The NHS Digital Weight Management programme offers free, online access to weight management services for those who have a BMI greater than 30 and who also have diabetes or high blood pressure, or both. The BMI threshold will be lower at 27.5 for people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, as we know people from these ethnic backgrounds are at an increased risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI.
The programme is an accessible and onvenient way to help you develop healthier eating habits, be more active and lose weight. You will only be able to access this programme if you have a smartphone or computer with internet access.
More information is available in the attached leaflet. If you wish to be referred to the service please complete complete an e-consultation and ask for "administrative help" and request a referral. If you have any queries about the referral of the programme please book a telephone appointment with a Practice Nurse.
Our mass vaccination clinic allow us to vaccinate large numbers of people in a controlled and socially-distanced way. To keep these clinics running smoothly and safely it is vital that patients come prepared. So please note the following points about how these clinics will run.
- Please check our website prior to setting off. Any last-minute notices will be posted on the home page.
- Only patients with a booked flu vaccination appointment should attend. Vacination is by appointment only.
- Please wear a face covering in line with current guidelines unless you are exempt
- Please arrive at your appointment time - not early or late.
- You will be met at the entrance by a member of staff and will wait outside until we are ready for you.
- The handwash sinks will not be in use on the day, instead hand gel will be provided and can be used on entry and exit
- Our reception desk will not be in use. On entry there will be a table on your left with staff on hand to check you in.
- A one-way system around the waiting room will be in operation, with social-distancing signage in place while you wait for your vaccination.
- If you have a similar appointment time to your spouse/partner you can stay together and be vaccinated at the same time.
- It is really important that you dress appropriately for your vaccination. You will need to easily bare your upper arm for vaccination. We cannot vaccinate through clothing.
- You will be called forward to a vaccination station to receive your vaccination.Your flu vaccine will be given into your upper arm so that needs to be uncovered ready for vaccination before you reach the vaccination station
- There is no need to wait in the surgery after your vaccination.
- Staff will direct you to ensure social distancing on exit from the building.
All staff will be wearing appropriate PPE and we will be closely following the guidelines provided by NHS England.
It is important to note that whereas traditional flu vaccination clinics are held behind closed doors in a consulting room the mass vaccination clinics will be held within the waiting room and if you are not comfortable with that arrangement please book an alternative clinic appointment. If you have a history of fainting when being vaccinated or you know you can't stand in a queue for example then consider an alternate clinic.
Our team will be working hard all day to deliver a safe and speedy vaccination clinic with minimal queuing. While we have planned the clinics as best we can we appreciate your patience if there are any unforeseen hold-ups on the day. Our previous mass vaccination clinics have run very efficiently with patients typically entering and exiting the building in under two minutes.
Sometimes when you or your family are unwell, you may not need to make an appointment to see your GP (family doctor). Your local community pharmacist is a trained medical professional who can provide free advice on the best treatment for a wide range of illnesses and minor ailments.
As well as free medical advice, your local community pharmacy can now also provide free medication for some illnesses and minor ailments under a scheme called Think Pharmacy First. Think Pharmacy First allows people who receive free prescriptions to go straight to their pharmacist to receive treatment without needing to visit their GP to get a prescription first.
The scheme is available to adults who are entitled to free prescriptions on the grounds of low income and their children along with all people aged 60 or over.
Burn Brae Medical Group is delighted to collaborate with Tyne Green Parkrun and become an official ‘Parkrun practice’. We hope that many of our patients alongside our staff will get involved with this fantastic weekly event - whether you run, jog, walk, push a buggy or help to marshal.
The event is held every Saturday at 9am at Tyne Green in Hexham. If you optionally sign up online you will be able to print off a barcode to log your time and track your progress.
After many years of faithful service we have taken the decision to retire our repeat prescription line. There are a few reasons for this, most notably because a significant proportion of our patients now make their requests online. We will still continue to take requests for repeat prescriptions by phone, but instead of phoning a dedicated number between set times, you can now simply phone the main surgery number on 01434 603627. It would be best to phone after 10am to avoid our busiest time of day. We do prefer requests to come via our online system, if you wish to sign up just ask a member of the reception team. Many thanks.
A routine urine dipstick test has shown there to be red blood cells in your urine, although this is not seen with the naked eye.
This could be due to a urinary infection and can easily be treated with antibiotics. Your urine will be sent to the lab to check for an infection. These results will be back within 5 days. Please ring the surgery and reception will be able to tell you the results.
The presence of red blood cells in 2 out of 3 urine samples would indicate haematuria.
Haematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. Blood can come from any part of the urinary tract. This includes the kidneys, urethra, bladder and prostate in men. This may need further investigation to find the cause of the blood in the urine.
Please bring in 2 further urine samples in a WHITE top bottle (available from reception) at least two weeks apart. Please ensure sample bottles are clearly labelled with full name and date of birth. Strenuous activity such as long distance running and heavy lifting is a normal cause for blood in the urine. Please leave 3-4 days after strenuous activity before submitting a sample.
Please ring for the results the following day and a message will be left for you to either bring in a 3rd sample or the see your GP.
The Practice has invested in a new machine for the waiting room. It automatically measures your height and weight and then calculates your Body Mass Index (BMI).
