Video Group Consultations Pilot
Do you have a long term condition such as diabetes, COPD or hypertension (high blood pressure)?
Are you finding it difficult to keep to healthy living advice that you have been given in the past, and want more support for this?
Do you have access to a computer or iPad /digital tablet? And an email address? (Either your own, or a supportive family member)
If the answer is YES to the above questions, please read on…
The GP Practices in East Gateshead (Crowhall, Longrigg, St Albans and Pelaw surgeries) are excited to be setting up Video Group Consultations to support patients with long term conditions and help them manage these and overall health.
Pilot groups have started, and we are looking to recruit more patients to be involved.
While we recognise that this type of clinic may not suit everybody, we are keen to encourage long term condition patients who have an email address and are able to use some sort of technology i.e. digital tablet or computer) to give it a go. If you are a carer or close family member of someone with a long term condition, you can join the Group Consultation together.
Long term condition patients will still need to come to the surgery as usual, for your planned health check and blood test with the Health Care Assistant. Following this, you will have a Phone appointment with the Practice Nurse, to discuss your test results and your medication. The nurse can then either offer your brief support about Healthy Living, or arrange for you to try out a Video Group session. The benefits of the Video Group sessions are that they are able to give much greater support around Healthy Living choices for you, along with sharing your concerns with other long term condition patients.
The sessions will also be open to anyone who have already had their yearly reviews done with the nurse.
If you are interested, then the VGC team will get in contact to discuss this further and send an invitation via email. You would also be sent a Consent Form, regarding information sharing and confidentiality.
The sessions are run in small groups (eg 6-10 patients). We also have other staff to help with technology, and organisation. This will include 1 of our Community Link Workers (Moira Underwood or Sandra Heron) who are experienced with running groups, and they also have a good knowledge of resources, activities and services within the local community. There will also be an administrative staff member.
Other practices in the UK have been doing VCGs for quite a while now, and find that many patients really enjoy them, as well as them being a good way to look after their long term conditions and general health.
As with all new services, we are keen to hear feedback, so that we can keep improving the health services that we are offering. And in the future, we may run sessions which incorporate the full nurse review with the Healthy Living advice. If you are interested in taking part please call the surgery or email
ngccg.a85009@nhs.netThank you,
The East Gateshead PCN Practices.
Gateshead East Primary Care Network (PCN) comprises Longrigg, St Albans, Crowhall and Pelaw GP Surgeries
Video Consultations FAQ
CQC Inspection 2022
We are delighted to report we were recently inspected by CQC in April of this year and have been awarded a 'Good' rating.
The full report will be able to view as soon as this is made available.
Updated Non-NHS Private Fees
If you request work that is not provided for under the terms of the NHS Primary Care Services contract, your GP may be happy to undertake such work for you, but, as this is a private service, you will incur a charge for completion of your request. Our priority is NHS work. Non-NHS work is charged in line with British Medical Association Guidelines.
The NHS provides most health care free of charge. However there are a number of other services for which fees can be charged. These are mainly for services not covered by the NHS, such as medical reports for insurance companies, letters in support of benefits and letters alike.
Practice Non-NHS Fees