Out-of-hours care is for people who need treatment or nursing care outside their healthcare team’s working hours. This can include evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
If you’re living with a terminal illness, you may be able to receive out-of-hours palliative care. You can ask your GP or district nurse what you should do if you need support outside normal surgery hours. If there’s a medical emergency at any time, call 999.
When should I contact out-of-hours services?
You should contact out-of-hours services if you need help from a healthcare professional when your usual doctor or nurse is not available. For example, if you’re worried or have urgent symptoms that you cannot manage, like pain or agitation.
Who should I contact for out-of-hours care?
You may have been given a specific number to call – for example, for the district nurse or community nursing team. Some hospices and palliative care teams have a 24-hour phone line you can call.
Keep these numbers in a memorable place, like on the fridge. You can also save them in your phone. If you have not been given a specific number, you can use the numbers below.
If there’s an emergency at any time, call 999 for an ambulance.
The 111 service (phone or online) in England, Scotland or Wales
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you should call 111.
The 111 service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They can connect you to a nurse or GP if needed. Some areas of the UK have a 24-hour district nurse service.
Out-of-hours care in Northern Ireland
There is no 111 service in Northern Ireland. If you live in Northern Ireland, call your GP surgery to be directed to an out-of-hours service. You can also find the number for your local out-of-hours service from nidirect.
What to expect when you contact an out-of-hours service
An adviser will ask you some questions so they can get you the right help. Try to give them as much detail as possible. If you have a list of your medications, it might help to have this with you for the call.
The out-of-hours adviser will decide who to put you in touch with and can arrange a call back or a home visit from a doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional. The time it takes for a call back can vary. They may advise you to go somewhere for treatment. This could be an NHS walk-in centre, an urgent treatment centre, or the accident and emergency department (A&E) at your hospital.
A treatment centre or NHS walk-in centre can also send an ambulance if needed.
Will I have to go to hospital if I contact an out-of-hours service?
Calling an out-of-hours service does not mean that you will have to go to hospital. It will depend on whether they think it’s what you need to get the right care.
If you do not want to go to hospital you can make this clear to the healthcare professionals. They will try to follow your wishes, although it’s not always possible. If you have made a care plan, this may help make sure that your wishes are followed.
Emergency medication
If you run out of a medicine and the GP surgery is shut, there are several things you can do.
If you have a prescription, you should be able to get your medicine from any pharmacy if they have it in stock.
Search for pharmacies near you:
England
Find a pharmacy – NHS
Scotland
Pharmacies | NHS Inform
If you do not have your prescription, you may still be able to get an emergency supply from the pharmacy. If you have an old prescription or medicine box, it can help to take that with you.
The pharmacist will ask you some questions, like the dose you usually take, and who usually prescribes the medicine. They may not be able to prescribe a medicine if they do not think it is appropriate. If they can prescribe it, you may have to pay for it even if you do not normally pay.
If you have run out of a repeat prescription, you can also use the 111 online emergency prescription service.
If your medicine is not prescribed as a repeat prescription, you may be able to get one by going to an urgent treatment centre. Or you can call the 111 service to discuss your options.
Just in case medications
A prescription for just in case medications may mean that your symptoms can be managed at home. It may mean that you do not need to go to hospital if you do not want to.
Nursing care from Marie Curie
Marie Curie specialises in care for people living with a terminal illness . A Marie Curie Healthcare Assistant or Nurse may be able to visit to help take care of you.