When the surgery is closed
If you need urgent advice or you feel so ill that it is a matter of emergency, there is always a doctor on call. We deputise out of hours care to the provider, CHUHSE, who are able to provide advice and also consultations in person when the surgery is closed. CHUHSE has a permanently manned switchboard to receive out-of-hours calls and duty doctors will be available out of normal surgery hours to offer advice or, if necessary, to arrange an emergency consultation at their Primary Care Centre, telephone 0208 185 0545. Patients who are not well enough to travel will be visited at home, where necessary. The duty doctor may not be a member of this practice, but will be a fully qualified GP working in another practice in Hackney. We are informed by the next day of any out-of-hours contacts with Harmoni.
If you need help or advice and the situation cannot reasonably wait until the surgery opens again, telephone the surgery here as you would under present arrangements and your call will either be diverted or the answering machine message will provide you with the number you should call. Please do not go directly to the Primary Care Centre as appointments are strictly by invitation from the duty doctor and patients will not be seen without an appointment.
PLEASE REMEMBER - IN A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, YOU SHOULD STILL DIAL 999 AND ASK FOR AN AMBULANCE.