Out of hours services

GPs

If you have an urgent medical problem when your GP practice is closed and you can't wait until the next working day to see your doctor, you should call your normal surgery number and an answer-phone message will tell you how to contact the out of hours GP service.

The out of hours GP service is available whenever your GP practice or health centre is closed.

Dentists

If you need urgent dental care and are a regular patient of a dental practice please contact your dental surgery and an answer-phone message will give you details of where and when emergency treatment is available.

If you are not a regular patient of a dental practice, telephone:

• West Yorkshire Urgent Care Services helpline on 0345 605 99 99 - telephone lines open 24 hours, 7 days a week

Please note that emergency dental treatment can only be provided for trauma and emergencies. All requests will be assessed over the telephone before an appointment can be arranged.

Other health services

There are lots of health services available across the district when you are feeling unwell and it is important to contact or visit the right place, at the right time to make sure you get the treatment you need. These are other services that may be able to help you out of normal working hours:

• Pharmacy services - your pharmacist (or chemist) is qualified to give health advice and suggest remedies without an appointment for a whole range of illnesses. For example, if you suffer from minor aliments such as coughs, cold, headaches, indigestion, sickness and diarrhoea or heartburn, the pharmacy should be the first place you visit. There will always be a pharmacy open over weekends and Bank Holidays. Your local newspaper or NHS Direct (Tel: 0845 46 47) will have details. Many common illnesses and minor ailments can be easily treated at home with a well-stocked medicine cabinet.
• NHS Direct - this confidential helpline is available 24 hours a day if you are feeling ill and are unsure what to do. Qualified nurses can give you advice and point you to the most appropriate service for your needs. Call 0845 46 47 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk on the internet.
• NHS walk-in centre - for the treatment of minor illnesses or injuries, such as sprains, insect bites, burns, colds and infections. This is located at King Street Health Centre, Wakefield, and is open Monday to Sunday 8.00am - 8.00pm. No appointment is necessary; you just need to walk in and an experienced nurse will see you as soon as possible.
• Minor injuries unit - this is located at White Rose Surgery in South Elmsall where you can get treatment for less serious injuries such as small cuts, bumps, burns, stings or sprains. It is open Monday to Friday 8.00am - 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am - 6.30pm, Sunday and Bank Holidays 10.00am - 5.30pm.
• Accident & Emergency departments - these are located at Dewsbury and District Hospital, Pinderfields Hospital and Pontefract Hospital. Pinderfields is open 24-hours a day, every day for critical and life-threatening illnesses and injuries such as heart attacks, strokes, severe allergic reactions and fractures. Pontefract's Emergency Department is closed, from 1 November 2011, between 10pm - 8am. You should only visit Accident and Emergency (A&E) in the case of real emergencies. Going straight to A&E can put the emergency services and hospitals under added pressure, and unnecessary use of the service could prevent someone whose condition is more serious from getting immediate treatment.
• 999 ambulance service - emergency ambulances are for people who are seriously ill or injured and need time-critical help. An emergency is a critical or life-threatening condition that may include loss of consciousness, severe chest pain, breathing difficulties or heavy loss of blood. Calling 999 for an ambulance does not mean that you will be seen quicker when you arrive at A&E. All patients are seen on the basis of medical need.
• Social care services - if you think that you or someone you know needs social care services in the Wakefield district, you can ring Social Care Direct on 0845 8503 503, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.