Welcome to our hub for online services available at West Farm Surgery.
Our aim is to make your experiences with our surgery as easy and accessible as possible for faster, safer and more positive outcomes for things like help with existing conditions, booking routine appointments, ordering or querying medications, asking for a doctors letter, requesting fit notes, cancelling appointments, accessing medical records and much more.
We are growing this area and will continue to identify your needs and add more over time.
You can choose from:
Existing Condition
Get help with an ongoing health problem.
You will be asked to:
- Describe your ongoing health problem.
- Provide the name, date and location of the person who last helped you (if known).
- Tell us what your expectations are.
- Let us know of anything you feel is important.
- Fill out basic information so we can identify you with your record.
To get started:
Once we have received your enquiry, we will assess your need and signpost you to the most appropriate service. This ensures you get the help you need at the right time.
Follow Up
Ask about a recent consultation or referral.
You will be asked to:
- Give the date of your last appointment.
- Provide the problem your enquiry relates to.
- Tell us the reason for your enquiry.
- Let us know your desired outcome.
- Fill out basic information so we can identify you with your record.
To get started:
Once we have received your enquiry, we will send it to the most appropriate person for a response and get back to you with an update.
Medication Query
Ask about medication you are taking.
You will be asked to:
- Give the name of the medication you are taking.
- Provide as much detail as possible about your query.
- Fill out basic information so we can identify you with your record.
To get started:
Once we have received your enquiry, we will send it to the most appropriate person for a response and get back to you with an update.
Top Tip: If you are unsure about the name of the medication, you can find this in the NHS App, at your Nominated Pharmacy or on your medication packaging. Alternatively, let us know what the medication is treating you for.
Doctor’s Letter
Also known as To Whom it May Concern (TWIMC), private letter and non-NHS work.
The National Health Service provides most healthcare to the majority of people free of charge, but there are exceptions. Sometimes, GPs are asked to provide additional services which fall outside of their contract and in these circumstances, they are entitled to make a reasonable charge for providing them in line with the cost of their time to complete the work.
You may need to ask for a GP letter for many reasons including (but not limited to):
- Help with getting a Blue Badge
- Supporting a Housing Application
- Letters for school, universities, employers or courts, etc.
To make your request:
You may find a summary of your medical record to be more appropriate if you are just looking a list of your medications, immunisations and/or diagnosed problems. In this case, please use the “All Other Requests” option to tell us what you need.
Please be aware that non-NHS work can take up to 28 days to process after payment and can be delayed further during busy periods. A fee is applicable and you will be notified of the most up to date cost and how to pay once your form has been reviewed and agreed.
Statement of Fitness for Work
Also known as a Fit Note or Sick Note. For Social Security or Statutory Sick Pay.
You may be asked by your employer or benefits provider to get a Fit Note. This is a legal document from a medical professional indicating your fitness for work. This may be needed to show you are:
- not fit for work or
- may be fit for work for a:
- Phased Return
- Amended Duties
- Altered Hours
- Workplace Adaptations.
If you have been off work for less than 7 days, please speak with your employer to self-certify. For more information, please go to: Ask your employer for Statutory Sick Pay – GOV.UK
If you have not had a consultation recently and you would like to ask for a new Fit Note, please call us on 0191 266 2215 Monday to Friday 8.30am – 6pm to make an appropriate appointment.
If you would like to request a Fit Note extension or you have had a consultation with a clinical person recently (face to face or by phone) inside or outside of the surgery, please:
For more information on how Fit Notes work, go to:
Getting a fit note – NHS
Fit note: guidance for patients and employees – GOV.UK
Medication Request
Medication reviews and prescription request. This can include:
- Ordering your authorised Repeat Medication or medication you have had before.
- To safely prescribe, we will need the names of the medications.
- Any changes to your medication like length of supply or formulation.
- Changing your Nominated Pharmacy.
- Get Progesterone only or combined Contraception.
- Request Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
You may be asked to give (where appropriate):
- Delicate or sensitive health questions about your body.
- Latest Blood Pressure, weight or habits etc.
- Standard health questions to enable us to prescribe safely.
To get started:
Once we have received your enquiry, we will send it to the most appropriate person/team for a response and get back to you with an update (if applicable). You can also order medication via your app. We recommend the NHS App. Go to you App Store or visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-app.
Repeat Medication requests take up to 2 working days to process. If you do not have enough medication to cover this time, please call us on 0191 266 2215 as soon as possible.
Due to the number of requests, we will not be able to update you when a prescription has been processed but you may receive updates when you order via an app or from you Nominated Pharmacy.
Test Result
Ask for the results of a recent test.
You will be asked to:
- Let us know what type of test you had e.g. Blood Test, X-ray etc.
- Why you were having the test, where and when.
- What you would like to know and how best to contact you for your privacy.
- Fill out basic information so we can identify you with your record.
To get started:
Once we have received your enquiry, we will send it to the most appropriate person/team for a response and get back to you with an update. You can also see test results via your app. We recommend the NHS App. Go to you App Store or visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-app.
Cancel an Appointment
For appointments at or booked by West Farm Surgery.
If you have an appointment booked at West Farm Surgery or with the Extended Access service at The Oxford Centre, you can use this service to cancel your appointment. Appointments you can cancel include:
- GP / Registrar / PAs / Medical Students / Nurse or Paramedic Practitioners
- Mental Health Nurse / Wellbeing Coach
- First Contact Physio (FCP)
- Practice Nurse / Nurse Associates / Phlebotomist / Health Care Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician / Pharmacist
- Cardiology Nurse
To cancel an appointment:
If you have an appointment booked outside of Primary Care e.g. North Tyneside General Hospital, Freeman Hospital, Xray appointments etc, please contact them directly as we will be unable to see, manage or cancel those appointments. You may find you can do this through the NHS App.
All Other Requests
We are growing this area and will continue to identify your needs and add more over time.
Until then, please use the button below to send us a message of what you would like us to do for you today. This can include (but not limited to):
- Request information from your medical record
- Any other administrative request