Get help in an emergency

Emergencies

In life-threatening or emergency situation you should telephone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Do not wait to talk with the surgery.  This is always the case for chest pain, loss of consciousness and symptoms of stroke. Seconds matter and an emergency assessment by the ambulance service regularly saves lives.  

Patients often still wait to "talk with their doctor" or ask for a home visit in these situations as they worry about wasting the time of the ambulance service. The reception staff will advise a patient with these symptoms to call an ambulance immediately. 

Your general practice is not an emergency service. We will prioritise and deal with urgent illesses within a few hours where this is safe, but with emergency symptoms this delay can be dangerous. 

Medical emergencies include:

• loss of consciousness

• an acute confused state 
• fits that are not stopping 
• persistent, severe chest pain
• breathing difficulties 
• severe bleeding that cannot be stopped 
• severe allergic reactions
• severe burns or scalds

Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions. Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma. Major trauma is often the result of a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word F.A.S.T.:

• Face -the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped.

• Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm

• Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake

• Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Out of Hours

For non urgent illness that cannot wait until the surgery opens, call NHS 111 service.

As above, for emergency situations, call 999. 

A doctor is contactable during the normal working weekday using the surgery telephone number 01634 854431. You can also use Vision on line or the "Do it online" section on this website to request a face to face or telephone consultation.