What to do when your GP practice is closed:
- If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999
- If you need medical help but it’s not an emergency call 111
During normal practice opening hours, the practice remains your first point of contact for all routine requests.
NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help fast but it’s not a life-threatening emergency. Calls to NHS 111 are FREE from landlines and mobiles and NHS 111 is available 24/7, every day of the year
When to call 111
You should call 111 when:
- You think you need to go to A&E or to another NHS urgent care service
- Your GP surgery is closed and you need healthcare advice
- You don’t know who to call for medical help
When to call 999
Call 999 for life threatening emergencies such as:
- Major accident or trauma
- Severe breathlessness
- Severe bleeding
- Loss of consciousness Severe chest pain
Talk before you Walk
Patients urged: ‘Talk Before You Walk’ when your GP practice is closed
Patients across Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield have been reminded to ‘Talk Before You Walk’ when in need of care when their GP practice is closed.
By phoning NHS 111, patients who need to be seen urgently on the same day will be offered an appointment with a healthcare professional either at their own GP surgery or at another surgery nearby called a Primary Care Service or a hub.
Primary Care Services are available across the area.