Fishergate Hill Surgery

23/03/2026

Reception Update
Due to staff illness our reception team is short staffed today. Please use our online form where possible:
https://accurx.nhs.uk/patient-initiated/p81169⁠
📞 Please only phone if your request is urgent or you cannot access the form.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Contact us about your request

20/03/2026

We have been informed of a medicine recall affecting one batch of Ramipril 5mg capsules manufactured by Crescent Pharma.
👉 Batch number affected: GR164099
👉 Expiry date: October 2026
Some packs may contain the wrong medication (Amlodipine tablets) instead of Ramipril capsules.

If you take Ramipril 5mg capsules:
✔️ Check the batch number on the box
✔️ Check the contents inside the pack

If your box contains Ramipril - no action is required.
If your pack contains Amlodipine instead of Ramipril - Please contact your pharmacy as soon as possible.

Both medicines treat blood pressure, but taking the wrong one may cause dizziness or light-headedness.

👉 If you feel unwell, please seek medical advice.

20/03/2026

We are aware of recent national reports of Meningitis B in the Kent area.

At present, there is no impact in our local area, and we are awaiting official guidance. We will keep our patients updated if anything changes.

Common symptoms to look out for include:
• Fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light
• Drowsiness or confusion
• A rash that does not fade when pressed (this may not always appear)

03/03/2026

Patient Notice:

The surgery will be closed for staff training from 1pm on Tuesday 10th March 2026. We will re open at 8am Wednesday 11th March 2026.

Please contact 111 for advice.

12/01/2026

⚠️ Planned IT Work – Friday 12pm to 2pm ⚠️

On Friday (16th January), we will be carrying out essential IT work and will temporarily lose internet access between 12:00pm and 2:00pm.

We have a plan in place to minimise disruption, and appointments will go ahead as scheduled in this 2 hour period.

Although there shouldn't be, please be aware that there may be some interruption to phone services during this time.

Thank you for your understanding while we carry out this important work to support our services. 💙

07/01/2026

Staying connected matters — for healthcare, family, and everyday life.

As part of the National Databank, we can provide free mobile data SIM cards to members of our community who may be struggling to afford internet access.

Please ask at reception for a form to apply or visit our website at https://www.fishergatehill.nhs.uk/national-databank/

31/12/2025

Wishing all our patients a happy and healthy New Year.

14/11/2025

You may occasionally meet medical students during your visit to the practice. They are an important part of training the next generation of doctors, and we’re proud to support their learning.

What to expect:

👉 Medical students may sit in during your consultation or carry out an initial appointment.

👉 All student activity is fully supervised by a qualified clinician.

👉 Your safety, comfort and quality of care always come first.

If you would prefer not to have a medical student present, just let a member of our team know — it will not affect your care in any way.

Thank you for helping us train future doctors and continue delivering high-quality care to our community.

07/11/2025

November is Men’s health Month, and we want to take the opportunity to tell you about a free NHS health check just for men aged 65 and over.

It’s called Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening, and is a simple scan of your stomach to look for swelling in your aorta. This is the main blood vessel in your body, which gets weaker as you age. An AAA is 6 times more common in men than it is in women, but this simple scan can find it early so it can be monitored or treated if necessary.

When you turn 65 you will be automatically invited to a local NHS clinic for your appointment. If you are over 66 and have never been screened, just call Lancashire and South Cumbria screening service on 0191 445 8747 to book – it’s that easy! 10 minutes could save your life.

Visit www.gatesheadhealth.nhs.uk/services/aaa to find out more.

29/10/2025

📢 Important Update: Online Request Changes

To help us keep everyone safe, we’ve made some changes to how you can submit online requests.

For clinical safety reasons, we’ve had to stop keeping the admin request option open all the time. Since our system provider introduced the routine request option, we’ve noticed that some patients have used it to request medical help, which can be confusing and potentially unsafe if submitted when the surgery is closed.

We’re reported our concerns to the system provider in order to hopefully make the process simpler and clearer for everyone.

👉 In the meantime, all online requests – whether medical or admin – will now only be available during our working hours (8am – 6:30pm, Monday to Friday).

21/10/2025

Your pharmacist can provide treatment or some prescription medicine, if needed, for seven common conditions - without you seeing a GP.

Think pharmacy first and get seen by your local community pharmacy team.

20/10/2025

✨ Happy Diwali! ✨

To all our patients, colleagues, and friends celebrating the Festival of Lights — we wish you joy, good health, and prosperity. May your homes be filled with love, laughter, and the glow of happiness. 🪔

From all of us at Fishergate Hill Surgery, Happy Diwali! 🌟