When We Are Closed
Overnight and Weekend care including Public and Bank Holidays.
When the surgery is closed, patients should call the NHS 111 service. This is provided by the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which also provides the GP Out-of-Hours Service. Calls to the NHS 111 service are free from both landlines and mobiles.
Patients should call 111 if:
- It is not a 999 emergency
- They think they need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service
- They don't think it can wait for an appointment with the GP, or
- They don't know who to call for medical help
Callers to 111 are put through to a team of highly trained call advisers, who are supported by experienced clinical staff. They use a clinical assessment system and will ask you questions to assess your needs and determine the most appropriate course of action including:
- Callers facing an emergency will have an ambulance despatched without delay.
- Callers who can care for themselves will have information, advice and reassurance provided.
- Callers requiring further care will be referred to a service that has the appropriate skills and resources that meet their needs; or
- Callers requiring services outside the scope of NHS 111 will be provided with details of an alternative service.
Unless it is an emergency, it may better to call the surgery for advice when we re-open. It is also worth remembering that your usual pharmacy will often be able to dispense an emergency supply of your usual medication without a prescription at the weekend if you should run out.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.