Valens provides online access for patients to book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your medical record, request sick notes, request doctors letters and many more. You can find out more about our online services by clicking the link below:

Access Online Services

Joint injections and cryocautery are carried out at all the surgeries. Please note that benign skin lesions cannot be removed on the NHS for cosmetic reasons only.

Most of our GPs perform minor operations including the removal of various skin lumps, cysts, and moles.

Please see your usual doctor in a routine appointment so that they can assess if the problem you have is suitable for minor surgery. They will then add your name to a future operating list, and advise you where to attend the appointment.

For absence from work lasting less than seven days, you can self-certify without needing to see a doctor.
If you are absent from work for more than seven days, your employer will require a fit note as proof of being unfit to work. The GP will assess your current state in a consultation, and may provide a fit note for your employer.
Further extensions of your fit note can be requested by contacting the surgery. You may be called for further review if the GP decides this is necessary.

For more information see the www.gov.uk website.

When requesting a home visit, please try to call before 11.00am wherever possible. Home visits are available for patients who for example are housebound or are so unwell they are unable to attend the surgery. When you call us, the receptionist will take the details of your request and the doctor will call you back to discuss the problem and assess the urgency. The doctor will either advise you about the self-management of your complaint, or arrange for you to see a doctor, nurse, health visitor or whoever is the most appropriate person to deal with your health problem, either by a visit or an appointment.

If you require referral to Secondary Care or another provider, your GP will arrange this for you.

The district nurses provide a comprehensive home nursing service and will be pleased to advise on a wide variety of problems. They can see patients just home from hospital who need wound or other care, patients with disabilities, problems with incontinence, leg ulcers, advice on health care in the home, health problems in the elderly, day centre care, holiday relief, respite care, palliative care and much more. They run the treatment room sessions in the surgeries for patients who need wound dressings and certain injections who are not housebound. They also deliver chronic disease services for housebound patients (blood pressure, heart and lung disease reviews).

District Nurse appointments can be booked by calling the practice on Option 3.

The Health Visitor Service is offered to all families with children under 5 years of age.

You will receive a visit from the Health Visitor when you are pregnant or when you transfer to a Valens surgery.

Health visitors work with parents and carers to ensure that children have the best start in life and are able to achieve their full potential through delivery of the Healthy Child Programme. Support and advice is available with feeding, sleep, toileting and behaviour. Health visitors work alongside and refer to other services and professionals.

Our Midwives carry out ante-natal clinics in various surgeries throughout the Valens network. They will see a patient at any time during her pregnancy and postnatal period.

You can now self-refer into the midwife service and register your pregnancy by following the following link: www.northumbria.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity/registering-your-pregnancy. If you are unable refer yourself online, you can call 0191 293 2545.

Please contact reception at your usual surgery for any assistance with the midwife service.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has the largest trauma and orthopaedic service in the North East, carrying out thousands of hip and knee replacements every year. Treatment for disorders of bones and joints or specialist surgery for upper and lower limb problems as well as spinal problems can be referred by your GP.

Podiatrists provide diagnosis and treatment for patients who are experiencing problems with their legs and feet or are experiencing painful foot conditions. The Podiatry service helps to make sure that patients can still get around and stay independent.

Services range from support in self care through to specialist work in areas such as nail surgery, specialist rheumatology clinics and specialist footwear clinics.

To book an appointment please contact reception at your usual surgery.

A physiotherapist is available at a choice of locations across the Valens network, by referral from a GP.

Physiotherapists help people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. They maintain health for people of all ages, helping patients to manage pain and prevent disease.

Appointments are booked via JMAPS, the Northumberland Joint Musculoskeletal and Pain Service. You can self-refer into JMAPS by calling 03301 244 652.

A Chiropodist is available by referral or can be booked directly through your surgery reception.

Our mental health practitioners specialise in mental health, and offer assessments, provide advice and support to manage your condition, and support you to access mental health services and community resources. They offer a range of same-day and prebookable appointments, and depending on your needs, you may follow-up appointments organised in your consultation.

A clinician may refer you to see the mental health team if you require deeper, specialised care for your mental health. They are also able to complete initial assessments for a wide range of conditions, such as ADHD and ASD, and they can refer you to the relevant authority for diagnosis and ongoing care if required.

Social prescribing link workers can assist you with social issues. They can help you by supporting you to manage your health and wellbeing, giving you time to focus on what matters to you, and helping you to access support services and activities. The team can help with a number of issues, such as best managing finance, getting involved in groups and the local community, and supporting you to navigate the NHS by signposting to a range of appropriate services. You may be referred to the social prescribing team by a member of the practice if they feel you require help. Appointments can also be made by contacting the practice, or visiting your local reception. 

Our orthopaedic practitioners specialise in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. They can help by diagnosing and treating muscular and joint conditions, advising on how to manage your condition, and referring you on to specialist services. They can also organise tests and scans, and administer specific injections to help with musculoskeletal problems where necessary.

You can make an appointment with the orthopaedic practitioners by calling the surgery, or you may be made an appointment by a GP if they feel the orthopaedic team would provide the best care for your condition.