Emergency and out of hours
When you have an accident or fall ill outside normal GP hours, on evenings and all weekends and bank holidays, several options are available.
Make sure you have a home medicine chest to help treat minor injuries and illnesses. Advice is freely available from pharmacists, NHS Direct on 0845 4647 and the NHS Choices website.
These services treat medical problems which cannot wait until the next day
Dentists
If you need emergency dental advice out of normal surgery hours call 020 8299 5509
You will the be directed to an appropriate dental services near to you. There is no access to out of hours dental services without going through the telephone service.
GP Surgeries
For urgent medical help when your GP surgery is closed, ring 020 8693 9066 or your local practice number and follow the advice given.
Your call will either be automatically transferred to the GP out-of-hours service or an answering machine message will give you the out-of-hours telephone number to call. Please note: GP out of hours services should not be asked to issue repeat prescriptions. These need to be ordered and collected during normal GP surgery/pharmacy hours.
Please have the following details ready
- Patient’s name and address
- Name of patient’s doctor
- Details of the medical condition
- Details of any medication being taken
- Details of any special directions to the patient’s home
Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments
It is often very obvious when emergency care is needed for serious injury or illness, and you should get medical attention by going to A&E at your local hospital or by phoning 999 for an emergency ambulance. Unless you need emergency medical attention it is best to avoid local A&E. Doctors and nurses there are equipped to deal with serious cases of injury and illness, not routine and minor ailments.
Local A&E Departments:
Kings College Hospital Emergency Department
Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS
Tel: 020 3299 2400
St Thomas' Hospital Emergency Department
Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH
Main department switchboard 020 7188 7188
Minor injuries unit 020 7188 8088