then their screening kit, so the tests can be done at home.
Further information see cancer screening NHS website.
Men aged 65 and over will be invited for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening. Aneurysm is more common in men and in older people. Smoking, high blood pressure also increases the risk. The test is simple and painless.
For further information click on the link above, cancer screening
It’s a real worry when children become ill. Understandably, we don’t want to take any risks. Parents and carers can now find NHS advice at their fingertips to help look after their children’s health. ‘Looking after your child’s health’ is an important NHS guide for parents and carers of children aged 0-5 year.
The NHS Child Health app gives easy to understand guidance on childhood illnesses, recognising when your child is unwell, and advice on when and where to seek further treatment.
Just search for ‘NHS child health’ on Google Play or Apple’s App Store
Children often get a high temperature (a fever) when they are poorly. If the child’s temperature is above 37.5 degrees centigrade (or if you don’t have a thermometer but you think your child has a temperature), try to lower it as follows:
THE NEXT FLU CAMPAIGN WILL BE STARTING IN AUTUMN 2020 – Patients at risk from the following:
and are in the age group from 18-64 years of age – flu clinics are available to book on the following dates:
Ladies who are pregnant can also book into the above clinics.
Patient at risk from:
and are over 65 years of age can book on the following Clinic Dates:
Patients who are eligible for the Pneumonia and Shingles Vaccinations can also book at the same time. Please speak to our Reception Staff who will arrange an appointment at the same time.
Colds and influenza are caused by viruses. In three or four days your body will make enough antibodies to kill the virus. However, the virus may have irritated the lining of the breathing passages and this may cause a cough. A cough is not a bad thing: it is there for a reason. It helps defends your lungs by making sure that any secretions your tubes produce are coughed up rather than settling in the lower lungs where they would cause trouble.
Similarly “phlegm” or “sputum” is there to act as a barrier to catch the dust and germs that we breathe in.
Assuming you are otherwise feeling well, you need not worry if your cough and phlegm takes two or three weeks to settle, especially if you are getting gradually better. Coughs may be worse at night because you are breathing in cold, dry air which irritates the breathing passages.
Smoking or inhaling other people’s smoke makes coughs worse. Your doctors will not prescribe antibiotics for coughs, colds and flu-like illnesses because they do not work against viruses.
Antibiotics can cause side-effects. Some bacteria develop resistance to the antibiotic which can prevent it helping when it is really needed. Coughing prevents mucus from blocking the air passages. It can be dangerous to try to stop this with cough mixture.