A Statement of Fitness to Work is commonly known as a 'Fit note' or Med3 form. This has replaced the previously named 'sick note' so many people still refer to it as a 'sick note'.

Doing the right kind of work is good for your health, including if you have a health condition You don't always need to be fully recovered to go back to work, and in fact it can often help your recovery. Your fit note can help you go back to work when you're able to.

Your doctor will not automatically assess that you are not fit for work if you have a health condition. Instead, they will discuss with you how your health affects what you can do at work. They will think about your fitness for work in general rather than just your current job.

You should ask your doctor to give you practical advice in the fit note about what you can do at work, rather than simply record your health condition. You should then discuss this advice with your employer, to see if they can make any changes to help you return to work.

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Off work for less than seven days?
You do not need a Fit Note if you are off sick for seven calendar days or less, because you can self-certify your leave for this time. Your employer should not ask you for any medical evidence for this.

Employers
This government webpage makes this clear for employers

Employees
This government webpage includes an SC2 form which can be used for self-certification

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Rules of a fit note
You should get a fit note from the healthcare professional who is treating you during your period of sickness. If you are receiving hospital treatment you should ask your hospital team to issue a fit note for you.

Duplicate fit notes can be issued if an original has been lost.

There are two options on a Fit note. A healthcare professional may assess you as being 'not fit to work', or may tick the box 'may be fit to work' - in which case they can provide you and your employer with advice that may help you to stay in/return to work e.g. altered hours, amended duties, workplace adaptations, or a phased return to work.

Fit notes can be issued as a printed paper copy and collected from the surgery, or they can be sent as a digital copy attached to a text message or email. Please let us know your preference for receiving it when you request it.

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How to request a Fit note
You can request a Fit note during a GP consultation.

Otherwise, you can request one by speaking to a receptionist. If it is a request for an extension of a previous Fit note, you may not need to speak to a GP about it and the Receptionist will send a message to the GP on your behalf. If it is a new request, you will need a consultation with a GP. Fit notes can be back-dated if necessary, so it is not urgent for you to be fitted in for a GP consultation if there are no appointments available on the same day.

You can also request a Fit note via e-consult - click on the 'I want administrative help' button at the start of the process and you will be asked for more details about your request. (See the e-consultation section of the website for more details.)

How to request a Fit note
You can request a Fit note during a GP consultation.

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There is more information and guidance for employees on this government website >>

Practice Area
Please use the this address checker to see if your address is inside our practice boundary.

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How to register
If you wish to register with the practice, you can do this in person at Reception, or online.

You do not need to know your NHS number in order to register (but it can save time if you have it).

Register in person
To save you time, here is a link to a full set of registration forms which you can download, print off and fill in before coming in, if you prefer.

Register online
You can register with us online here>>.

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No ID documents? No problem
We are proud to be part of the Doctors of the World Safe Surgeries Network.

Anyone in the UK is entitled to register with a GP surgery and receive primary healthcare free of charge on the NHS. You do NOT need to have formal ID documents or proof of address to register with our surgery.

You have the right to register with us regardless of your immigration status. We will never ask to see immigration documents.

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Newly Registered?
You may consult any of the doctors and nurses at the surgery, as you are registered with the practice and not an individual partner. You will, however, be allocated a nominal partner on registration but this is for administrative purposes only. We encourage you however to remain with a particular Doctor or Nurse for any ongoing problem, as this helps continuity of care.

Please give the Receptionists full details of any change of name, address or telephone number for you or for any member of your family.

If you move from the practice area (see map) we will have to ask you to register with an alternative practice covering your new residential area.

If you have a significant past medical history you may be requested to have an initial health check with the practice nurses and an appointment time will be arranged for this. This is a good opportunity for us to meet you and find out about any medical problems before your notes arrive from your last practice.

We welcome feedback about our service and are always open to hearing ways in which we can improve.

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Friends and Family Test
The NHS Friends and Family Test is a simple, anonymous way for patients to give feedback after receiving care or treatment. It is used across the NHS to gather feedback. Go here to give us your feedback >>

Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Please ask to speak to our practice manager if you would like to join our Patient Participation Group

NHS 111

If you have a medical or mental health emergency, call 999 and ask for an ambulance. This is if someone is seriously ill or injured and you need emergency medical attention.

Otherwise, if you feel that your health problem cannot wait until the GP practice is next open and you need medical help right now, you can use the NHS 111 service for advice. NHS 111 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To access the 111 service, you can ring 111 (free from a mobile phone or landline) or you can visit NHS 111 online here: 111.nhs.uk

The online service is for people aged 5 and over.

If you have difficulties using the 111 service due to a hearing impairment, this webpage has details about how they can help

If you need an interpreter when speaking to NHS 111, ring 111 and then say 'Interpreter'.

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Walk-In Centres/Urgent Treatment Centres
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs), otherwise known as Walk-In Centres (WICs) provide urgent medical help when it is not a life-threatening emergency. They are open at least 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Appointments can be booked at UTCs via NHS 111 or you can walk in without an appointment. They will see patients of all ages.

Here is some more information >>

The nearest UTCs to Cruddas Park and Hillsview Surgeries are:
Ponteland Road Urgent Treatment Centre - open 8am-10pm, 7 days a week
Molineux Urgent Treatment Centre - open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week

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Pharmacy First
Community pharmacists are now able to diagnose certain conditions which you previously may have needed to see a GP for. They can provide you with immediate treatment or refer you to the most appropriate service. Go here for more information>>

Minor Surgery
We perform a number of minor surgery procedures at the practice and these are carried out by Dr Armstrong. The doctors will be happy to advise you on these procedures.

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Antenatal Clinic
The practice holds regular antenatal clinics. Antenatal care is usually shared between your doctor, the community midwife and the hospital. If you think you may be pregnant book an appointment with your doctor who can organise your antenatal care.

If you are planning a pregnancy you may find this webpage helpful>>

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Cervical Smears
All women between the ages of 25 and 64 years are advised to have a cervical smear every three to five years. If you are due for a smear test please arrange an appointment to see one of our nurses.

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HPV Vaccination
The HPV vaccinations are given in the school setting. The surgery does not carry any doses of the HPV vaccine. Please notify your school nurse if you have any questions regarding the vaccine or if your child has missed a scheduled dose.

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Diabetic Clinic
This clinic will deal with your annual reviews or any problems you may be having with your diabetes.

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NHS Health check
The NHS Health Check Program aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who have not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk factors, and will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk.

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Flu and Covid vaccination clinics
If you are eligible for an influenza or Covid vaccination you will be invited in the autumn of each year. These vaccinations are recommended for at-risk groups. We hold dedicated vaccination clinics in the autumn.

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Physiotherapy clinics
We have a weekly clinic of appointments with a physiotherapist at both sites. The physiotherapist is an expert in assessing muscular and joint problems. You can book directly with them without needing to see a GP first.

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Contraceptive implants and coils
Dr Claire Norman offers insertion and removal of long-acting reversible contraceptives. These are implants (a hormonal rod in your arm), and the hormonal or non-hormonal coil/IUD (small devices which sit in the womb). She also fits the Mirena coil as part of HRT for women under 55. Please contact Reception to be added to the waiting list for a telephone consultation to discuss this if you are interested in these.

This website provides more information about all contraceptive methods and can help you choose what is right for you:

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The Space
The Space is our Mental Health and Wellbeing service, which runs every Friday morning at Cruddas Park Surgery site.

You can book an appointment in this service if you are struggling with any aspect of your mental health.

We aim to create a friendly and welcoming environment at The Space.

We have representatives from various services there, including a GP, our primary care Mental Health team, the local Drug and Alcohol service, housing, benefits support and others - this is to ensure that you are put into contact with the best service suited to your needs going forwards.

Private work
The government's contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work. Sometimes the only reason that GPs are asked is because they are in a position of trust in the community, or because an insurance company or employer wants to be sure that information provided is true and accurate. Reports should be completed and returned within twenty working days from receipt of pre-payment.

The NHS sets out what it will pay GP practices to do and what it will not pay for.

When GPs are asked to do work which is not paid for by the NHS, this takes staff and doctors away from doing NHS work caring for patients. We have to make that time back up, which costs the practice money. To be fair to everyone, we have to pass those charges on to whoever has asked us to do the non-NHS work.

Some non-NHS work can only be done by a doctor e.g. holiday cancellation forms, insurance forms. Please expect a charge for these - you will be informed of this before the work is carried out. These charges are simply to cover our costs for doing this work.

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Pre-payment
Unfortunately in the past we have completed reports and forms before payment has been made, but have sadly found there to be too many occasions when the doctor has given up the time to do the work, but the fee has not been forthcoming. If there is a fee for a private report, the Receptionists will need to collect this before the report or form can be completed. There will be no exceptions to this.

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Passport signing
Your GP is no longer able to do a countersignature for a passport application. The guidance includes a long list of other people whom you can approach to sign these.

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Taxi and HGV medical examinations
Please note we are currently NOT offering these. We can provide a Brief Summary from your medical records free of charge which you can take to a private company for this examination.