Visiting the Practice

We would like to reassure our patients that Woodbridge Practice is taking all the necessary steps to keep you safe should you need to visit the practice.

The NHS has advised practices to begin restarting health services and we would like to reassure you that steps have been taken to keep you safe whilst in the practice.

Do not attend if you have a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Face coverings must be warn before entering the practice and where possible attend alone, unless there is a need for assistance.  The practice is observing social distancing in the waiting areas.  Hand sanitiser is available at all entrances and our staff will be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment.

Welcome to Woodbridge Practice

Coronavirus - Further Information 

1. From today the public are being advised to stay at home (self-isolate) without any testing for COVID-19, regardless of travel history or contact with confirmed cases, if they have:

a. A new continuous cough

OR

b. High temperature (of 37.8 degrees centigrade or higher)

2. The geographic element of the case definition has now been removed. Travel and contact history are no longer important for diagnosis, which is on the basis of symptoms alone. If people who have travelled do not have symptoms they do not need to stay at home, regardless of their travel history.

Individuals should stay at home (self-isolate) for 7 days from the onset of symptoms following the current advice. If someone has serious symptoms they cannot manage at home they should use NHS111 online (people should only call NHS111 if they cannot get online).

After 7 days of self-isolation, people who feel better and no longer have a high temperature can return to their normal routine. If they have not had any signs of improvement after 7 days and have not already sought medical advice, they should use NHS111 online (people should only call NHS111 if they cannot get online) before they leave their home or let visitors in.

A cough may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough alone does not mean someone must continue to stay at home for more than 7 days.

Stay at home to stop Coronavirus spreading

Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of Coronavirus.  This includes people of all ages, even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

You can only leave your home:

  • to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
  • to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with
  • for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
  • to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary

Help the NHS respond to Coronavirus 

Use the quick NHS coronavirus status checker to tell us about your current experience of the virus. This will help the NHS plan its response to coronavirus by showing where the virus is spreading and how it affects people.

COVID Information is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Advice for people at high risk: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

How to get an online isolation note

Online isolation notes are via NHS111 online, for patients that are self-isolating. An isolation note can be obtained without contacting a doctor and practices are not able to provide these; the notes can be accessed through the NHS website and NHS 111 online:

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Do you need a letter regarding Coronavirus to give to your employer about providing sick notes? 

Click this link as a letter to patients requesting a sick note for Coronavirus

Requests for certification of absence from the workplace may fall into five categories:

  • Personally affected so isolating for seven day
  • Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven day
  • Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice
  • At risk group so following government advice
  • Those in full time education

5 circumstances you may need a sick note and how to get one

Who should be social distancing? 

THIS BROAD GROUP OF PATIENTS (WHO ARE NORMALLY ELIGIBLE FOR AN ANNUAL FLU JAB) SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO REDUCE THEIR SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE TRANSMISSION OF THE VIRUS.

This group has been identified to the public as those who are:

  • Aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
  • Under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
  • Chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
  • Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
  • Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
  • Diabetes
  • Problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
  • A weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
  • Being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
  • Those who are pregnant

Extremely vulnerable patients should undergo strict social isolation with no contact beyond that which is absolutely necessary, (We're calling this 'shielding patients' who are the most vulnerable and at the highest risk)

This group of patients will receive a letter from either their cancer specialist, their consultant or hospital specialist and for a small number of complex cases where asked from us (their GP)

Full advice on shielding person:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Further information is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Advice for people at high risk: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

What do I do if I live with someone who is shielded? 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

GENERAL NHS HEALTH ADVICE

Underlying lung disease (British Lung Foundation)
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus

People with Asthma
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/ 

People with Diabetes
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus%3famp

Older people
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/# 

Young people with anxiety
https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/ 

Remember, you can also get advice from your local pharmacist for lots of health issues, including when to visit your GP. And there's no need for an appointment.

How to treat 10 of the most common ailments seen by GPs at home

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/

 

We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patient's needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to letting us know what you think of us.

We want to get better at communicating with our patients. We want to make sure you can read and understand the information we send you.

If you find it hard to read our letters or if you need someone to support you at appointments, please let us know. We want to know if you need information in braille, large print or easy read. We want to know if you need a British Sign Language interpreter or advocate. We want to know if we can support you to lipread or use a hearing aid or communication tool.

Please tell the receptionist when you arrive for your next appointment, or call us on 01642 762636 (Thornaby) or 01642 765789 (Ingleby Barwick)

Extended Hours and Opening Times

 

Extended Hours

Extended hours are available at both sites with early morning appointments from 07:00am.

Monday

08:00 - 08:30 emergency calls only taken

08:30 - 18:00 routine calls taken

Tuesday

08:00 - 08:30 emergency calls only taken

08:30 - 18:00 routine calls taken

Wednesday

08:00 - 08:30 emergency calls only taken

08:30 - 18:00 routine calls taken

Thursday

08:00 - 08:30 emergency calls only taken

08:30 - 18:00 routine calls taken

Friday

08:00 - 08:30 emergency calls only taken

08:30 - 18:00 routine calls taken

Weekend

Closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phlebotomy Opening Times

Thornaby

Monday to Friday 08:00am-12:30pm

Monday to Wednesday 1:00pm 3:00pm

Thursday Closed

Friday 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Ingleby Barwick

Monday to Friday 08:00am till 12:30pm

Wednesday Closed

Tuesday and Thursday 1:00pm till 3:00pm

 

Extended Access Service

This new service will provide access to primary care Monday to Friday evenings and at weekends and will include a number of innovative services, including supporting long term conditions and prevention.

The service started on 1st April 2017 at the same time as the CCG launched a new integrated urgent care service which offers urgent care appointments (bookable via NHS 111) at University Hospital North Tees and University Hospital Hartlepool.  This is part of the CCGs vision for an integrated seven day urgent care service that helps patient access the most appropriate care at the right time and in the right place and prevents patients walking into A&E because they have not been able to access a GP appointment.

Our priority is to encourage patients to access these additional appointments when appropriate to ease pressure on A&E.

The service will operate pre-bookable clinic appointments via NHS 111 or your GP Surgery at three hubs as follows.

One Life Centre Hartlepool           Mon - Fri evenings 6.30pm - 8.00pm,

                                                      Saturdays 10.00am 1.00pm              

                                                      Sundays 11.00am - 1.00pm

Tennant Street Practice, Stockton  Mon - Fri evenings 6.30pm - 8.00pm,

                                                       Saturdays 10.00am - 1.00pm

                                                       Sundays 11.00am - 1.00pm

Woodbridge Practice, Ingleby        Mon - Fri evenings 6.30pm - 8.00pm

                                                       Saturdays 2.00pm - 5.00pm

                                                       Sundays 2.00pm - 5.00pm

All appointments will be pre-bookable a minimum of two weeks in advance.  The service is available to all patients registered with a GP in Billingham, Hartlepool and Stockton regardless of locality.  Services will be available every day of the year including bank holidays.

Calls to the NHS 111 service are free from both landlines and mobile phones. If you have a life threatening medical emergency please call 999.

Remember - Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pain and/or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.

Flu Season

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Book your flu vaccine at Woodbridge Practice now!

Remember, it’s not too late to have your flu vaccine with Woodbridge Practice. Call today!

        Thornaby: 01642 762636   Ingleby Barwick: 01642 765789

Woodbridge Practice is able to offer a flu vaccine free on the NHS for:

  • Anyone between the ages of 50 - 64
  • Anyone over the age of 65
  • Pregnant women
  • Adults (aged from 16 years) with a BMI > 40kg/m2
  • Children and adults with an underlying health condition (particularly long-term heart or lung disease)
  • Children and adults with weakened immune systems

An annual flu vaccine nasal spray is also now offered to healthy children in 4-11y (school) can have a vaccination at the practice, even if they do not have a clinical risk factor if the family prefers or the school session is late or missed. 
 
If you do not wish to receive the flu vaccination this year for any reason, please let us know and we will update your records.

Please note that people in the 50-64-year old age group will not be vaccinated until November and December, providing there is sufficient vaccine, and no appointments will be offered for this age group until then. This is to ensure that those who are most at risk are vaccinated first.  If you are 50-64 and you are in one of the other groups which is eligible for the flu vaccination, for example you have a health condition which puts you at risk from the flu, you will be invited earlier.

Dee's A & E Fail Tale

CQC Inspection

The CQC carried out an Inspection of Woodbridge Practice in March 2018

The Partners at Woodbridge Practice would like the patients to know that the practice has been awarded a GOOD rating. This means the Woodbridge Practice is performing well and meeting the expectations of the CQC.

Over The Counter Medication

Prescribing of over the counter medicines is changing.  Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will not generally give you a prescription for over the counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.

Instead, over the counter medicines are available to buy in a pharmacy or supermarket in your local community. 

The team of health professionals at your local pharmacy can offer help and clinical advice to manage minor health concerns and if your symptoms suggest it’s more serious, they’ll ensure you get the care you need.

Find out more about this change to prescription policy at nhs.uk/OTCmedicines

This applies to treatments for these conditions:

  • Acute sore throat
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Coughs, colds and nasal congestion
  • Cradle cap
  • Dandruff
  • Diarrhoea (adults)
  • Dry eyes/ sore tired eyes
  • Earwax
  • Excessive sweating
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Head lice
  • Indigestion and heartburn
  • Infant colic
  • Infrequent cold sores of the lip
  • Infrequent constipation
  • Infrequent migraine
  • Insect bites and stings
  • Mild acne
  • Minor burns and scalds
  • Mild cystitis
  • Mild dry skin
  • Mild irritant dermatitis
  • Mild to moderate hay fever
  • Minor pain, discomfort and fever (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain)
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Nappy rash
  • Oral thrush
  • Prevention of tooth decay
  • Ringworm/ athletes foot
  • Sunburn
  • Sun protection
  • Teething/ mild toothache
  • Threadworms
  • Travel sickness
  • Warts and verrucae

Woodbridge Practice Community Health Events

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Please check out our Practice Community Health Events page under the Further Information section of our website for information on events being held at Woodbridge Practice. 

Remember to check back regularly for all the latest events!

Serving You

Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as order a repeat prescription or cancel an appointment.

Partners in Care

Once registered, patients and healthcare professionals work together to ensure the most appropriate care is provided. This partnership philosophy extends even further and our active patient group exists to make sure that patient needs and the practice offering are always heading in the same direction.

SystmOnline

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We would like our patients to know that SystmOnline is now available for mobile phones and tablets using the Apple and Android operating systems. SystmOnline allows patients to order prescriptions, book appointments, cancel appointments and view their summary record 24/7.

To download the app to your tablet or mobile phone please search "SystmOnline" in your app store. You can use your existing SystmOnline log in details on the app.

If you are not registered for SystmOnline please speak to your reception team.