Your GP can provide a range of services by appointment, including medical advice, examinations, vaccinations, and prescriptions. An appointment with your GP is the best way to access other NHS services you might need such as talking therapies. If you have an illness or injury that won't go away, then it's best to make an appointment with your GP.

GPs are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week via the out of hours service. You can access this by calling your GP's normal number.

You can book an appointment with your GP to discuss any mental health concerns you may have. They can assess your circumstances and offer appropriate treatment. They can also refer you to further services for more advice or treatment. You can read more about how to access mental health services here.

Talking to a GP about mental health may be difficult, the Mental Health Foundation has created a really great guide on how to speak to your GP about mental health.

If you feel very worried about your mental health or are considering taking your own life, you should talk to someone now, please get in touch with the below services;

• Samaritans 116 123/jo@samaritans.org.uk
• Shout Crisis Text Line 85258
• Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust Crisis Team (for people who are experiencing a Mental Health Crisis) 0303 123 1145
• Click here for more crisis numbers for your local area.

If you need to see a GP in the evening, at weekends, or on bank holidays, the extended access service can help.

Convenient service

• Five handy locations in the Sunderland area, including Houghton and Washington
• Staff can check your GP practice’s records about your health if needed unless you have opted out of record-sharing

Making an appointment

• To make an appointment, contact your GP practice
• If you can’t contact your practice, you can call NHS 111 where advisors will help you get the care you need. This could include making an Extended Access appointment if that is the best option for you.

Appointments available:

Monday - Friday: 6pm - 8:30pm

Weekends: 9am - 5:30pm Bank Holidays: 10am - 2pm

A local Pharmacy can give you advice on common illnesses such as coughs, colds and sore throats and can provide you with the medicines you need to treat them.

If symptoms suggest it's something more serious, pharmacists have the right training to make sure you get the help you need. For example, they will tell you if you need to see a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional.

You can find your nearest Pharmacy here.

You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation. NHS 111 can help when you access local urgent health care services. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also use the NHS 111 website encase you cannot call.

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

Medical emergencies can include:

• loss of consciousness
• an acute confused state
• fits that are not stopping
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions.

Read more about calling 999 on the NHS website.

You can go to an urgent treatment centre if you need urgent medical attention, but it's not a life-threatening situation.

Find your nearest Urgent Care service here. 

Conditions that can be treated at an urgent treatment centre include:

• sprains and strains
• suspected broken limbs
• minor head injuries
• cuts and grazes
• bites and stings
• minor scalds and burns
• ear and throat infections
• skin infections and rashes
• eye problems
• coughs and colds
• high temperature in child and adults
• stomach pain
• being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea
• emergency contraception

To ensure the health and well-being of all students, both new and current, Sunderland University recommends that you are up to date with certain vaccinations before attending. It is important to consider the following vaccinations:

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

Measles, mumps, and rubella are highly contagious diseases that can cause serious complications, including death. The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from these diseases.

Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal disease is a serious infection that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) and septicemia (blood poisoning). The MenACWY vaccine protects against four different strains of meningococcal bacteria.

 Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause cervical cancer, genital warts, and other health problems. The HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from HPV.

 Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause liver damage. The Hepatitis B vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from hepatitis B.

 COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that can spread easily from person to person. The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself from COVID-19.

International Students

If you are an international student planning to study at Sunderland University, it is crucial to have received the MMR and MenACWY vaccines before starting your studies. It is strongly advised to check with your doctor in your home country to ensure that these immunizations are up to date. Residents from certain countries may also be required to obtain a certificate confirming that they are free from infectious Tuberculosis (TB) before applying for a visa. To learn more about tuberculosis tests for visa applicants, please refer to the relevant information provided by your local embassy.

It is recommended that you get your vaccinations before leaving your home country, as there may be costs associated with receiving them in the UK. If you have any evidence of your vaccinations, be sure to bring it with you to Sunderland University.

For more information

For more information on accessing healthcare in the UK, as well as details about meningitis and the MenACWY immunization and MMR immunization, please visit the relevant sections on the NHS website.

Additional Information

In addition to the vaccinations listed above, healthcare students may also be required to receive other vaccinations, depending on their specific program of study. For example, students who will be working with children may be required to receive the varicella vaccine (chickenpox vaccine). Students who will be working with patients who are immunocompromised may be required to receive the influenza vaccine (flu vaccine) every year.

It is important to check with your university or program admission team regarding their specific requirements for vaccinations. They will provide guidance on whether you need to receive any additional vaccines and any additional steps you should take to ensure your immunization status.

These websites provide information about the different types of vaccines, the diseases they protect against, and the risks and benefits of vaccination. They also provide information about where to get vaccinated in the UK.

• NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
• World Health Organization (WHO) website: https://www.who.int/immunization/en/

• Public Health England (PHE) website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
• Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) website: https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/
• Royal College of Nursing (RCN) website: https://www.rcn.org.uk/
• British Medical Association (BMA) website: https://www.bma.org.uk/

In addition to these websites, people can also talk to their doctor or nurse about vaccinations. They can provide personalized advice about the best vaccines for each individual.