This very busy service is available for emergency cases referred by GPs, Ambulance Service and any problems which cannot be managed by your GP Surgery, Out of Hours Service or NHS Direct. Examples of an extreme emergency are; an injury or illness that is acute and poses immediate risk to a person’s life or long-term health such as suspected broken bones, road traffic accidents, severe wounds requiring stitching, suspected heart attacks and other life threatening conditions.
To help the NHS manage resources properly, please do not use A&E unless it is for an emergency. Your GP Surgery or Out of Hours Service can deal with any problems that are non-emergency including minor ailments such as bumps and bruises, bites and stings, cuts and grazes etc. You will be seen much more quickly than if you go to A&E.
Please ring the surgery telephone number first and we will advise you that you should go to A&E or we will ask you to come to the Surgery or go to Out of Hours Service to be treated by the doctors and nurses who are all qualified to treat minor injuries.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.