Out of Hours

When the Surgery is closed

The Practice does close occasionally for mandatory training sessions. On these occasions, we put notices up around the practices in advance to notify our patients and in the event of an emergency, you will be directed to the GP Out of Hours service.

Practice patients who have urgent medical problems that will not wait until normal working hours should ring the Wirral GP Out of Hours Service on 111.

The GP Out of Hours Service, after taking a full history, will either

• Give advice on the telephone
• Arrange to assess the patient either in their home or at a GP base
• Admit the patient directly into hospital

For assessment, treatment and advice for minor injuries and illnesses outside normal opening hours you should visit local Walk-in Centres/Minor Injuries Clinic. These are nurse-led facilities that provide treatment for a range of minor ailments including infection and rashes, emergency contraception and advice, burns and strains, coughs, colds and flu-like symptoms, sore throats and earache, bites and stings, minor cuts and wounds (wound care and dressings), skin complaints (rashes, sunburn, head lice), stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhoea, women’s health problems, and men’s health problems. Suturing and treatment of joint and muscle injuries are services available at the Victoria Central Minor Injuries Unit.

Patients requiring primary care services at weekends and evenings for both routine and urgent problems can attend the All Day Health Centre. Services here are provided by Doctors, Practice Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. Doctors and Practice Nurse appointments can be pre-booked but there is a drop in Nurse Practitioners service whom will refer patients to a Doctor if deemed necessary.  Details of these services are listed below.

NHS DIRECT

NHS Direct operates a 24 hour nurse advice and health information service, providing information on:

What to do if you or your family are feeling ill

• Particular health conditions
• Local healthcare services, such as doctors, dentists or late night opening chemists
• Self-help and support organisations

NHS Direct works in hand with other healthcare services provided by the NHS, helping you to make the right choice to meet your needs.

If you need health information or advice at any time of the day or night,

call NHS Direct on: 0845 4647 or website www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Emergencies

For life-threatening emergencies such as:

• Severe bleeding/Serious Injury
• Collapse or unconsciousness;
• Severe chest pains…

Telephone 999 for an ambulance IMMEDIATELY.