News

Travel Vaccinations Policy

We can only provide vaccinations to patients registered at the surgery.

In order for us to arrange any travel vaccinations available on the NHS for you, you can either:

1. Attend a private travel clinic, they will tell you which vaccinations are needed for the area you are travelling to. You will need to take a printed list of your vaccination history, which we can provide you with. Please bring the written copy of the travel advice recommendations to the surgery.
2. Ask for a printed list of your vaccination history, then visit this website which will advise you on the recommended vaccines for your travel area. Once you have done this, fill in our vaccine form and return it to the surgery.

>> NHS Travel Vaccine Form

If possible, provide us with documentation at least eight weeks before you are due to travel, because some vaccinations need to be given well in advance to allow your body to develop immunity and some involve multiple doses spread over several weeks.

The Practice Nurses will check the information provided and ensure that the vaccines are in stock or arrange a prescription for you, you will then be invited to make an appointment.

Free travel vaccinations (available at the GP surgery)

The following travel vaccinations are available free on the NHS:

• Diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A (including when combined with typhoid or hepatitis B)
• Cholera

These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

The practice will be able to provide these vaccines for you given enough notice. Any forms sent less than 8 weeks from the date of travel will be rejected – you will need to consult a private clinic if there is less than 8 weeks until your date of travel.

Private travel vaccinations (available at a private travel clinic)

You will have to pay for travel vaccinations against:

• Hepatitis B (when not combined with hepatitis A)
• Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis
• Meningococcal meningitis
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccines are only available from designated centres.

The NaTHNaC website can help you find where to get a yellow fever vaccination.

The cost of travel vaccines at private clinics will vary but could be around £50 for each dose of a vaccine. Therefore, if a vaccine requires three doses, the total cost could be around £150.  It’s worth considering this when budgeting for your trip.

Malaria prophylaxis

Drugs for malaria prophylaxis are not prescribable on the NHS. You will have to buy them or pay for a private prescription.

Travel Vaccinations

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations/

Travel Health Checklist

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/travel-health-checklist/

Any forms sent less than 8 weeks from the date of travel will be rejected – you will need to consult a private clinic if there is less than 8 weeks until your date of travel.

Queens Road Surgery is not a specialist travel centre.

Dr Clarke retired as Senior Partner earlier this year, reducing her hours and continuing to work in Women's Health.  After many kind wishes and a fantastic retirement party in the summer, she has decided at the end of 2025 is right time to fully retire after 25 years at Queens Road Surgery. She would like to add the following words to this announcement:

"I would like to express my gratitude to both patients and colleagues alike for their tremendous support and encouragement over the years.  It's been immensely rewarding to have worked it the community I grew up in, truly feeling that I found my place in life. Medicine as a career has been the best. There are so many people who've helped me along the way – anonymous donations of textbooks, work experience and mentorship.  My GP training at Leadgate Surgery, hospital posts around the North East as well as teaching many Newcastle Medical students have been particular highlights and very rewarding.

I've lots of plans to keep me busy but realise I will miss all the roles and people terribly!

Attending Dr John Hamilton's funeral recently reminded me that he qualified as a doctor the year I was born! It seems like only yesterday when he told me that – life is short, and now things have moved full circle.

My appreciation, thanks, and warm wishes to everyone,

Dr Andrea Clarke"

We are now inviting patients to book their COVID-19 vaccination.

• Clinics will run for three weeks in October, starting the week commencing 6th October 2025.
• Vaccinations will take place only at Queens Road Surgery.
• Please note: appointments will not be available at Moorside Branch Surgery.
• Housebound patients will be visited at home by the community nursing team.

If you are eligible, please book your appointment promptly once you receive your invitation.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us protect our community.

We are now inviting patients to book their flu vaccination.

📅 Our first clinic will be held on Saturday 4th October (appointment only).
🗓️ Additional weekday appointments are also available throughout October.

If you are eligible, please contact the surgery on 01207 585890 to arrange your appointment.

Housebound patients will automatically be referred to the community nurses who will vaccinate our housebound patient at home.

Admin Queries only (Open from 8.00am till 6.00pm Monday – Friday)

Changes from 3^rd February 2025

To ensure we do not compromise on clinical safety and to ensure that we can offer more routine appointments, we will only be accepting econsults for administrative queries. Please do not submit an econsult for clinical matters or to request an appointment, as these will not be seen by a clinician and will be returned to you.

How does it work?

Complete a simple form about your administrative query

One of our clerical team will review this

We will respond via email (please check your junk folder)/phone call or text

How do I complete an Administrative Request?

1. If you have an administrative request - select ‘I want administrative help’. Do Not use this for anything clinical as the request will be rejected and you will be directed to recomplete via the clinical route.
2. Confirm your details and that you are not submitting any clinical request via the Administrative process.
3. Select the most appropriate option for your Administrative request.
   1. Discuss a recent test
   2. Sick / Fit notes
   3. GP letter
   4. Medical Report
   5. Medical Examination
   6. Other Requests (this can be used for anything not listed above, such as for updates on documents or paperwork such as referral letters).
4. Complete the relevant questions and reconfirm your details.
5. Submit the form.
6. Wait for a response from our team. You will receive a response within 3 working days.

IMPORTANT: Pharmacy First

Your local pharmacy team are qualified healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills to help with many health concerns. Additionally, community pharmacies are now the first level of treatment for a range of seven common health conditions via the Pharmacy First service, which covers:

• Earache (1-17 years)
• Impetigo (1 year and over)
• Infected insect bite (1 year and over)
• Shingles (18 years and over)
• Sinusitis (12 years and over)
• Sore throat (5 years and over)
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16-64 years)

Please note, clinical queries will not be dealt with via this platform.

An NHS number is a 10-digit number, like 485 777 3456

Your NHS number is unique to you. It helps healthcare staff and service providers identify you correctly and match your details to your health records.

You can find your NHS number online by using the Find your NHS number service.

You can also find it by logging in to:

• the NHS App (you'll need to register if you have not used it before)
• some GP online services

If patients wish to opt themselves out from receiving the national COVID vaccine invites, they can do so via the link below or by calling 119.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/choose-your-covid-19-vaccination-invitation-preference/