For each service contained within the A-Z Directory of services there will be information on service-specific pages regarding any out of hours care. However, if you need emergency or immediate help, please find the following details of use:
Self care
Self care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries. A range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest. Things you can do:
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Requesting any necessary repeat prescriptions to cover the few days when surgeries are closed
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Taking sufficient quantities of medicines away on holiday
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Stocking up the medicine cabinet with over the counter remedies for ailments such as headaches, stomach upsets and indigestion
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Ensuring you have remedies for children as well
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Checking the opening times of local pharmacies and GP surgeries.
Talk to a pharmacist
If you have a minor problem you can visit a local pharmacy for advice. Pharmacies can provide a range of expert health advice as well as over the counter medicines and treatments.
Accident and Emergency
The A&E department is based at Derriford Hospital, as part of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. If you think you require emergency ambulance assistance please dial 999.
There is also a Minor Injuries Unit based at the Cumberland Centre in Devonport which offers an A&E service for less serious conditions. You can contact the unit on 0845 155 8003.
NHS Direct
NHS Direct is a free 24 hours nurse led confidential, advice service. Call them if you are feeling unwell or are unsure what to do, or for health information on particular conditions.
The service can be contacted by telephone on 0845 46 47 (calls are charged at local rate) or via the internet on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Health advice and information is provided online on:
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what to do if you or your family feel ill
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health conditions and treatments
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local healthcare services
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self-help and support organisations.
Devon Doctors
The PCT commissions out of hours medical cover from Devon Doctors on Call from 6pm to 8am weekdays and 6pm on Friday to 8am Monday over the weekends. Please note, that Devon Doctors Ltd. will stop running the GP led health centre at the Mount Gould Primary Care Centre on February 28th 2011. The separate GP service at Mount Gould remains unaffected by this change.
If you have an urgent medical need when your GP is closed please telephone them on 0845 6710 270 (local rate).
The operator will ask for your details and medical history and will then pass the information onto the Duty Doctor. The Duty Doctor will then phone you and offer one of the following:
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Appropriate advice over the telephone
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Ask you to attend a local treatment centre
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A home visit if deemed necessary.
Please try to restrict out of hours calls to emergencies only.
Dental Access Centre
If you do not have a dentist and require emergency dental treatment, please contact the Dental Access Centre on 0845 155 8070.
Gateway service
The Gateway service provides an emergency/out of hours contact for individuals requiring psychiatric help. To contact Gateway telephone 01752 434988.
For futher information regarding emergency and out of hours services please see our leaflet titled Urgent and Emergency Care Advice.