Contacting
a GP
OUT OF HOURS
OUT OF
HOURS NUMBER
0845 609 0669
How to contact a doctor when your surgery is closed
When
should I use the service?
If you become unwell after the surgery has closed and
you are concerned, you should contact the Out of Hours Service, but please
remember that this service is for use in urgent situations only.
If your problem is not an urgent one, please contact your own surgery when
it is next open.
How
do I contact a doctor when the surgery is closed?
There are two ways to contact the Out of Hours GP Service.
You
must always telephone before attending the Centre.
This is because doctors are not always on site, and you will need to make
an appointment to be seen.
What
will happen when I ring the service?
When you ring a trained nurse will answer the telephone
and take some details from you.
She will ask you about the problem and, with you, decide the best option for
you.
1.
A telephone consultation: This is often the most effective
solution to a minor medical problem and the nurse is highly skilled at providing
clinically appropriate advice. This is generally the most rapid and
convenient solution for patients who are concerned about their medical problem.
2. Attend a Primary Care Centre: Patients who need
to be seen by a doctor will be invited to attend the Primary Care Centre.
This is best for you since all the facilitiesare on site and the centres are
fully equipped. You will be given the choice of which centre to attend
for your own convenience.
3. Have a home visit: Patients who need a home visit
will be prioritised depending on their clinical need and the visit undertaken
by the doctor as quickly as possible.
At very busy times, when all the nurses are taking calls from other patients, your call may be taken by a receptionist or healthcare assistant. Where this is the case, they will take your personal detials and get a nurse to call you back within 30 minutes.
Have
I contacted the right type of help?
If after a telephone assessment the
nurse feels your medical problem is an emergency, she will contact the Ambulance
Service on your behalf and request a 999 Emergency Ambulance response.
If you require simple non-urgent medical information, you can contact NHS
Direct 24hours a day.
The number is 0845 4647, or you can visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Trained nurses can provide you with expert health advice and reassurance at
any time of the day or night.
What
happens if I feel better, or worse? Can I call the service back?
If your condition changes after an initial
consultation you can take the following action:
1.
If you decide you feel better and no longer wish to attend the centre or have
a GP home visit, it is important that you contact the Out of Hours Service
again so they can cancel your visit.
This also applies if you change your mind about which centre to attend. by
letting the service know of any changes, we can provide the best possible
service to the community.
2. If your medical problem gets worse before the visit, it is important that you ring 0845 6090669 again so the nurse can re-assess your condition appropriately and consider whether you require more urgent assistance.
What
do I do when my centre is closed?
During the night,
patients will be invited to visit other centres or where they have a medical
need, doctors will continue to visit them in their home.
OUT OF HOURS NUMBER
0845 609 0669
Primary Care Centres
Worcester Primary Care
Centre Malvern
Primary Care Centre
Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Malvern Community Hospital
Newtown R
Lansdowne Crescent
Worcester WR5 1DD
Malvern WR14 2AW
(closes at 11pm)
Wyre
Forest Primary Care Centre
Redditch
Primary Care Centre
Kidderminster General Hospital
The Alexandra Hospital
Bewdley Road
Woodrow Drive
Kidderminster DY11 6RJ
Redditch B98 7UB
Bromsgrove
Primary Care Centre
Princess of Wales Community Hospital
Stourbridge Road
Bromsgrove B61 0BB
(closes at 11pm)
For further information, contact
Worcestershire GP Emergency Service
Isaac Maddox House, Shrubb Hill Road
Worcester WR4 9RW
Tel 01905 760239
JFL