Emergencies

This guide will help you to choose who to contact in a medical emergency – DAY OR NIGHT.

SITUATION BEST PEOPLE TO CONTACT

 

SEVERE life threatening emergency, fall suspected fracture, heart attack, stroke, bleeding, collapse etc

 

999 Ambulance

 

Sudden onset of illness or symptoms, 8am-6pm weekdays. (Excluding life threatening emergencies).

 

Your normal GP is best placed to give most appropriate advice: 01254 282777

 

Minor accidents or injuries during normal working hours 8.30am – 6pm your local health centre minor injuries service. Phone or walk in.

 

Darwen: 01254 617400

Blackburn (Barbara Castle Way Health Centre:01254 617400

 

For patients registered with the community matrons in case of a sudden flare up of problems 8am-6pm.

 

Community matrons: 01254 207074

 

Worsening of mental health problems or suicidal.

 

 

Crisis Team: 226070/226074

Samaritans: 01254 662424

Your usual Mental Health Team:

 

Sexually Transmitted Disease- Appointments Monday-Friday. Walk-in clinic Wednesday & Thursday 8.30-10.30am.

 

GUM Clinic: 01254 736045

 

 

Terminally ill patients.

 

District nurses: 01254 207074

MacMillan nurse: 01254 733400

 

Sudden onset of problems outside surgery hours that need urgent care but not casualty.

 

GP Out of Hours: 01254 291140 or NHS Direct: 111

 

Homeless people.

 

Drop in clinic Barbara Castle Way Health Centre 12-1pm weekdays: 01254 282750

 

Spinal Clinic, care and advice.

 

 

Drop in clinic at Barbara Castle Way Health Centre or Darwen Health Centre:

01254 617400

 

Emergency dental care if not registered with a dentist.

 

Dental Helpline 0845 5333230 or NHS Direct: 111

 

Housebound and under care of District Nursing Team needing urgent help.

 

 

District Nurses: 01254 207074

8am-6pm(weekdays only)

Out of Hours: 01254 266400

weekends and 6pm-8am(weekdays)

2022.10.04_nhs-mdt_leaflet-spread (7)

Statement for Patients

We are sorry for the inconvenience being caused for our patents trying to contact the practice by telephone recently. You may have found that trying to reach us first thing on a Monday morning has been particularly difficult.

Like many GP practices in Lancashire, our telephone system is run by a local NHS IT provider who are aware of these issues.

We want to assure you these problems have been escalated and explain that fixing them is not in our control, so please be patient with us whilst they are being addressed.

We have been told that over the next few weeks, a short term fix being put in place that should ensure our telephone systems can stay online during very busy periods. In the longer term, we know that upgrades are being made to the system that should fully resolve the problems.

Remember, there are other ways that you can contact the practice. Firstly if you are able please review our web pages please do this is where we will provide you with the most up to date methods of contacting us or where appropriate other alternatives exist such as:-

* MyGp or PatientAccess ; an app that you may have already downloaded (if not please do and follow the instructions for use) which you can use to book appointments, contact the practice or order your prescriptions.

* As usual, you should dial 999 in an emergency and can access NHS111 or your local pharmacy for advice.

Coronavirus – Advice for Patients

The symptoms of coronavirus are:

The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu and it does not necessarily mean you have the illness.

NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.

Use this service if:

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

Information for the public is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Updated:
02.03.2020