Skerne Medical Group

07/09/2026

Over-the-Counter and Branded Medicines Policy
Our approach to medicines💊
We want to ensure that medicines are prescribed safely, effectively and fairly, and that NHS resources are used responsibly. Our prescribing decisions are based on clinical need, evidence, safety and national and local prescribing guidance.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines 💊
Many medicines used to treat minor, short-term or self-limiting conditions are available to buy from a pharmacy, supermarket or other retailer. NHS guidance advises that these medicines should not routinely be prescribed on an NHS prescription where they are suitable for self-care.
Examples include treatments for coughs and colds, hay fever, congestion, indigestion, minor pain, mouth ulcers and a range of other common minor conditions.🤧😷🤮
Where appropriate, we will advise you to purchase an OTC medicine and may recommend that you speak to your community pharmacist, who can provide advice about the most appropriate treatment.👩‍🔬🧑‍🔬
There are some circumstances where an OTC medicine may still be prescribed. These can include certain long-term conditions, or more complex illnesses but this would be a clinical decision based on guidelines and not based on patient request.
Being exempt from prescription charges does not automatically mean that an OTC medicine will be prescribed. Your clinician will consider your individual circumstances and clinical needs.
We recognise that the ability to pay for an OTC medicine can be a genuine barrier to accessing healthcare. Where financial circumstances are a significant factor in a decision to prescribe an OTC medicine, we will consider this as part of a wider, holistic assessment of your circumstances. This may include offering or signposting you to appropriate support with benefits, debt, household finances or other sources of financial assistance, rather than viewing the prescription in isolation.
to view our full policy, please visit our practice website website

Skerne Medical Group website by Livi

04/09/2026

Over-the-Counter and Branded Medicines Policy
Our approach to medicines💊
We want to ensure that medicines are prescribed safely, effectively and fairly, and that NHS resources are used responsibly. Our prescribing decisions are based on clinical need, evidence, safety and national and local prescribing guidance.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines 💊
Many medicines used to treat minor, short-term or self-limiting conditions are available to buy from a pharmacy, supermarket or other retailer. NHS guidance advises that these medicines should not routinely be prescribed on an NHS prescription where they are suitable for self-care.

Examples include treatments for coughs and colds, hay fever, congestion, indigestion, minor pain, mouth ulcers and a range of other common minor conditions.🤧😷🤮

Where appropriate, we will advise you to purchase an OTC medicine and may recommend that you speak to your community pharmacist, who can provide advice about the most appropriate treatment.👩‍🔬🧑‍🔬

There are some circumstances where an OTC medicine may still be prescribed. These can include certain long-term conditions, or more complex illnesses but this would be a clinical decision based on guidelines and not based on patient request.

Being exempt from prescription charges does not automatically mean that an OTC medicine will be prescribed. Your clinician will consider your individual circumstances and clinical needs.

We recognise that the ability to pay for an OTC medicine can be a genuine barrier to accessing healthcare. Where financial circumstances are a significant factor in a decision to prescribe an OTC medicine, we will consider this as part of a wider, holistic assessment of your circumstances. This may include offering or signposting you to appropriate support with benefits, debt, household finances or other sources of financial assistance, rather than viewing the prescription in isolation.
to view our full policy, please visit our practice website

Skerne Medical Group website by Livi

03/09/2026

From 1st October we will be running our Spring Booster COVID-19 & Flu Vaccination campaign💉💉
Who is eligible for a COVID -19 Vaccination❓
This is offered to groups who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. This usually includes:
• People aged 75 years and those who turn 75 by 30 June 2026
• Residents in care homes for older adults
• People aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system (immunosuppressed)
Why should I get the booster❓
Protection from previous doses or infections fades over time. Viruses can also change. Getting this extra dose:
• Reduces your risk of getting very poorly
• Helps you recover faster if you do catch it
• Reduces the chance of needing to go into hospital to be looked after
We can also offer you the Flu vaccination, if you are eligible we can give you this at the same time as your COVID vaccination, please indicate when booking your appointment
• People aged 75 years and over
• Residents in care homes for older adults
How to get your vaccination💉
If you are eligible, you can contact us now to book your appointment or use the National Booking service, where you can book your own convenient appointment https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/vaccination-and-booking-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/
What you need to know
Please try to leave at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 dose. If you have any questions
For more details on the vaccine and its benefits, please visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

Book, change or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online.

28/08/2026

THE NURSICORN IS BACK! 🦄

Our very own Nursicorn (Nurse Unicorn!) will be holding our Children’s Flu Clinic at:

📍 Sedgefield Surgery
📅 Saturday 19th September
⏰ 10am–12pm

For the 2026/27 flu season in England, the routine pre-school flu vaccination is offered to children who were aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026. (GOV.UK)

That means your child is eligible if they were born between:

🎂 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2024 (inclusive)

For most children, the flu vaccine is given as a quick and painless nasal spray – no needles needed! It helps protect your child from flu and also helps reduce the spread of flu to family, friends and more vulnerable people in our community. (GOV.UK)

🦄 Our Nursicorn will be ready and waiting to make flu vaccination a little more magical for our youngest patients!

Please contact the surgery for to book your child in or alternatively you can just walk in on the day

28/08/2026

Are you eligible for RSV & Pneumonia vaccinations. Please find more information below and book your appointment with us.

www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/pneumococcal-vaccine/
For more information on the RSV vaccination please visit http://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/rsv-vaccine/

Find out about the RSV vaccine, including who it's for, how to get it and common side effects.

28/08/2026

From 1st September we will be running our Autumn/Winter Flu Vaccination Programme

Who is eligible and should have the Flu vaccination

- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years of age on 31st August, 2026
- All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years of age
- People who are aged 18 - 64 years and have a certain long-term health condition

- You are aged 65 years and over (including those who will be 65 by 31st March, 2027)
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- You live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- You are experiencing homelessness or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter
- Primary school and secondary school-aged children (from reception to year 11) you will receive your vaccination through the school programme

If you are eligible, we will contact you directly by text including a booking link, telephone or by email

What you need to know

www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/

Watch out for information on dates for clinics and walk-in slots

28/08/2026

Did you know you can view messages about your care in the NHS App?
The NHS App is a simple and secure way to receive messages from your trusted health care providers.
Turn on notifications for the NHS App to stay up to date

You can receive secure messages from your healthcare providers in the NHS App. To be alerted, you must enable notifications both in the app and in your device settings. Changes to notification preferences may take up to 24 hours to take effect.

Open the NHS App on your device.
Tap Profile in the app menu.
Select Notifications.
Follow the link provided to your device’s notification settings.
Enable notifications for the NHS App in your device settings.
Repeat these steps on each device where you use the NHS App, as notifications must be enabled per device.
Ensure you are not logged in via the NHS website, as notifications are not sent there.
Avoid installing the NHS App in a private space on Android or hiding it on iOS, as this will stop notifications.
If multiple NHS accounts are used on the same device, note that notifications can only be enabled for one account at a time.

27/08/2026

🎉Cervical Smear Walk-in Clinic
💬Had your reminder but haven't had time to book into an appointment? Pop in during one of our walk-in clinics - it only takes a few minutes and could save your life.
📍 Location: Sedgefield Surgery (Harbinson House)
⏰When:

Thursday 27th August 6:30-7:30pm
Thursday 1st October 6:30-7:30pm

27/08/2026

Reminder!!!

Leaner for Life Weight Management Group
Explore healthy, long term weight management through changing daily habits.
🍏🍇🍓🥕🏋️‍♀️🤸‍♀️🚶‍♀️🚶👩‍🦽‍➡️🧑‍🦽‍➡️♥️👫👭
When: Starting on Thursday 10th September 10am
Where: Dean bank and Ferryhill Literary Institute
Also: starting on 10th September at 1:30pm
Where: Croxdale Community Centre
As well as: 8th September at 6pm
Where: St Pauls Centre, Spennymoor
Who to contact: [email protected] for more details and to book onto any of these courses.

24/08/2026

NHS asks the public to plan ahead and stay safe ahead of the August bank holiday weekend.
People across the North East and North Cumbria are being reminded to plan in advance, stay safe and use the right services ahead of the bank holiday.
Remember to stock up on medicine cabinet essentials, to avoid any unnecessary additional pressure on NHS services ahead of the weekend and Monday 31st, when our GP surgery will be closed.
Plan ahead - stock up your medicine cabinet with essentials such as paracetamol, indigestion tablets, 🩹plasters, and 🧴antiseptic cream, as well as making sure you have enough repeat prescriptions to last over the holiday period -
If you do need medical care and it's not life threatening, contact NHS 111 online or your nearest pharmacy which you can find https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
Both services will refer you for further treatment should you need it.
Enjoy the bank holiday safely – take care when out gardening, tackling DIY or taking part in an outdoor activity, and try and reduce your alcohol intake.
Top tips for healthcare over the bank holidays:
Repeat prescriptions
Order online in plenty of time via your GP Practice website or call them – you need to be registered with your practice for this.
Order through the NHS App – download the app from Google Play or the App store, you can register without having to visit your practice. More information on the NHS App is available on the uk website.
Order in person, at your GP practice.
Be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
Community pharmacists are part of your expert NHS health care team and are excellent at giving lots of advice about self-care and medications to treat common health conditions at home.
Health advice and information is also available via the NHS App or the NHS website, or from your local GP practice website https://www.skernemedical.nhs.uk/ which link to a range of online services.
Minor illness or injury - If you do suffer a minor injury or illness, NHS111 online is a great place to seek advice and can help you reach the right place for your care.
Emergency care - If you or someone else has a life-threatening emergency and require emergency care, you should call 999, or go to your nearest Emergency Department. This includes signs of a heart attack, chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest. Signs of a stroke - face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking and sudden confusion (delirium). Severe difficulty breathing
For Mental Health Crisis please ring NHS111 option 2.
British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.
Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.
Alcohol - If you are concerned about how much you, or someone you know, drinks, there’s lots of help available, including talking to your GP.
You can find your local alcohol support service or contact:
Drinkline freephone: 0300 123 1110
Alcoholics Anonymous: 0845 769 7555

Skerne Medical Group website by Livi