If you want to make an appointment with a doctor of nurse, please phone the main surgery number and speak to a receptionist. We aim to offer an appointment with a GP as soon as is appropriate – not all problems need to be seen quickly. This should enable us to see urgent problems within 24 hours.

For an urgent appointment on the same day, please ring as early as possible.

You can make an appointment with a nurse without seeing a doctor first. We offer a range of appointment times with our doctors from 7.00 in the morning to 6.00pm in the evening. Appointments with nursing team are from 7am to 7.30pm.

Please note – not all our nurses have the same skills, so you MUST check that you have the right nurse for the job - and the right appointment length.

Sometimes you may want to speak to a doctor or nurse about something but do not need to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment.

If you would like to talk to someone over the phone, you can contact reception, who will take your number and arrange a suitable time.

One of the doctors offers a “telephone surgery” each morning. All telephone calls are recorded for your protection and ours.

Patients of Wellspring Medical Practice can now see an NHS GP by video using Livi. Get medical advice, prescriptions and referrals on the same day – both on weekdays and at weekends. The service is provided free on the NHS.

You can download the Livi app to your mobile phone or tablet, at the App Store or Google Play. Or visit www.livi.co.uk for more information.

Livi GPs are all GMC-registered NHS GPS, who (with your consent) will be able to access your medical records and give you a considered, in-depth diagnosis based on your medical history.

Get the Livi app here: https://bit.ly/3e7Uir5​

The doctor or nurse can visit patients who are seriously ill or who cannot leave the house. If you need a home visit, it is best to phone the surgery before 10am.

Where possible, the doctor will speak to the patient over the phone before visiting or arranging for a district nurse to see the patient.

Do please try to come to the surgery if at all possible (a doctor can see 3-5 patients at the surgery in the time it takes him/her to visit one patient at home).

It is important that you inform the reception staff if you are unable to attend your appointment, this will allow that appointment to be offered to another patient. If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

You can also complete our appointment cancellation notification request form. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance. (excluding weekends and public holidays). You can also text to cancel your appointment.

Missed appointments cost the NHS thousands of pounds every year!

We have a texting service which allows you to receive confirmation and reminders about your appointments.

To have this service you will need to register by completing a consent form.

Please remember to update your contact details with us when you change address, telephone numbers and email address.

Please attend your appointment on time, if you are late you may not be seen. If you are not seen you will not be able to rearrange your appointment until the next working day-except in the event of an medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

If you require an interpreter to attend with you when you see your Doctor please notify the receptionist and she will arrange this for you.

Our GPs also work sessions at the HUB in Longbenton. This is a co-operative venture between all the GP practices in our area and is based at the Oxford Centre in Longbenton.

Appointments are available in the early evening, on Saturdays and on bank holidays. You can book in via our reception team and can see any GP from any of the contributing practices at a time to suit you.

Doctors and nurses at this surgery help to teach medical and nursing students from both the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria. We do this because we believe it is important to train the doctors and nurses of the next generation as well as possible – they learn how to interact with patients by watching others and by having the chance to practice under close and expert supervision.

You may occasionally be asked if a student can sit in at your consultation. If you are not happy with this, please say so – it is your choice if you wish to be seen alone.