Out Of Hours

What to do when the GP practice is closed

  • If you need medical help fast but it’s not an emergency call 111
  • If it’s a life-threatening emergency call 999

NHS 111

11 is the number to call when you need medical help fast but it’s not a life-threatening emergency

  • Calls to 111 are FREE from landlines and mobiles
  • 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.

Out-of-hours services are provided during the following periods when the surgery is closed:

After 6pm and before 8am Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday

During normal practice opening hours, the practice remains your first point of contact for all routine requests.

Urgent Care Centres

Urgent care is for minor injuries or illneses which need medical attention the same day, but not serious enough for the Emergnecy Department. There are 2 Urgent Care Centres, Bunny Hill and Pallion. They offer treatment to both adults and children. You can attend without an appointment or make an appointment by contacting NHS 111. 

Accident and Emergency Departments at Sunderland Royal Hospital

In the case of an accident that requires medical attention, you can attend A&E. If you are unable to travel because of your injury, dial 999 for an emergency ambulance. If your injury occurred more than 48 hours ago, do not go to A&E. See your doctor. In A&E, patients will be seen according to the urgency of medical condition. You may have to wait up to 6 hours.

Calling 999

If it is an emergency, dial 999 straight away.

It is an emergency if the patient is:

  • Having a suspected heart attack
  • Complaining of chest pains
  • Unconscious
  • Losing a lot of blood
  • Suspected of having a broken bone
  • Suffering from a deep wound or head injury
  • Struggling to breathe
  • Suspected of having a stroke Do the FAST test:
    • Facial weakness
      • Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye dropped?
    • Arm weakness
      • Can the person raise both arms?
    • Speech problem
      • Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
    • Test All Three