The surgery would like to reassure all our patients that we are continuing to offer a full choice of appointment types to our patients.
We offer face to face, telephone or 24/7 online access via our website – depending on your clinical need. Your care may be provided by another health care professional in the surgery, again depending on your health care need.
Patients do not always need to see a GP.
But be re-assured we are continuing to work hard to support you as well as the NHS recovery from the Covid 19 pandemic.
We are asking for the help of all our patients with the following.
Important information about appointments >>
We are delighted to join the Green Impact program >>
We have clinics set up for Covid and Flu vaccinations on Saturday 5th October at Belford and Wednesday 9th October at Seahouses.
We will also have separate clinics in normal surgery time for those who cannot attend the bulk clinics.
Invitations are going out to eligible patients to book an appointment. Please try to make your appointment by clicking on the link provided.
If you are stuck use the STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO MAKING APPOINTMENTS on the homepage of our website with instructions on how to use the link.
There are two options that will be available one for Flu/Covid which will be given together and one for FLU ONLY.
If you do not want your Covid Vaccination, then please ensure you select the FLU Only clinic.
Please DO NOT contact the practice about your flu/covid vaccination unless you have received a text message from the surgery or you are unable to book in using the link provided.
We are also still offering Pneumonia and Shingles vaccines to patients who are eligible. These are available all year round, we are continuing to send invites out for these.
WE ASK THAT ANY PATIENT WISHING TO DECLINE ANY VACCINE THAT YOU CONTACT THE SURGERY TO LET US KNOW TO AVOID BEING CONTINUOUSLY CONTACTED
Inform the practice by telephone or send an email to nencicb-nor.belford@nhs.net so we can mark this on your record.
It is now - 0344 728 0554
They still offer 2 sessions a month at Berwick and 2 sessions a month at Alnwick. They continue to offer the sexual health services alongside all contraception including Injection, coil and implant. Patients can contact them on the above number to make an appointment. Here is a link to the website which explains all they have to offer.
How you make a complaint about primary care services in Northumberland is changing on 1 July 2023. By primary care services we mean GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacy services.
There are two ways you can make a complaint:
After 1st July 2023 if you want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner you will need to contact North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board instead of NHS England.
PLEASE DON'T CALL US TO BOOK IN FOR THE VACCINATION
All patients will be contacted by the practice or we will give further information when to call.
We have up to the 2nd December to vaccinate all eligible patients and will start with the most vulnerable patients, ie housebound, those in care homes, those in high risk groups and then go down the age groups to 50.
Please be patient, we have 60% of our practice population eligible for the covid vaccine plus the flu vaccinations to administer while also running our normal service so we are going to be EXTREMELY busy.
We will keep you updated as time goes on.
Sarah Tyson is a registered nurse and runs a small business providing Ear Care and Ear Irrigation throughout this area. She runs sessions in Alnwick, Berwick and Wooler.
Alnwick - sessions run out of The Bonny Hoose Company on Market Street every Monday
Berwick - a session is run every Wednesday
Wooler - a session is run every second Thursday.
The cost of an appointment is £30 this is for both ears. Home visits can be arranged at a cost of £50
If you would like to find out more about this service please contact Sarah on 07368931179 or email sarahtysonhealthcare@outlook.com
We would like to reassure our patients that at no time since the start of the pandemic have we stopped seeing patients face to face, and continue to see patients daily in addition to our telephone consultations. By triaging we can see patients more promptly when the need arises. When all our appointments are taken for the day patients will be requested to ring back at 8.30 the following day or be given a telephone triage appointment in the future. Patients who deem their problem to be an emergency will have to provide details of their problem and this will be passed onto a GP who makes the decision of whether to ring the patient back or not, if calls are not returned by 6pm then the patient would need to ring the surgery back to secure a bookable slot.
We have reviewed and continue to monitor how we provide our services to enable us to meet patient demand and ensure a safe working practice for both patients and clinicians.
The demands post covid have meant that we have seen an increase in patient contacts up by 12% and this makes it impossible to return to our pre covid appointment model. Not only this, but we have seen that some of the changes to the way we provide our services have been advantageous and allow ease of access to some of our patients.
We now also have lots of other clinicians offering different services from our surgery they include Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Health and Well-being Coaches to name but a few, by triaging patients we ensure that you are directed to the right service from the outset.
Sadly, we have also seen an increase in verbal aggression towards our staff which will not be tolerated, we will be monitoring calls closely as our team is working really had to try and deal with requests as quickly as possible. If aggressive or abusive behaviour is noted, we will be sending formal warnings to those involved.
As a practice we are delighted to have joined the Green Impact program. We are actively taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint. The climate emergency is also a health emergency, and health care in the UK contributes 5.4% of the UK's carbon emissions.
We need to enhance the health of our current population without compromising the health of future generations, and this means operating within the sustainable boundaries of the planet.
Fortunately, most of the solutions for the planet also make our health better - for example eating a mainly plant-based diet, engaging in active travel and exercise in nature, avoiding smoking, reducing pollution etc all enhance our health and reduce our need for medications, with further benefits to the NHS, your health and the carbon footprint of healthcare.
Take a look at www.greenerpractice.co.uk to learn more about this.
The NHS have set two targets:
A really useful resource for parents and carers of children under five years with practical information about common childhood conditions is now available to view and download on the CCG website here. It covers everything from common minor ailments like teething, constipation and colds, through to more serious conditions like urinary tract infections, wheezy chests and meningitis. A traffic light system helps parents and carers decide what action to take when their child is sick, suggesting appropriate health services if further help or support is needed. Please tell your patients about it. It will help them get the help they need if they have young children.
We are aware many patients are anxious about the change in guidance from July 19th, and whether they should be wearing a face mask or not.
We would like to commit to our continued efforts to safeguard our staff and patients and will asking for the continued use of masks in all environments at the Practice, including the waiting room, reception, clinical spaces and administrative spaces.
May we thank you in advance for your co-operation over this matter.
Vaccine Data Resolution Service (VDRS)
If as a member of the public you believe you have missing or incorrect COVID-19 vaccination data, please be advised to call 119 and ask the call agent to make a referral to the VDRS team on their behalf. The VDRS team will then call them back within 5 working days.
Go here for the latest detailed information from the government and other organisations.
We still advise patients to wear a face covering if you need to attend the surgery in person.
Please also be mindful that, at times, our workforce may be affected by COVID-19, so our team may be smaller than usual. We are, however, all doing our very best to look after you. We ask you to be patient, polite and respectful. No type of abuse will be tolerated by any member of our GP practice team.
Please also be mindful that, at times, our workforce may be affected by COVID-19, so our team may be smaller than usual. We are, however, all doing our very best to look after you. We ask you to be patient, polite and respectful. No type of abuse will be tolerated by any member of our GP practice team.
You can also get urgent medical advice online from 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111 where your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice on the next steps. This may include attending A&E, a GP appointment, a pharmacy visit or self-care. For life-threatening emergencies please call 999 or go straight to A&E.
There are local people who are more than happy to help with the vulnerable and at risk patients for medication deliveries. Some places are also helping out with other services.
Download more information about local services>>
Mental wellbeing and keeping safe >>
Local guidance and advice >>
The Swan Centre is a mass vaccination centre and your experience while attending for your Booster will be very different from the appointments you had for your 1st and 2nd vaccinations.
The area that we work in is a large open space with staff manning all areas to ensure that your journey through the experience is a smooth as possible but to allow this to happen we need help from each and everyone who is attending the sessions.
Please can we ask that you follow this guidance.
We would like to thank you all for your help and understanding. We are working to keep everyone safe.
For children aged between 12-15years who have missed their FIRST vaccination at school and for any child aged 12-15 that are clinically at risk or live with someone who is immunocompromised (this will be for their 2nd dose), there will be a clinic on the 4th January at Berwick Swan Centre.
Please contact the surgery to make an appointment, they will be from 16.15 -17.10.
We are continuing to contact patients who are due their Covid Vaccine Booster.
Please can we ask that if you have an appointment booked and go elsewhere or can't make that day can you contact the surgery to CANCEL the appointment, we are getting an increasING NUMBER of DNAs.
Our annual general meeting for the practice equipment fund will be held on Wednesday the 28th of September at 6:30pm at Belford Medical Practice. Anyone who would like to attend is welcome, whether that be to attend to listen to the meeting or to join the charity.
Main Surgery
Belford Medical Practice
Croft Field
Belford
Northumberland NE70 7ER
Tel: 01668 213738
Surgery
08.30 - 18.00 Monday to Friday
Dispensary
09.00 - 13.00 & 14.00 - 18.00
Monday to Friday
Branch Surgery
The Health Centre
James Street
Seahouses
Northumberland NE68 7XZ
Tel: 01665 720917
The Surgery/Dispensary
8.30 - 17.30 Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
08.30 - 12.30 Fridays
Closed daily for lunch 1pm - 2pm
Our team works together to provide the highest quality healthcare at the same time meeting ever changing needs of its patients and the community.
We are a teaching/dispensing practice, which is involved in the training of qualified doctors who wish to gain experience in General Practice. We also have final year medical students as part of their undergraduate training, visiting the practice. We are a research Practice. We also have a Nurse Practitioner working Monday and Thursdays.