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JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES: 3rd January 2024 - 9th January 2024

Local health services

If you need help from your GP or another member of the practice team over the above period, we are open every weekday from 8am until 6.30pm, except for bank holidays when we are closed. Please contact us if you have a health condition that needs checking or an illness that won't go away.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This means that all NHS services, particularly hospitals, will be under severe strain. But please don’t put off seeking medical help if you need it. Here is a reminder of what local services are available:

  • The NHS websitenhs.uk has lots of advice to help you to look after yourself when you have minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency.

  • If your child is feeling unwell, the Healthier Together website has advice about some common symptoms, how to look after your child at home and when to get further help.

  • Drop in to a pharmacy for health advice or information about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you to deal with a cough, cold and lots of other winter illnesses.
  • If you need help urgently, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice or an appointment to see a doctor or nurse if this is needed. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services like urgent treatment centres. Using 111 online means you won’t have to wait on the phone.  

  • If you are in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and get straight through to mental health help by selecting option 2.

  • You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

  • Do not visit anyone in a hospital or care home if you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting. Stomach bugs are easily spread, make already ill people very seriously unwell, and can lead to whole hospital wards being closed. Please wait 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea before visiting anyone who is vulnerable.  

More information on these services and self-help advice can be found at: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/help-us-help 

Please note Saturday morning surgery at the Bedwell Medical Centre is for pre-booked appointments only.  Prescriptions can be collected on a Saturday, but only if they are ready.  Unfortunately no new prescriptions or any prescription queries can be dealt with on Saturdays and will have to wait until Monday morning to be rectified.  Also on Saturdays the telephone lines will continue to transfer to the 'out of hours' service until Monday morning 8am. 

NOTE: Telephone lines open at 8am, surgery doors open at 8.30am.

Opening Times

Bedwell Medical Centre green_clock

Monday08:30 - 18:30
Tuesday08:30 - 18:30
Wednesday08:30 - 18:30
Thursday08:30 - 12:00
Friday08:30 - 18:30
Saturday 08:30 - 12:00

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Please be aware that there is no telephone service on a Saturday morning.
  

Roebuck Surgery

Monday08:30 - 18:30
Tuesday08:30 - 18:30
Wednesday08:30 - 12:00
Thursday08:30 - 18:30
Friday08:30 - 12:00
Weekendclosed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When We Are Closedclosed_sign

Bedwell Medical Centre - Telephone 01438 311130

Roebuck Surgery - Telephone 01438 314519

If your problem is not urgent please try to wait until normal surgery hours and avoid using the emergency service.

You should ring your own surgery number and you will be connected to the Primary Care Out of Hours Service. The receptionist will take all your details. They will also require a short description of your problem. These questions are to judge the urgency of your condition. The receptionists are fully trained to do a difficult job well, so please provide the information requested. You will either be put straight through to the duty doctor, or, if they are busy, they will phone you back as quickly as possible.

The doctor will make an assessment of your problem and decide on the best course of action. This may well be telephone advice. If a consultation is needed you may be asked to attend one of the out-of-hours centres. If the patient is bed-bound or so severely ill they cannot travel, a home visit may be appropriate.

Please remember it is the doctor's responsibility to judge whether you need advice or to be seen. They also decide whether a consultation, if needed, is better done in an out of hours centre or at home. It is not your right to have a home visit.

The details of your consultation with the Primary Care Out of Hours Service will be faxed back to your own doctor first thing the following working day.

Please remember to always telephone the Primary Care Out of Hours Service before attending the out-of-hours centre as patients presenting without prior arrangement may not be seen.  The Primary Care Out of Hours Service is located at Lister Hospital near the accident and emergency department.  The Service covers from 6.30pm to 8.00am weekdays and 24 hours weekends and Bank Holidays.

Extended Access Service

The Extended Access Service provides additional appointments with GP's and Allied Health Professionals in the evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Monday-Friday 18.30 to 20.00, Saturday 09.00 to 12.30 and Sun 09.00 to 12.00. These appointments can be booked via Reception.

NHS 111 ServiceNHS111_(2).jpg

NHS 111 is a service that has been introduced in Hertfordshire to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services. You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time.

 

Click here for more information

Accident & Emergency V’s NHS 111

Did you Know? - If a patient attends the Accident & Emergency Service and does not stay to be seen - because the wait is so long - there is a charge to the NHS for this ‘booking in’ of around £80 per visit.

Did you Know? - If your problem is an emergency or not – You can telephone 111 (NHS 111) and your medical problem will be triaged - You will be directed to the appropriate medical service – this could be an ambulance, a visit to the Out of Hours doctor or you may be advised to attend A+E.

Ring NHS 111 and have your medical problem Triaged. Do not wait hours in the A+E Department when you don’t need to be there.

 
Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website