Bensham Family Practice

Search
Close this search box.
eConsult

Fill out a simple online form to get advice and treatment by the end of the next working day.

What to do when we are closed

Out of Hours Emergencies

Call 111 when it's less urgent than 999

When the practice is closed, there is an out of hours emergency medical service available at all times. This service is meant for urgent and emergency problems and should not be used to avoid the inconvenience of consulting during the day.  If you need out of hours help, you should telephone 111 which is a free-phone number nationwide. Trained staff located at the call control centre will handle your enquiry.  

On dialling 111 a team of fully trained advisers and experienced nurses will assess your condition and direct you to the local service that can help you best, when you need it. That could be your GP surgery, an out of hours GP, A&E, a local urgent care centre, emergency dentist or a late opening pharmacist.

Remember the Out of Hours Service is for urgent problems only. Please do not contact the service for a second opinion or for anything which can wait until the next working day.

If you have a minor ailment you could visit your local pharmacy who will be able to provide you with some help or signpost you onto the next available service.

In a genuine emergency you should call 999, such as Chest pains and / or shortness of breath, heavy uncontrolled bleeding are examples that constitute an emergency.

Mental Health Crisis?

You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.

Practice Training sessions

There are planned mandatory training afternoons provided for all GP practices in Gateshead throughout the year. On these days the surgery is only open until 12.30pm, after this time you would need to contact 111 for any issue that cannot wait until we reopen the following day at 8am. The training sessions coming up in 2023/2024 are:

Tuesday 11th July 2023

Wednesday 13th September 2023

Tuesday 10th October 2023

Tuesday 21st November 2023

Wednesday 13th March 2024