North Tyneside is a general hospital with inpatient wards, a full range of diagnostic testing, outpatient clinics covering a range of specialties, as well as facilities for care of the elderly.

It has an urgent treatment centre – part of a GP-led urgent care service, which cares for patients with minor injuries and ailments 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please note that walk-in access is only available from 8am until midnight, but you can make an appointment any time day or night by calling NHS 111.

There is a GP phlebotomy service for patients requiring blood tests, with directions here. Opening hours are 8am until 12pm, Monday to Friday as a drop-in session.

Visitor guidance

The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients, communities and staff remain our overall priority. We will keep visiting arrangements under regular review to support this.

 

Emergency Department (ED) and Urgent Treatment Centres

One relative or friend can accompany each patient.

 

Adult inpatient wards (except for elective orthopaedics)

Visiting is between the hours of 10am and 8pm.

Please help us keep everyone as safe as possible:

  • If you can, please book before visiting by contacting the ward.
  • Protected mealtimes are in place on all wards. This is so patients have a dedicated mealtime, free from interruptions. Relatives helping with feeding can be an exception. Please arrange this with the ward manager/nurse in charge.
  • Only two visitors can be at a bedside at any one time. Exceptions are at the discretion of the ward manager / nurse in charge. This would include patients having end-of-life care. Another example is patients with carers who help them with everyday activities. All visiting requirements are considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Each ward has a maximum number of visiting slots available each hour. This is in line with safe hospital ventilation standards.

If you would like children under 10 to visit, please talk to the ward manager / nurse in charge.

Our staff may refuse entry to visitors or manage visitor numbers. This could happen if an area becomes overcrowded. Wards may introduce specific and enhanced infection prevention measures.

 

Visiting people with mental health conditions, dementia and/or delirium, learning disabilities and/or autism

We will continue to make reasonable adjustments, so people can stay in touch with their loved ones.

 

Elective orthopaedics

Special visiting arrangements are in place for elective orthopaedic wards. Please discuss with the admitting team.

 

Paediatrics

Parents/legal guardians can visit throughout the day on the Children’s Unit. One parent/carer can stay overnight.

Siblings and grandparents can visit during the day between 8am and 10pm.

 

Guidance for all visitors

Wash or gel your hands when entering and leaving our hospitals. Do the same when entering and leaving wards, bays or side rooms.

Please do not visit if you have been unwell or have signs of a cough or cold. Wait for 48 hours after diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms before visiting. If you are unsure, please contact us to see if it is safe for you to visit.

Please do not bring in food for patients. If not possible, staff will advise on how to store and dispose of food.

You may need to leave a bedside or ward if staff ask you to. We would ask that you are respectful of other patients during your visit.

To help prevent infections, please do not sit on the bed during visits. Please do not touch equipment.

We welcome service dogs that support a visitor to attend.

North Tyneside General is situated on the A191 approximately 8 miles east of Newcastle.

By road

Address: Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH.

From the A19 Northbound. Go through the Tyne Tunnel (toll) and leave the A19 after 2 miles, to join the A191 toward North Shields and Tynemouth. Continue over the next 5 roundabouts and at the 6th turn right.

From the A19 Southbound. Follow A19 Southbound and join the A191 toward North Shields and Tynemouth. Continue over the next 5 roundabouts and at the 6th turn right.

By bus

For up to date bus information, please visit the Traveline website

By rail

The closest railway station is Newcastle Central Station. Check The Trainline website for timetables of all services.

Dedicated car service

If you are a relative visiting from Berwick, we have a dedicated free daily car service to and from North Tyneside General Hospital which arrives for visiting times. To book call 01289 356664 or 07774 788627.

Charges

  • 0-20mins = Free*

  • 20mins-1 hour = £2

  • 1-2 hours = £3

  • 2-3 hours = £4

  • 3-4 hours = £5

  • 24 hours = £6

As it is pay and display, please make sure that you bring change with you and leave plenty of time to find a space.

Please take a ticket to raise the barrier to gain entry to the car park. You will then use this ticket to pay at a pay station before leaving. The payment machines take coins and notes, as well as credit and debit cards.

There are free lay-bys for pick-ups or drops offs or for those picking up a prescription at the pharmacy (maximum stay 20 minutes).

Please note that the traffic flow in this car park is a partial one way system.

Disabled parking

There are a number of designated free parking bays reserved for disabled drivers displaying a valid blue badge permit.

Concessionary car parking

We offer free car parking under certain circumstances for patients or their visitors. This includes those patients attending regularly over an extended period, visitors of long-stay patients and those who are staying in the hospital with patients. This list is not exhaustive and exemptions are issued by the ward or department manager – please speak to them if you think you may qualify.

Electric vehicle charging

This hospital has an electric vehicle charging point which is free to use for patients and visitors.

Car parking violations

Please note that failure to park in a designated bay or failure to pay for parking may result in you being issued with a civil penalty or infringement notice.

NVS shops and cafes

North Tyneside has a shop by the main entrance run by our Northumbria Volunteer Service (Harry’s Café). This sells, hot food, sandwiches, drinks and snacks and newspapers. There is also a coffee shop with a seating area.

Opening times are:

Monday to Friday 8.30am – 4pm  

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available in this hospital – just choose NHS Wi-Fi on your smart device and follow the registration process to gain access.

Bedside entertainment

All wards have bedside telephones and televisions operated by Hospedia for which there is a charge. Pay stations are on every level.