DO you know what to do if you become unwell and your GP surgery is closed? Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in south Essex are urging people to choose the right service should they become unwell ‘out of hours’ this winter.
If you are not sure how to deal with your injury or concern you can call NHS 111 for help and advice. NHS 111 is free to call and gives you access to healthcare for any health problem that is not life-threatening. You can ring the 111 number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
You can also visit www.GetWellEssex.com to help you find the most appropriate service. You can simply enter your postcode and then choose from a list of symptoms to find the right local service for you.
People often feel unwell with various symptoms and do not know the best place to get help. ‘GetWellEssex.com’ has been developed with input from local clinicians to direct people to the most appropriate local NHS service. The GetWellEssex.com website is part of a recently launched Essex-wide campaign to raise awareness of different NHS services available.
If you need medical help quickly, but it’s not an emergency, you can also visit your local walk in centre or minor injury unit. Visit GetWellEssex.com and type in your postcode to find details of these.
Dr Nehal Ahmad, Clinical Director Unplanned Care for NHS Basildon and Brentwood CCG said: “We are keen to ensure that people are aware of the different NHS services available to them if they become unwell and we want to help them to make the appropriate choice about where to go. That’s why we, together with other CCGs in Essex have recently launched the GetWellEssex.com website, which alongside NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So if you need medical help fast, but it’s not an emergency, call NHS 111 or visit www.GetWellEssex.com”
ENDS
If you are unwell there are a range of services that can help you:
Call NHS 111 for help and advice, if you are not sure how to deal with your injury or concern. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is free to call. Simply call 111 to access the service.
Lots of conditions (including hangover, grazed knee, sore throat, coughs and colds) can be treated at home by self-care.
A visit to your local pharmacy can treat lots of medical conditions including diarrhoea, runny nose, painful cough.
Your GP is your first port of call for non-urgent illnesses that won’t go away, such as ear pain, vomiting, sore tummy, back ache.
If you need medical help quickly, but it’s not an emergency, you can go to your nearest walk in centre or minor injuries unit:
Thurrock Health Centre, 55-57 HighStreet,Grays,Essex,RM176NJ.Tel:01375 898700. Open 8.00am to 8.00pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Your local A&E provides urgent treatment for serious, life threatening illnesses. You should go to A&E or call 999 if you have any of the following symptoms: choking, chest pain, blacking out, bleeding you can’t stop, loss of consciousness, struggling to breathe, stroke. Your local A&Es are at:
Orsett Minor Injury Unit,Rowley Road,Orsett,RM163EU.
Tel:01268592300.
Open 10.00am to 7.30pm, seven days a week, closed Christmas Day and Boxing
Day. Please note, children under 2 years old cannot be seen here.
For more information contact: communications@swessex.nhs.uk
