Out of Hours GPs

This service is for urgent problems that cannot wait until your GP surgery opens. It will offer out of hours advice and assessment when your GP surgery is closed. You will be advised how best to care for yourself at home, referred to the most appropriate service for your needs or asked to wait until surgery opening hours.

Medical emergencies – that are potentially life threatening – should still be dealt with by the ambulance service.  This includes loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, heavy blood loss, severe head injury and severe difficulty in breathing.  Please dial 999 for the Ambulance Service.

When should I call the ‘Out of Hours’ service?

This service is only for urgent problems that cannot wait until your GP surgery opens.
Call your GP number in the usual way.  You will then be directed to the Out of Hours service and assessed whether you need to:

• Treat yourself at home
• Go to a primary care centre
• Have a home visit from a healthcare professional

What number do I call ‘Out of Hours’?

Please call your GP practice in the usual way – you will be given an Out of Hours number to call.

When is the ‘Out of Hours’ service available?

The service will be available during the following times:

Monday to Thursday - 6.30pm to 8am
From Friday evening 6:30pm until Monday morning 8am
The out of hours service will also be available on Bank Holidays.

What will I be offered when I call the ‘Out of Hours’ service?

They will ask for your personal details and some basic information about your problem.  It will be helpful if you have full details of any medication you are taking when you call.

A healthcare professional will then call you back, assess your symptoms and advise the best way to treat you.

If you need face-to-face medical attention you may be asked to attend a Primary Care Centre.  Staff will arrange an appointment time for you with a local Primary Care Centre and call you back to let you know when and where to attend.

Appointments will be strictly by prior arrangement, as clinic times may vary.  Healthcare staff at the Primary Care Centre will either provide treatment for you or refer you to other services if required.  Patients will be seen in order of clinical priority.

When is my GP surgery open?

Your GP surgery will be open during the following times:

Monday to Friday - 8:00am to 6:30pm

Under the new arrangements your surgery will no longer be open on a Saturday morning.

If your practice has previously opened on Saturday mornings for routine appointments this will stop.  You will be unable to collect your repeat prescription on Saturdays.

How do I collect my repeat prescription?

Requests for collection of repeat prescriptions will not be dealt with by the Out of Hours service.  Please contact your GP surgery during normal opening hours to arrange this.

Who should I call if I’m unsure how urgent the problem is?

If you feel you need expert help and advice call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit the website. Trained staff will be available to advise you on how to treat yourself at home or refer you to the appropriate service. NHS Direct is staffed by qualified health professionals and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have any comments or concerns about GPs Out of Hours please call  Portsmouth City Teaching PCT on 023 9283 8340