Patient News
Welcome to Murton Medical Group's new website, we hope you will find it informative, useful and we welcome your feedback about it. We will try to keep it up to date as possible with surgery changes such as new patient services available to you, COVID changes, vaccine news and latest news.
Welcome to Murton Medical Group's new website, we hope you will find it informative, useful and we welcome your feedback about it. We will try to keep it up to date as possible with surgery changes such as new patient services available to you, COVID changes, vaccine news and latest news.
Please click the link below to download the NHS App.
Please click the link below to download the NHS App.
GPs are often asked to make Mental Capacity Assessments for patients. These assessments can be requested for a variety of different reasons. As GPs it is an essential part of our role that we are able to perform capacity assessments which relate to decisions regarding medical investigations, treatment and care.
However, capacity assessments relating to overall welfare, finances and property are more complex and outside our expertise. It’s essential that adequate time and attention is dedicated to these assessments. Those carrying out these assessments for legal purposes must be appropriately trained and experienced in this area.
Legal capacity assessments do not fall within the NHS duties of GPs or Psychiatrists. We recommend that such assessments are conducted on a private basis by a Consultant Psychiatrist.
We realise that this may cause some inconvenience, but our priority must be to our core NHS duties.
GPs are often asked to make Mental Capacity Assessments for patients. These assessments can be requested for a variety of different reasons. As GPs it is an essential part of our role that we are able to perform capacity assessments which relate to decisions regarding medical investigations, treatment and care.
However, capacity assessments relating to overall welfare, finances and property are more complex and outside our expertise. It’s essential that adequate time and attention is dedicated to these assessments. Those carrying out these assessments for legal purposes must be appropriately trained and experienced in this area.
Legal capacity assessments do not fall within the NHS duties of GPs or Psychiatrists. We recommend that such assessments are conducted on a private basis by a Consultant Psychiatrist.
We realise that this may cause some inconvenience, but our priority must be to our core NHS duties.
We get lots of requests for “strong painkillers”. It might be for back pain, shoulder pain, or all over body pains. Unfortunately, pain killers don’t exist.
If you have persistent or chronic pain (this is pain you have had for more that 3 months) we know that they are even less likely to work and are more likely to cause you more harm than good
This video is really good at explaining pain. As strange as it sounds, the pain in your back, shoulder or just-all-over is coming from your brain and not where it hurts.
Over the past few years it has become clear that medications like codeine, tramadol, morphine and oxycodone are not safe or effective ways to manage persistent pain and we want to help you to reduce or even stop them.
These drugs are all highly addictive and affect your brain and in some cases can make make your pain worse as they lower your pain threshold.
There is now a better understanding of the risks of opiates, including:
- reduced fertility
- low sex drive
- irregular periods
- weight gain
- erectile dysfunction in men (the inability to keep an erection)
- reduced ability to fight infection
- increased levels of pain
- dependence (if you use stop taking or lower the dose too quickly you can get symptoms of withdrawal).
- breathing issues (respiratory depression)
- opioid-related deaths.
All of the clincians at Murton Medical Group are working hard to reduce the number people on these medications because we are worried about the harm they can do.
We have already helped lots of people to reduce their opiates and the good news is most of them actually feel better for stopping them.
If you have been taking codeine, tramadol, morphine etc for longer than 3 months please get in touch with us.
If you have been taking painkillers for longer than three months, they are probably no longer working. And, you run the risk of being unintentionally, physically addicted to the medication.
We get lots of requests for “strong painkillers”. It might be for back pain, shoulder pain, or all over body pains. Unfortunately, pain killers don’t exist.
If you have persistent or chronic pain (this is pain you have had for more that 3 months) we know that they are even less likely to work and are more likely to cause you more harm than good
This video is really good at explaining pain. As strange as it sounds, the pain in your back, shoulder or just-all-over is coming from your brain and not where it hurts.
Over the past few years it has become clear that medications like codeine, tramadol, morphine and oxycodone are not safe or effective ways to manage persistent pain and we want to help you to reduce or even stop them.
These drugs are all highly addictive and affect your brain and in some cases can make make your pain worse as they lower your pain threshold.
There is now a better understanding of the risks of opiates, including:
- reduced fertility
- low sex drive
- irregular periods
- weight gain
- erectile dysfunction in men (the inability to keep an erection)
- reduced ability to fight infection
- increased levels of pain
- dependence (if you use stop taking or lower the dose too quickly you can get symptoms of withdrawal).
- breathing issues (respiratory depression)
- opioid-related deaths.
All of the clincians at Murton Medical Group are working hard to reduce the number people on these medications because we are worried about the harm they can do.
We have already helped lots of people to reduce their opiates and the good news is most of them actually feel better for stopping them.
If you have been taking codeine, tramadol, morphine etc for longer than 3 months please get in touch with us.
If you have been taking painkillers for longer than three months, they are probably no longer working. And, you run the risk of being unintentionally, physically addicted to the medication.
We are taking part in a new approach to improve access for patients to GP appointments. The aim is to direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional, which may be a GP or a pharmacist.
From 5.7.2021 if your symptoms could be resolved by a booked consultation with the pharmacist instead of the GP, you will be given a same-day referral to a pharmacy of your choice. We think this is a good thing. Once you see how great your local pharmacist is – they are highly trained and skilled clinicians experienced in treating minor illnesses – we don’t think you’ll look back. This will also help us to free up GP appointments for people with more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional. The service is being operated across all GP practices and pharmacies across County Durham.
We are keen to hear what you think and will be listening to your comments and feedback about your experience of using this service. The service is being operated across all GP practices and pharmacies across County Durham.
What is this new service about?
From 5.7.21 when you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist at your choice of community pharmacy in County Durham.
Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the country.
Why are you doing this?
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you. This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.
What happens when I see the community pharmacist?
We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you. You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video.
You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them. Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records. If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.
What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?
Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.
What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?
We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.
What if the patient is my child?
Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health maybe seen unaccompanied.
Why is this a good thing for patients?
Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you. Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.
We are taking part in a new approach to improve access for patients to GP appointments. The aim is to direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare professional, which may be a GP or a pharmacist.
From 5.7.2021 if your symptoms could be resolved by a booked consultation with the pharmacist instead of the GP, you will be given a same-day referral to a pharmacy of your choice. We think this is a good thing. Once you see how great your local pharmacist is – they are highly trained and skilled clinicians experienced in treating minor illnesses – we don’t think you’ll look back. This will also help us to free up GP appointments for people with more complex health needs and ensure that everyone gets treated at the right time, by the right healthcare professional. The service is being operated across all GP practices and pharmacies across County Durham.
We are keen to hear what you think and will be listening to your comments and feedback about your experience of using this service. The service is being operated across all GP practices and pharmacies across County Durham.
What is this new service about?
From 5.7.21 when you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist at your choice of community pharmacy in County Durham.
Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the country.
Why are you doing this?
Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you. This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.
What happens when I see the community pharmacist?
We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you. You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video.
You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them. Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records. If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.
What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?
Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.
What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?
We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.
What if the patient is my child?
Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health maybe seen unaccompanied.
Why is this a good thing for patients?
Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you. Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped.