The NHS pledges to provide services at a time that's convenient for you.
Outside normal surgery hours you can still phone your GP surgery, but you'll usually be directed to an out-of-hours service. The out-of-hours period is from 6.30pm to 8.00am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
If it is not an immediate emergency then call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (or call NHS 111 if it is available in your area). NHS Direct (or NHS 111) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can provide medical advice and details of the best local service that can provide care. Telephone consultations and triage (an assessment of how urgent your medical problem is) are an important part of all out-of-hours care.
Since 2004, GPs have been able to choose whether to provide 24-hour care for their patients or to transfer responsibility for out-of-hours services to primary care trusts (PCTs).
PCTs are responsible for providing a high-quality service for the local population. Some PCTs provide care themselves. Others provide care through external organisations. This means different areas can have slightly different services. Search for your PCT to find out how to access out-of-hours care in your area.
Types of out-of-hours care
Out-of-hours cover may include some or all of the services below:
- GPs working in A&E departments, NHS walk-in centres or minor injuries units (MIUs)
- teams of healthcare professionals working in primary care centres, A&E departments, MIUs or NHS walk-in centres
- healthcare professionals (other than doctors) making home visits, following a detailed clinical assessment
- ambulance services moving patients to places where they can be seen by a doctor or nurse, to reduce the need for home visits
Each PCT is also establishing new GP-led health centres that will offer both walk-in access and bookable appointments, regardless of where the patient is registered, from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
