Who should I See?
Please consider what the best options for your healthcare are, based on the urgency of your condition and nature of your ailment. General Practice work in conjunction with other Primary Care providers such as Opticians and Pharmacists, who can deliver advice and treatment within the Community, so make sure you get to see the right person, at the right time, in the right place.
This may save you time in getting the help you need, and avoid arranging an unnecessary appointment with your Doctor.
Have you tried self-care?
A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest. Many patients attend with conditions that would get better with self-care. Studies show that 25-40% of consultations with a GP are unnecessary so it would help if patients only booked an appointment with a GP if they really need to.
Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:
- Upset stomach
- Grazed knee
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Colds & Flu
There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:
Self Care Forum
The Self Care Forum is a charity which aims to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life. Self Care is the actions that individuals take for themselves, on behalf of and with others in order to develop, protect, maintain and improve their health, wellbeing or wellness.
Self-Referral Services – No need to see a GP or Nurse you can refer yourself!
We have provided our patients with a list of services that you can self-refer to without the need to see a GP or Nurse. You can normally self-refer by phone, attend a drop in clinic or by completing a self-referral form which you can send via email or post to the service of your choice.
Get immediate help from your local Pharmacy
Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment
It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
Your local Pharmacist is able to help with minor cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraceptive (most Pharmacies now offer this service) and other common conditions.
No appointment is necessary and your local Pharmacist is usually open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP.
Over the Counter Medicines
A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.
New Medicine Service
The New Medicine Service is available at Pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you’re just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- people who have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
More about the New Medicine Service.
Treat Yourself Better
We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.
Eye Problems?
Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an optometrist. An optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.
If your optician is closed and you can’t wait until it reopens call 111
If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.
Visiting an optician
When you visit an optician for an eye test, you’ll be examined by an ophthalmic practitioner or optometrist who is trained to recognise abnormalities and conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma.
Ophthalmic practitioners prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses. If necessary, they’ll refer you to a GP or a hospital eye clinic for further investigations.
The NHS recommends that adults should have their eyes tested every 2 years. An NHS sight test is free of charge if you’re in one of the eligible groups and the test is considered clinically necessary. If you have problems with your eyes before your eye test is next due, you do not have to wait and can have your eyes check again.
Following an eye test your ophthalmic practitioner is legally required to give you your optical prescription or a statement to say you’ve been referred for further tests.
Dental Emergency?
For dental emergencies, call the dentist with whom you are registered. You should receive a recorded message advising you of the arrangements that have been made for emergency cover. If you have not registered with a dentist, please try to do so as soon as possible. Dentist’s can perform an appropriate assessment and advise on necessary intervention including use of any antibiotics.
How to find a dentist
You can search for an NHS dentist on this site.
Simply find a dental surgery that’s convenient for you, whether it’s near your home or work, and phone them to see if there are any NHS appointments available.
You may have to join a waiting list, look for a different dentist who is taking on new NHS patients, or be seen privately (which may be more expensive).
If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist as some surgeries offer emergency dental slots and will provide care if clinically necessary.
You can also contact NHS 111, who can put you in touch with an urgent dental service.
What dental services are available on the NHS?
The NHS will provide any clinically necessary treatment needed to keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy and free of pain.
Your dentist must make clear which treatments can be provided on the NHS and which can only be provided on a private basis, and the costs associated for each.
Your dentist has to provide you with a written treatment plan for Band 2, Band 3 or a mix of NHS and private treatments.
Your treatment plan sets out the proposed dental treatment and associated costs.
Common dental treatments available at a cost on the NHS include:
· Crowns and bridges
· Dental abscesses
· Dentures (false teeth) Orthodontics
· Root canal treatments
· Scale and polish
· Wisdom teeth removal
· White fillings
If you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 111
Dental emergencies are: acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth or trauma.
Do you need Social Care & Support?
If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, this website explains your options and where you can get support. You can also asked to be referred to our Social Prescribing Link workers
Maternity
If you arrive in the UK heavily pregnant, or if you think you are in labour and do not have a midwife, or do not know how to contact your midwife, you can find a local maternity service here.
Midwives provide care and support to women and their families while pregnant, throughout labour and during the period after a baby’s birth.
Midwives are often the lead health professional and contact for someone who is pregnant, and they provide evidence-based information and help you make informed choices about the options and services available throughout your pregnancy
You can start your pregnancy care as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.
To do this is you can refer yourself for NHS pregnancy care so you can start your pregnancy (antenatal) care with a midwife. This is usually done with an online form. If you cannot refer yourself online, the websites of local NHS trusts can tell you how to contact maternity services.
Mental Health
Mental health services are free on the NHS. Your mental health is important and you should get help if you need it.
How you can access NHS mental health services
Talk to your GP
You can talk to your GP about your mental health and they can help you to access the right mental health service for your needs. This is known as a GP referral.
How mental health referrals work
When you talk to your GP about your mental health they’ll listen, give you advice and introduce you to a mental health service they think will be most helpful to you.
These services may come from your GP surgery, a local health centre or community venue, a specialist mental health clinic or a hospital.
Your GP can also refer you to a talking therapy service or a specialist mental health service for further advice or treatment. The treatment may be provided on a one-to-one basis or in a group with others with similar problems. Talking therapy can also sometimes involve partners and families.
Self-referrals
There are also some mental health services that you can use without having to talk to your GP.
You can use self-referral to access talking therapies through a service called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
These services offer:
- talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help
- help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression
Urgent mental health help
Local NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages in England. You can call at any time of day for advice from a mental health professional for you, your child or someone you care for. Find a local helpline but visiting this website.
If you need help now, and you’re not sure what to do, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
If you think it’s an emergency, go to your nearest A&E or call 999.
Every Mind Matters
There are also simple steps you can take to look after your mental health.
The Every Mind Matters website offers expert advice to help improve your wellbeing, as well as practical tips on sleep, coping with money worries and self-care
Need to speak with someone when the surgery is closed?
Call 111
Call 111 when we are closed to speak to an NHS professional on any urgent health or medical issue.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
Urgent Care Centre
Urgent treatment centres are a facility you can go to if you need urgent medical attention, but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
At the moment, the NHS offers a mix of walk-in centres, urgent care centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres, all with different levels of service.
If you have an emergency please call 999
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren’t stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Mental Health Crisis?
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
It’s important to use A&E only for serious injuries and major emergencies.
Get immediate help for Minor Injuries
Use your local minor injuries unit if you need medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to A&E or a medical appointment.
Some examples of problems they deal with:
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
- minor head injuries
- cuts and grazes
- bites and stings
- minor scalds and burns
- ear and throat infections
- skin infections and rashes
- eye problems
- coughs and colds
- feverish illness in adults
- feverish illness in children
- abdominal pain
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- emergency contraception
Arrange an appointment with one of our Nursing team
Our Nurses are usually able to assess the situation and in some cases will organise initial blood tests and other investigations prior to arranging a follow up appointment with your doctor.
See a Nurse about: blood pressure checks, cough and cold, rash, sore throat, urine infection, cervical smears, dressings, family planning advice, contraceptives, minor injuries and ailments, immunisations, diabetes management, asthma care, COPD (heart) care, smoking cessation, free health checks for 40-70 year olds, travel advice, removal of stitches and clips etc.
Need medical advice or treatment from one of our Doctors?
Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems, may need an appointment with a doctor.