Appointments

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday):

  • phone us on 01325 460731, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a Patient Liaison Assistant at reception, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days:

  • use our appointment request form
  • phone us on 01325 460731, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
  • visit the surgery and speak with a Patient Liaison Assistant at reception, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm
  • use your SystmOnline account
  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App) to book a screening test or vaccination

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Your appointment

However you choose to contact us, we may offer you a consultation:

  • by phone
  • face to face at the surgery
  • on a video call
  • by text or email

Appointments by phone, video call or by text or email can be more flexible and often means you get help sooner.

Cancelling or changing an appointment

If you fail to notify the Practice that you are unable to attend, you will be sent a letter informing you that you have defaulted from your appointment. Persistent defaulters maybe removed from the list.

To cancel your appointment:

  • use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App)
  • using the GP online system – SystmOnline
  • phone us on 01325 460731, Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm
  • reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message

You can also email the surgery at Denmark.street@nhs.net. This can only be used if your appointment has been arranged for more than 24 hours in advance (excluding weekends and public holidays).

If you need help when we are closed

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

If you need help with your appointment

Please tell us:

  • if there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond
  • if you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email
  • if you have any other access or communication needs
Interpreters for patients whose first language is not English or those with a sensory or learning disability.

If you have difficulty speaking or understanding English, or have difficulty understanding due to a disability, please attend your appointment with a family member, friend or colleague who will be able to help you.

If you don’t have anybody who can accompany you, please tell our Reception staff when booking your appointment and they will be able to make suitable arrangements for you. You will be allocated an appointment that is longer than the routine 10 minutes.

Home visits

Patients are requested, where possible, to telephone between 8am – 10am if a home visit is required that day.

We would request that, apart from the genuinely housebound, all other patients attend the surgery rather than request a home visit because of the extra time home visiting takes. On average four to five patients can be seen in surgery in the time it takes to do a single house call. In addition, the care that can be offered due to the lack of adequate lighting, examination facilities and equipment means that you may not receive as good a service as the doctor may be able to offer if you came to the surgery.

Please note that the doctor may telephone you rather than visit you if this is medically appropriate. Ultimately it is the doctors right to decide whether or not a visit is appropriate for a particular set of circumstances.

Extended Access

Need to see a GP or Nurse out-of-hours?
There are appointments available on weekends and evenings for all Darlington patients.

Saturday: 8am – 2pm
Sunday: 9am – 1pm
Monday to Thursday evenings: 6.30pm – 9pm
Friday evening: 6.30pm – 8.30pm

Appointments must be pre booked via your own GP practice or by calling NHS 111.

Please note that the appointments are not held at Denmark Street Surgery.