Closed for Staff Training
Good morning
We are closed for staff training this afternoon 1pm – 6pm.
Please contact 111 / 999 as appropriate for any urgent matters
or, consider the walk-in centre at Wansbeck General Hospital for minor problems.
We will re-open Wednesday 15th May at 8am. Online requests can be submitted from 7am.
Thank you.
We are experiencing extremely high demand today following the bank holiday. We also have a member of clinical staff off sick leading to increased pressure.
As such, online Accurx triage will be turned off from 12 noon to 2 pm and will then be available from 2 pm to 5 pm this afternoon.
We would encourage patients to consider other sources of help such as local pharmacies or the walk in centre, as appropriate.
The telephone line is still available.
From tomorrow, online Accurx will be available Monday – Friday 8 am-5 pm.
Thank you for your understanding.
New Pharmacy First Service
Cessation of Minor Surgery at Greystoke Surgery
Minor Surgery is sometimes offered in Primary Care for the removal of benign skin lesions such as skin tags, warts and cysts. In addition, cryotherapy (freeze treatment) can be used to treat some lesions. Minor Surgery is not available at all GPs surgeries as it does not form part of the GMS contract. Provision of such services comes under ‘Enhanced Services’ and a Practice may choose to opt in, but this is not a standard, commissioned, service. For this, they need not only suitably skilled staff, but also surplus time to allow clinicians and nurses to run these clinics when they would otherwise be seeing patients.
We no longer have a GP with minor surgical skills training and demand on appointments is high. As such we will no longer be offering minor surgery services here at Greystoke. All patients on our waiting lists have been contacted and offered an appointment to have their final treatment.
Patients with concern over their skin lesions should still have an assessment by a clinician. Concerning lesions will be referred to dermatology, as they always have. For benign, or ‘nuisance’ lesions, the hospital have set criteria that would need to be met, for example recurrent infection or bleeding. These would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We have several patients requesting removal of asymptomatic, benign lesions and the NHS is unable to offer this. Patients have the option of private removal if they so wish.
Cryotherapy is rarely offered in general practice. For lesions such as recurrent actinic (solar) keratoses, your GP may offer you Efudix cream, which is just as effective. Treatments for warts and verrucae can be purchased from local pharmacies. Below is some guidance for self-management, following advice obtained from our local dermatology department. In addition there is some information about Molluscum Contagiosum, a common skin condition in young children.
Advice-on-the-management-of-warts-and-verrucae
Advice-on-the-management-of-molluscum-contagiosum
Nearby-Minor-Surgery-providers
How to Register for the NHS App
How to download and use the NHS App.
Before starting you will need the following information:
- Your email address
- Your NHS number
- Your date of birth
- Your post code
- A form of photo ID such as your passport or driving licence
- Your smartphone, which will need to include a camera
Steps to register and log in:
- Once you open the app, you need to firstly enter your email address – you’ll then be asked if you want to set up a new login. Select that option and press ‘Continue’.
- Choose a password and then click continue to agree to the terms of use.
- You will then be sent an email to check the address. This will mean closing the NHS app and then checking your emails to confirm receipt.
- Once you’ve done that, go back into the NHS app and click to say you have confirmed your email address.
- Next, you’ll be asked to enter your mobile number and a security code will be texted to you. Enter this six code number into the box and click continue.
- You will then be asked for your NHS a number – enter this in the box.
- Enter your date of birth.
- You will then be presented with a page of information about the use of the app, terms of use, the privacy policy and cookies. Click to confirm you have understood and are willing to accept these, and then press continue.
- You will then be asked about sending notifications and again need to press to confirm these and to continue.
- You will be given some log in options, for example if your mobile device supports fingerprint or face recognition, these can be used to access the app. Confirm if you would like to use these as options.
- Getting this far, will give you limited access to the NHS app. To get fuller access including the ability to book appointments and repeat medications, you will need to prove your identity and confirm which is your GP practice. Press continue to do this.
- When asked for an ODS code for your practice-this is NOT needed. If you scroll further down, you are able to continue without this code.
- The next page, asks a number of questions and you will need to choose a form of photo ID (such as driving licence or passport) in order to prove your identity. Select which form of ID you want to use, highlight this, and then press continue.
- Take a photo of your ID using your phone and following the instructions on the screen.
- Next you will be asked to scan your face using your phone camera. Again, follow the instructions on the screen to allow the face scan.
- All being well, you will receive an email within the next two hours, to say that your identity has been confirmed.
- When you next log in to the app, the final step is to connect your NHS account to the GP practice. Press on the link to do this, and you should then be able to access your NHS account. This will enable you to make appointments with the practice staff and order repeat prescriptions.
Or alternatively please see the You Tube link below: