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Out of Hours cover
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From 6pm to 8.30am weekdays (Monday to Friday), and all weekend, the surgery is closed. If you need urgent medical care when the surgery is closed, ring the Out of Hours number (0300 123 4343). You will initially be connected to NHS Direct, where a trained nurse will take details of your problem and offer appropriate advice. This may vary from "call an ambulance now" to reassurance, depending on the problem. But be assured that the advice you are given will be the best available. Obviously if you do need to see a doctor the nurse will arrange this by passing your call to the doctors on call at Northern Doctors Urgent Care (NDUC). The doctor may want to speak to you again on the phone, and will either offer advice if that is all that is needed, arrange a home visit, or arrange to see you at the Primary Care Centre at Wansbeck Hospital in Ashington. Your doctor receives a record of the call the following morning, and if any follow-up treatment is required, you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to arrange this. |
