Alternatives to A&E

IF YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WE ARE CLOSED PLEASE LOOK AT THE INFORMATION BELOW:

Out of Hours Services

(alternative’s to Accident & Emergency)

 GPs

If you have an urgent medical problem whilst we are closed and you can’t wait until the next working day to see your Doctor, you should call your normal surgery number and an answer-phone message will tell you how to contact the out of hours GP service.

The out of hours GP service is available whenever your GP practice or Health Centre is closed.

Dentists

If you need urgent dental care and are a regular patient of a dental practice please contact your dental surgery and an answer-phone message will give you details of where and when emergency treatment is available.

If you are not a regular patient of a dental practice, telephone:

• The 111 service – telephone lines open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Please note that emergency dental treatment can only be provided for trauma and emergencies. All requests will be assessed over the telephone before an appointment can be arranged.

 Other health services

There are lots of health services available across the district when you are feeling unwell and it is important to contact or visit the right place, at the right time to make sure you get the treatment you need. These are other services that may be able to help you out of normal working hours:

Pharmacy services – your pharmacist (or chemist) is qualified to give health advice and suggest remedies without an appointment for a whole range of illnesses. For example, if you suffer from minor aliments such as coughs, cold, headaches, indigestion, sickness and diarrhoea or heartburn, the pharmacy should be the first place you visit. There will always be a pharmacy open over weekends and Bank Holidays. Your local newspaper or NHS Direct (Tel: 111) will have details. Many common illnesses and minor ailments can be easily treated at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet.

• NHS Direct – this confidential helpline is available 24 hours a day if you are feeling ill and are unsure what to do. Qualified nurses can give you advice and point you to the most appropriate service for your needs. Just call 111

Remember If you’re feeling unwell…………….ring 111

• Call on this free phone number if you have a non-urgent medical query or would like information about any health related issues
  
• What is NHS 111?

NHS 111 is a new free telephone service being introduced nationally to make it easier for people to access local health and social care services when they have an urgent need. In Yorkshire and the Humber, this service will be provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust. It has replaced the NHS Direct telephone service (0845 46 47), and will provide a general number for people to call when their need is urgent but not considered life-threatening (999). For further information please click on the ‘Opening Hours’ tab at the top of the page.

• NHS walk-in centre – for the treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, such as sprains, insect bites, burns, colds and infections. This is located at Burmantofts Health Centre in Leeds 9 near St James Hospital and is open Monday to Sunday 8.00am – 8.00pm. No appointment is necessary; you just need to walk in.

999 ambulance service – emergency ambulances are for people who are seriously ill or injured and need time-critical help. An emergency is a critical or life-threatening condition that may include loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or heavy loss of blood. Calling 999 for an ambulance does not mean that you will be seen quicker when you arrive at A&E. All patients are seen on the basis of medical need.

 You can check also your symptoms online now

We have over 40 health and symptom checkers on the NHS Choices website. View the full list of our health and symptom checkers and get health advice now.

For NHS health A-Z information, common health questions and local NHS service provider information, visit NHS Choices.