CORBRIDGE HEALTH CENTRE
Manor Court, Corbridge, Northumberland. NE45 5JW
Telephone: (01434) 632011

Corbridge Medical Group:
Dr William Cunningham (MBBS London 1974, FRCP, FRCGP)
Dr Robert Kingett (MBBS Nottingham 1977, MRCGP, DRCOG)
Dr Roger Dykins (MBBS Newcastle 1991, MRCGP, DRCOG)
Dr Robin Hudson (MBBS Newcastle 1993, MRCGP, MFSEM(UK), DipIMC RCSEd)

Our female GP Retainer, Dr Andrea Coady (MBBS Newcastle 1994, MRCGP, DRCOG) is available on Wednesdays and Fridays

Important news and photographs of the New Health Centre

Health Centre opening times: Monday to Friday 8.00am - 6:30pm
The switchboard is open to take calls from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

On the first Thursday of every month the Health Centre is closed from 2pm until 3:15pm for staff training.

Core Surgery Times:

Appointments with GPs:
Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 10:30am
4:00pm - 5:20pm (3:30 - 5:00pm on Fridays)

Appointments with Practice Nurses:
Generally available from 8:30 to 5pm - these vary from day to day - please ring for details.

For more information about the Health Centre and our services, please click on the links below.

Home Visits
If you are not well enough to come to the surgery a home visit can be arranged.
Please telephone before 10am if possible. The receptionist will ask for brief details of your illness and the degree of urgency. This will help the doctors to plan their home visits and avoid unnecessary delays.

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Telephone consultations
The doctors and nurses welcome telephone calls for medical advice. The best time to contact them is normally between 10.45 and 11.15 am after morning surgery. Alternatively, you may try just before afternoon surgery at 3.45pm.




Emergencies/weekends/bank holidays
If you need urgent treatment when the surgery is closed, help can be obtained by telephoning the main surgery number (01434 632011).
A recorded message will give you the contact number for the Northern Doctors Urgent Care Service: (0845) 60 80 320.
(Patients are reminded that this is an outgoing message only, and should not attempt to leave a message on the answering machine.)

The Northern Doctors Urgent Care service is commissioned by Northumberland Care Trust for all patients in the County. They provide a confidential service staffed by nurses and health professionals who will advise you on the best course of action for the symptoms you present. If they recommend you speak to or see a doctor you will be directed to the 'Duty Doctor' at Hexham Primary Care Centre. A leaflet giving further details regarding the service is available at the Health Centre.




Test results
We do not routinely inform you if your test results are normal. If further action is required, based on test results, you will be contacted by a member of the surgery staff. All patient records held on file or on the computer are confidential. In order to maintain confidentiality, results of laboratory tests and x-rays will be given only to the patients themselves or to parents of minors where appropriate. To assist in identification you will be asked to give your date of birth or part of your address before any information is passed on.




Treatment and care
We aim to keep you fully informed about your health and any treatment or medication you may require. You will be encouraged to take part in any decisions about your treatment or care.
Please ask if you are unsure about anything.




Chaperone/companion
You are welcome to bring someone with you when you see the doctor or nurse. You may wish to give this particular consideration if you think you will require an intimate examination or need some emotional support. A member of the staff here would also be pleased to chaperone you during an intimate examination. Please do not hesitate to ask the doctor or nurse you are consulting - they will not be offended.




Interpreter
We would be grateful if you could give us a few days advance notice if you will require an interpreter or signer for the deaf to be present.




Repeat prescriptions
If you take regular repeat medication, and your doctor agrees, you may order prescriptions without seeing the doctor. However, at certain intervals the doctor will need to see you to check your progress and to review your medication. When appropriate, you will be asked to make an appointment.

To obtain a repeat prescription you may either:

· telephone the surgery at least 2 working days before the prescription is required Please keep the tear- off request slip from your previous prescription and clearly read out the items you require. Telephone lines tend to be very busy first thing in the morning so we request that repeat prescriptions are ordered after 10am.

· return the tear-off request slip in person or by post, ticking off the item(s) you require. If you want the prescription to be sent to you please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope. Please allow at least 2 working days for processing by the practice in addition to the time for postage.

Most medications are supplied strictly on a 28-day basis. We encourage patients who are on multiple medications to aim to keep their medicines in step with one another so that only one repeat prescription is required per month. If you need assistance with this, please ask to speak to one of our dispensers.




Dispensary service
A full dispensary service is provided for patients who live more than one mile from their nearest chemist.

If you are exempt from paying for your prescriptions for any reason other than age, please ensure you present proof of your entitlement to exemption each time you collect your medication.




Change of address/telephone numbers
Please let us know if you move house or change telephone number to enable us to keep your records up to date and ensure that correspondence is sent to the correct address (and doctors for home visits!). This is particularly important if you are being referred for treatment or undergoing tests as we may need to contact you urgently.




Data Protection and Access to Medical Records
When you register as a patient you will be asked to fill in a patient registration form. Your details will be passed to Northumberland Care Trust who will update their records and arrange for the transfer of your medical records from your previous practice. You will also be invited to attend a new patient check-up with the Practice Nurse - this enables us to establish whether you have any active problems or medication about which we should be aware before your previous records arrive at the practice.

Other branches of the National Health Service may have access to your personal information from time to time, for example if you are receiving hospital treatment. If we are asked for a medical report, eg for insurance purposes, we will only produce this with your prior written consent.

You have the right, subject to any limitations in law, to see your medical records. Please ask at reception. There may be a charge if any copies of records are required. Further information about the practice which is available under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act can be obtained by writing to the Practice Manager.




Access for Disabled Patients
The Health Centre is accessible by wheelchair and a disabled toilet is located on the ground floor. Our GP consulting rooms are colour-coded to assist patients in accessing the correct room. Should you have any further recommendations as to how we could assist disabled patients, please feel free to contact the Practice Manager.




Comments, suggestions and complaints
We are always very interested to hear any comments on ways we can improve our service to you. Please give any suggestions, whether verbal or in writing to any member of the team. We also have a "suggestion box" in the foyer if you wish to remain anonymous.

We will try to deal with any suggestions or complaints quickly and efficiently. For any patient wishing to make a formal complaint, we do have a complaints procedure in line with NHS guidelines, and you should initially contact the Practice Manager or Administrator regarding this.




Quality of Care
The standards of care provided to patients are regularly assessed by external visitors on behalf of the NHS. Standards of record keeping and care may be inspected by looking into patient records (on paper or computer). If you object to this please inform us by writing to the Practice Manager at the Health Centre address.




Patient information
From time to time we produce a newsletter to keep patients up to date with any changes and provide seasonal health information advice. If you have any suggestions as to what you would like included in the newsletter, please just get in touch. In addition, various leaflets and notices are on display. Please help yourself to leaflets, and do not hesitate to ask if you require any further information.