When we are closed overnight, at weekends and public holidays your call will automatically be transferred to the Out-of-Hours Service. Please call 01487 812611 and your call will be diverted. A doctor or nurse will answer your call, assess the problem and offer advice if appropriate. You may then be asked either to go to the Emergency Care Centre at Hinchingbrooke or Doddington Hospital or wait for a doctor to visit you at your home or call an ambulance.
Other options, eg the local Urgent Treatment Centre in Peterborough or NHS 111.
Peterborough Urgent Treatment Centre
Access to local NHS services is also available 08:00 to 20.00 every day through the Urgent Treatment Centre at City Care Centre, Thorpe Road, Peterborough, PE3 6DB. Tel: 01733 293800.
With no appointment needed, the Peterborough UTC treats patients with illnesses and injuries that need attention urgently but are not critical or life threatening such as:
- sprains, strains, cuts and grazes
- arm, foot and leg injuries
- bites, minor burns and scalds
- suspected fractures or broken bones (X-ray available)
- minor head injuries
- eye problems such as scratches and foreign bodies in the eye.
NHS 111
NHS 111 is a free-to-call single non-emergency number medical helpline operating in England
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation.
Call 111 if:
- you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
- you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
- you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
Accident Emergency
When Should A&E be Used?
Examples of when it is right and appropriate to attend A&E without delay are:
- Major injuries such as injuries from road traffic accidents.
- Falls from a considerable height.
- Major head injuries.
- Collapse.
- Severe breathing difficulty.
- Severe chest pain.
- Severe haemorrhage.
- Poisoning.
- Extensive burns.
When it is Inappropriate to Use A&E Services?
Unfortunately, many people attend A&E with very minor problems. This makes it difficult for A&E staff to deal with the volume of cases, involves delays for patients and incurs some considerable costs. The following are examples of minor problems for which A&E attendance in not appropriate. Generally, if the person is unwell, but alert and speaking without impaired consciousness or severe breathing difficulty, then they do not need to attend A&E:
- Flu-like illnesses, coughs, earache, back ache.
- Sore throats.
- Minor breathlessness or wheezing.
- Abdominal pain (unless extreme or associated with collapse).
- Urinary difficulties (unless completely unable to pass water).
- Vaginal bleeding (unless very heavy and associated with faintness).
- Rashes (unless it appears like spontaneous bleeding under the skin or the person appears very unwell).
- Backache.
- Diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Simple bites and stings.
- Social problems.
- Emergency contraception.
- Dental problems (except major trauma).
Such conditions can generally be safely managed by your GP, Practice Nurse and in some cases the individual themselves.
Alternatives to Attending A&E - General Practice
We are open between 8.00am and 6.00pm and provide comprehensive services. Urgent same day appointments are available for urgent problems. We also have Practice Nurses who can see and advise patients. We urge patients to avoid unnecessary use of A&E and to contact the practice in the first instance.
The Out-of-Hours service in Huntingdon, the Peterborough Urgent Treatment Centre at Thorpe Road, Peterborough and NHS 111 can provide assistance for urgent medical problems or assistance with the treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. Most pharmacies can advise on minor illness and can provide medication to help you manage your condition yourself.