Out-of-Hours

The surgery telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8.00am until 6.00pm.

The out-of-hours period is from 6.00pm to 8am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.

If you require urgent medical assistance which cannot wait until the surgery re-opens you should call 111.

If you have a life-threatening medical emergency, please dial 999.

NHS 111

NHS 111 makes it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. It is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

Get help online or on the phone

To get help from NHS 111, you can:

• go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
• call 111

If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, you can:

• call 18001 111 on a textphone
• use the NHS 111 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you’re deaf and want to use the phone service

When to use it

You should contact NHS 111 if:

• you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
• you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
• you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
• you need health information or reassurance about what to do next

For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist in the usual way. If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call when you are concerned about your condition, continue to use that number. For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.

How NHS 111 works

You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone.

You can ask for a translator if you need one.

Depending on the situation you’ll:

• find out what local service can help you
• be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
• get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
• be told how to get any medicine you need
• get self-care advice

If NHS 111 advisers think you need an ambulance, they will immediately arrange for one to be sent to you.

Calls to the NHS 111 phone service are recorded. A record is kept of all contact with NHS 111 and stored securely by the NHS. This information is only shared with others directly involved with your care.

For further information please visit www.nhs.uk.