When the Surgery is Closed
If you are unwell in the evening, overnight or at the weekend:
Contact the Dorset Out of Hours Medical Service on 0845-600-1013. This service is for urgent medical situations - if you or a member of your family become ill and you are concerned. It is not for routine enquiries, such as booking an appointment with your GP, repeat prescriptions, test results, etc.
When you ring the Dorset Out of Hours Medical Service, your call will go through to the call centre in St Leonards, Dorset. A trained member of staff will answer the telephone and take some details from you. They will pass your details straight over to a doctor or Nurse who will ring you back to ask you more about the problem and, in conjunction with you, will decide the best option for treatment. Depending on the seriousness of your condition this might be:
- Advice over the telephone
- A visit to the local Treatment Centre
- A home visit by a Nurse, doctor or paramedic.
Your local paper will have details of Pharmacies open late on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Boscombe & Springbourne Health Centre:
As from 1 July 2009 a walk-in centre opened running out of Boscombe and Springbourne Health Centre, which provides increased access to GP medical services The Centre is available for pre-booked or urgent walk-in appointments, whether during the daytime, evening or the weekend. It is based in the heart of Boscombe, at 11 Shelley Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 4JQv (telephone number: 01202 727 969) and is open 8.00am until 8.00pm, 7 days a week and 365 days a year providing maximum flexibility. Our patients are welcome to attend the urgent walk-in service during out of hours when the Surgery itself is not open if they feel that they need to be seen urgently, but not necessarily in the A&E Department at the local hospital.
Important
For EMERGENCIES you should continue to attend the Accident & Emergency Department of your local Hospital or dial 999. (An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation and includes things like chest pain or suspected heart attack, head injury, severe loss of blood, severe breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, deep wounds, suspected broken bones).
WHEN SHOULD I CALL AN AMBULANCE OR GO STRAIGHT TO HOSPITAL?
Chest pain where a heart attack is suspected is a reason to call 999. In addition discovery of any unconscious person with no pulse or a patient who has severe difficulty with breathing. Severe injuries (including suspected fractures or suturing) need to be seen at Hospital.
NHS Direct
In the case of urgent need when the practice is closed you can call
NHS Direct (0845 4647) to speak to a triage nurse. Your needs will be assessed and advice offered or arrangements made for you to see a doctor.
Call 999 in an emergency. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.