You can call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) for medical advice. Telephone consultations and triage (an assessment of how urgent your medical problem is) are an important part of all out-of-hours care.

Types of out-of-hours care

Out-of-hours cover may include some or all of the services below:

• GPs working in A&E departments, NHS walk-in centres or minor injuries units (MIUs).
• Teams of healthcare professionals working in primary care centres, A&E departments, MIUs or NHS walk-in centres.
• Healthcare professionals (other than doctors) making home visits, following a detailed clinical assessment.
• Ambulance services moving patients to places where they can be seen by a doctor or nurse, to reduce the need for home visits. 

Each PCT is also establishing new GP-led health centres that will offer both walk-in access and bookable appointments, regardless of where the patient is registered, from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.