McKenzie Group Practice

09/09/2026

🚗 Travel reminder for patients

Patients travelling to Victoria Medical Centre and Gladstone House Surgery are advised that temporary road closures and diversions will be in place.

Temporary road closures will be in force from 7.30am, affecting:

Hutton Avenue from the junction with Mulgrave Road
St Paul’s Road
South Road

Traffic management measures will be in place throughout the day, with stewards available to assist motorists and pedestrians.

Access to the South Road area, including the Health Centre, local businesses and residential properties, will be maintained via Thornton Street/Johnson Street under one-way traffic control.

⚠️ Increased traffic congestion is expected between Victoria Road and Grange Road between 11.00am and 11.30am.

Please allow plenty of extra time for your journey and plan ahead to ensure you arrive in good time for your appointment.

Residents are advised to expect significant traffic disruption in the vicinity of the town centre area on Wednesday 9 September due to a large private funeral taking place.

Temporary road closures will be in force from 7.30am, affecting:
- Hutton Avenue from the junction with Mulgrave Road
- St Paul's Road
- South Road

Traffic management measures will be in place throughout the day, with stewards on hand to assist motorists and pedestrians. Access to the South Road area, including the Health Centre, local businesses and residential properties, will be maintained via Thornton Street/ Johnson Street under one way control.

Increased traffic congestion is expected between Victoria Road and Grange Road between 11am and 11.30am. Short-term delays are likely, so motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance, allow extra travel time and, where possible, avoid the area during this period.

Traffic conditions are expected to improve in the early afternoon with road closures due to be lifted and roads reopening once safe to do so.

08/09/2026

08/09/2026

🍂 FREE NHS FLU VACCINATION WALK-IN CLINICS 🍂

Protect yourself this winter by getting your FREE NHS flu vaccination at one of our walk-in clinics at Victoria Medical Centre.

📍 Victoria Medical Centre

💉 Walk-In Clinic Dates
📅 Thursday 1 October 2026, 9:00am to 12:00pm
📅 Friday 2 October 2026, 9:00am to 12:00pm

No appointment needed. Simply come along during clinic times.

Further dates will be advertised at a later date.

📱 Eligible patients will also receive an invitation via text message or NHS App notification with information about the flu vaccination programme and our walk-in clinics.

You can get a free NHS flu vaccine if you:

✅ Are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2027)
✅ Are aged 18 to 64 and have certain long-term health conditions
✅ Are pregnant
✅ Live in a care home
✅ Are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive Carer's Allowance
✅ Live with someone who has a weakened immune system
✅ Are experiencing homelessness or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter

📞 Help us keep in touch!
Please make sure we have your current contact details, especially your mobile phone number, and that you have consented to receive communications from the practice where appropriate.

📲 Download the NHS App and stay connected with your GP practice. Appointment reminders, invitations and healthcare messages can be sent directly to the app, reducing the need for text messages. To make sure you don't miss important updates, please check that NHS App notifications are switched ON, on your mobile device.

ℹ️ For more information about the NHS flu vaccination programme, visit:
🔗 https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/

Together, let's stay well this winter and help protect our communities. 💙

Find out about the flu vaccine for adults, including who should have it, how to get it and side effects.

08/09/2026

📢 Patient Notice

Please be aware that temporary road closures and traffic management measures will be in place around St Joseph's Church on Wednesday 9 September.

Patients attending appointments at Victoria Medical Centre and Gladstone House Surgery are advised to allow extra time for their journey, as traffic delays are expected in the surrounding area throughout the day.

⬇️ Please see Hartlepool Borough Council's post below for full details.

A large private funeral will take place at St Joseph’s Church on Wednesday 9 September. Temporary road closures and traffic management measures will be in place in the surrounding area throughout the day to support the event.

Roads affected by the closures will be closed from 7.30am on Wednesday.

🚧 Road closures will affect:
• Hutton Avenue from the junction with Mulgrave Road
• St Paul’s Road
• South Road from the junction with Mitchell Street

Appropriate traffic management arrangements will be in place to maintain access to the South Road area, including the Health Centre, local businesses and residential properties. Stewards will be available throughout the day to assist.

Residents on Hutton Avenue and St. Paul's Road should note that parking will not be permitted on the road during the closure period. Those affected have been sent a letter detailing the arrangements and advising where alternative parking is available while the restrictions are in place.

Residents on these roads are asked to place their food waste and grey recycling bins out for collection by 7.15am on Wednesday, as collection crews will be operating earlier than usual due to the road closures. Waste and recycling collections on neighbouring roads will take place as normal throughout the day.

⚠️ Any vehicles left on these roads after the closure comes into effect will be removed immediately from the area.

If you are planning to travel in the area on Wednesday, please allow extra time for your journey and follow the advice of traffic management stewards and road signage.

We apologise for any inconvenience these measures may cause and thank everyone for their patience, cooperation and understanding while these arrangements are in place.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

💼 Struggling at Work Due to Your Health? Help is Available 💙

If health issues such as stress, anxiety, back pain, or a long-term condition are making it difficult for you to stay in work or return to work, the WorkWell Programme may be able to help. WorkWell

✅ FREE NHS-funded support
✅ One-to-one coaching
✅ Advice on benefits, housing, and workplace adjustments
✅ Help with confidence, wellbeing, and returning to work
✅ Access to local services, therapies, fitness support, and more

The service is available for people aged 18+ who are:
• At risk of leaving work due to health issues
• Currently absent from work because of health problems
• Looking to return to work after leaving employment within the last 6 months due to health reasons.

📞 01429 523417
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.hartlepool.gov.uk/workwellprogramme

Take the first step towards improving your wellbeing and working future. 💙

03/09/2026

💬 August Friends & Family Feedback - Thank you!
72.7% of feedback rated their overall experience Very Good
9.1% of feedback rated their overall experience Good
0.0% of feedback rated their overall experience Neither Good nor Poor
1.8% of feedback rated their overall experience Poor
10.9% of feedback rated their overall experience Very Poor
5.5% of feedback rated their overall experience Don't Know

Here’s some of the positive feedback we received:
⭐ “Easy and quick”
⭐ “Doctor very supportive and helpful”
⭐ “I recieved very good care the staff are magnificent explained everything to me”
⭐ “The nurse who I seen was amazing, so nice, listened, gave me the time of day, explained everything and made me feel like I’m not over reacting and I am allowed to be a patient. All other receptionists I spoke to were also lovely and very helpful”
⭐ “I was dealt with quickly and given the help I needed”

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share feedback regarding your experience.

02/09/2026

📢 McKenzie Group Practice is recruiting!

We have an exciting opportunity for a Registered Pharmacy Technician to join our friendly and experienced team, working across Hartlepool Health Network.

For further information and to apply, please visit NHS Jobs: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0524-26-0025

28/08/2026

BANK HOLIDAY CLOSURE REMINDER

All McKenzie Group Practice sites will be closed on Monday 31st August for the Bank Holiday.

We will reopen as usual on Tuesday 1st September.

If you need medical help while we are closed:

• Visit NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk
• Call NHS 111 if you cannot access the online service
• Visit your local pharmacy for advice about minor illnesses
• In a life-threatening emergency, call 999 or attend A&E

We hope all our patients have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend.

25/08/2026

🚨 149 appointments missed last week 🚨

During the week commencing 17th August, 149 appointments were missed across our practice because patients did not attend.

Of these, 83 were appointments with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

Every missed appointment is a slot that could have been offered to another patient who needed care.

If your appointment has been pre-booked and you are now feeling better, or you have accessed another service and received treatment, please let us know so we can offer the appointment to someone else.

We completely understand that plans can change, but if you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible.

You can cancel your appointment by:

• Using the NHS App
• Calling the surgery
• Speaking to a member of our reception team in person

With demand remaining extremely high, we ask all patients to help us make the best use of the appointments available. If you no longer need your appointment, please cancel it. Thank you for your support.