Getting Help With: Out of hours & Emergencies
Christmas period opening times
We will publish this information closer to the time.
Local pharmacies
Your local pharmacy will be able to provide you with advice and medication to help relieve the symptoms of common ailments. You can find your local pharmacy on the NHS website.
When the GP practice is closed
If you need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency call 111, if it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999.
NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help fast but it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Calls to 111 are FREE from landlines and mobiles and is available 24/7, every day of the year. You can also contact them through their website, NHS 11 Online.
When to call 111:
- You think you need to go to A&E but it’s not a critical emergency
- Your GP surgery is closed and you need healthcare advice
- You don’t know who to call for medical help
When to call 999:
- Major accident or trauma
- Severe breathlessness
- Severe bleeding
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe chest pain
Urgent treatment centre
Urgent treatment centres (UTCs) provide urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency.
Open at least 12 hours a day, every day, UTCs offer appointments that can be booked through NHS 111 (telephone and online) and are equipped to investigate, diagnose, and deal with many of the most common injuries and illnesses people attend Emergency Departments (A&E) for.
People who go to a UTC are typically:
- mobile and able to move around
- in need of same-day treatment.
People may also need some investigative tests to be carried out while they are in the UTC.
Our nearest UTC is located in Wansbeck General Hospital:
Woodhorn Lane,
Ashington,
Northumberland,
NE63 9JJ
Accident and EMERGENCY
A&E (accident and emergency) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only. It is also known as the emergency department or casualty.
Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.
Adults – call 999 or go to A&E now for any of the below:
- signs of a heart attack
chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest - signs of a stroke
face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking - sudden confusion (delirium)
cannot be sure of own name or age - suicide attempt
by taking something or self-harming - severe difficulty breathing
not being able to get words out, choking or gasping - choking
on liquids or solids right now - heavy bleeding
spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle - severe injuries
after a serious accident or assault - seizure (fit)
shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up) - sudden, rapid swelling
of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue
British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.
Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.
Children – call 999 or go to A&E now for any of the below:
- seizure (fit)
shaking or jerking because of a fit, or unconscious (cannot be woken up) - choking
on liquids or solids now - difficulty breathing
making grunting noises or sucking their stomach in under their ribcage - unable to stay awake
cannot keep their eyes open for more than a few seconds - blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, tongue or lips
on brown or black skin, grey or blue palms or soles of the feet - limp and floppy
their head falls to the side, backwards or forwards - heavy bleeding
spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle - severe injuries
after a serious accident or assault - signs of a stroke
face dropping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking - sudden rapid swelling
of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue - sudden confusion
agitation, odd behaviour or non-stop crying
British Sign Language (BSL) speakers can make a BSL video call to 999.
Deaf people can use 18000 to contact 999 using text relay.
When you’re not sure what to do, NHS 111 can help. If you need to go to A&E, NHS 111 can book an arrival time so they know you are coming. An arrival time is not an appointment but helps to avoid overcrowding.
Check your symptoms on 111 online, or call 111 to speak to someone if you need help for a child under 5.
Our nearest A&E is Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH):
Northumbria Way
Cramlington
Northumberland
NE23 6NZ
