Out of Hours Service

Outside normal surgery hours you can still phone your GP practice, but you will be directed to an out-of-hours service. The out-of-hours period is from 18:30 to 08:00 on weekdays and during bank holidays.

NHS services explained

Choosing which service is right for you at a given time may not always be easy –often you have more than one option. Use the checklist below to guide you if you’re not sure where to start.

Call NHS 111 if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation. You can also call NHS 111 if you’re not sure which NHS service you need. The NHS 111 team will assess your condition over the phone and if it is clinically appropriate, they will refer your case to the out-of-hours service. This will then result in either:

• A telephone consultation with a doctor or nurse practitioner
• A face to face appointment to attend a primary care centre to see a doctor or nurse practitioner, or
• A home visit from a doctor or nurse practitioner

Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Ask your local pharmacist for advice – your pharmacist can give you advice for many common minor illnesses, such as diarrhoea, minor infections, headache, travel advice or sore throats.

Make an appointment with your GP if you are feeling unwell and it is not an emergency.

Please do not ask to see a doctor out of hours unless you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens.

Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.