Ask the Surgery - Your Medical Questions Answered

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Access to Healthcare questions

I think the terminology used by the NHS can be really confusing. If I need to see a doctor outside of my surgery opening hours I’m not sure if I should go to a walk-in centre or clinic, call an out of hours telephone line, phone NHS Direct, use the online symptom checker, or simply pop into the A&E department at King’s College Hospital – or do something else. Could you please clarify this for me?[Click to show/hide answer]
If you are unwell and your GP Practice is closed you do have a number of options. Although it may seem confusing, the aim is to provide good access to healthcare for everyone at any time of the day or night. Which service you use will depend on the medical problem troubling you, but there is a goldmine of information about the types of NHS Services available on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk

I would like to stress that major A&E departments, such as the one at Kings, are for treating patients with serious illnesses or injuries. Examples would be severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness or bleeding that cannot be stopped. You should only go to A&E in a genuine emergency or if advised to by a healthcare professional.
If you are unsure which services to use, a good place to start is by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (24 hours a day, seven days a week). They will assess your medical problem and can provide you with some medical advice or direct you to the most appropriate service in your area. Tools such as the symptom checker at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk can also help you work out which is the best service for you.

All GP practices provide an out-of-hours GP service; in Southwark this is SELDOC on 020 8693 9066. You can also find their phone number on your GP Practice's answerphone message. This service is for problems you would usually see your GP about, which cannot wait until your practice reopens. Alternatively NHS walk-in centres can help if you have a minor illness such as a rashes, sprains, cuts and bruises or burns. A well stocked medicine cabinet can help with many common illnesses and your pharmacist will be able to advise you.
Answered by: Sandra Connolly, Practice Manager - Melbourne Grove Medical Practice