If you have an urgent medical problem when the surgery is closed and you do not think this can wait then there is always medical advice available via telephone. The surgery’s out of hours emergency telephone number is 111. At certain times advice may be provided by a nurse or duty doctor who does not work in this practice during normal hours. All duty nurses and doctors have wide experience in general practice but their role is only to deal with immediate, urgent medical problems. If you need to be seen you will be asked to attend a Primary Care Out of Hours Centre, or if it seems that an immediate face to face consultation is not necessary you will be given appropriate advice over the telephone. This is to enable efficient use of resources and is in line with National Health Service policy on out of hours care.
Alternatives to A&E
If you are thinking of going to A&E please be aware that during surgery hours you can obtain advice from our doctors and nurses and we will do our best to see you as soon as possible.
Outside of surgery hours the following services are also available:
- For free expert NHS health advice and information 24 hours a day you can call 111– (calls charged at local rates).
- An NHS on line symptom checker can be found at http://www.nhs.uk/NHSdirect/ . You can use this on-line tool to check your symptoms and get advice on what to do next. It’s faster than phoning and a nurse can call you back for free if required.
- A self-help guide ‘Not feeling well?’ is available at the back of all new Thomson Local telephone directories.
- Your local pharmacist will be able to give you free health advice and you don’t need an appointment. Many pharmacies operate extended hours on a rota basis. For details call 111
- If the surgery is closed or if you need to see a doctor or nurse quickly eg for a minor accident, or emergency contraception you can attend the Whittington Health Urgent Care Centre, Highgate Hill, London N19 Opening times: 0800 -2200 daily (Tel: 020 7272 3070)
- For minor accidents, or emergency contraception you can attend the Whittington Health Urgent Care Centre, Highgate Hill, London N19 Opening times: 0800 -2200 daily (Tel: 020 7272 3070)
- Angel Medical Practice, Ritchie Street, London, N1 0DG offers a range of NHS Walk in services from 8.00 am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 6.00pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays. Tel:0207371663
- Dental services: Dentists look after your teeth and gums. You can find a local dentist here ww.nhs.uk or by ringing 020 8272 5631. Whittington Health provide an emergency dental walk-in service at Kentish Town Health Centre between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday (Wednesday 8am to 6pm) : contact the Kentish Town Urgent Dental Service on 020 3317 2014.
- In case of Accident or Emergency (only) the nearest Accident & Emergency Departments are at Whittington Hospital, Highgate Hill, London N19 and North Middlesex Hospital, Sterling Way, London, N18
- Ambulance Service. This service is only to be used in life threatening situations. If you or someone else has a serious accident, severe chest pain, loss of blood or suspected broken bones you can telephone 999 and ask for an ambulance. If you are not sure you can ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice.