UPDATE: askmyGP working; urgent requests only please

UPDATE: 14:08 askmyGP is now backup, we apologise for the disruption.

Please only submit requests today if your issue is urgent, so we can prioritise those with the greatest need.

By ‘urgent’ we mean something new that’s come on suddenly (an acute condition) or a long-term problem (chronic illness) that has unexpectedly got worse.

The key questions to ask yourself are: Am I feeling much worse today than I was yesterday? Has something changed, making me need help today when I didn’t yesterday?

If the answer to these is ‘yes’, then your request is urgent, and we want to help you as soon as possible.

Our askmyGP system is currently down, and not accessible to patients or staff. This is being looked into urgently and we will update you as soon as we can.

In the meantime, please only call if you have an urgent issue and need medical care today.

Once the system is back up, we will need to prioritise urgent requests, so please hold routine requests for another day.

Please consider one of the alternative options for medical help today. Thank you for your patience.

Pharmacies can now help you with more common conditions than ever before, including medication without a prescription or needing to see a GP first.

Here’s what you get help with:

Earache/ear infections (aged 1-17)
Impetigo/skin infections (1 year +)
Infected insect bites (1 year +)
Shingles (Aged 18+)
Sinusitis (Aged 12+)
Sore throats (5 years +)
Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections, or UTIs (Women aged 16-64)

Over 10,000 pharmacies – 95% of all those in England – have signed up.

Remember, you don’t need an appointment. You can visit any Pharmacy, and they are often open when we are closed, especially over Bank Holidays and weekends.

Find a Pharmacy

For more medical help when the practice is closed, you can use NHS 111.

By visiting 111.NHS.uk or by calling 111, you can:

Get help and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Check your symptoms and get advice on conditions and medication.
Find self-help resources and links.
Find out what services are available near you.
Be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist, or GP.
Get a face-to-face appointment if you need one.

You should only ever call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency if it is a life-threatening situation.

Go to 111.nhs.uk

Ponteland Road Urgent Treatment Centre in Cowgate is a Nurse-led unit for patients with minor illnesses and injuries. No appointment is needed; you can turn up and wait to be treated.

Ponteland Road Urgent Treatment Centre