SURGERY HOURS

The surgery is open:

Appointments are available morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday inclusive.

We also offer routine appointments outside of normal surgery times (early morning and evening) for patients who cannot attend during normal working hours, such as people in full-time employment, carers etc.

The surgery is closed on bank holidays.

OUT-OF-HOURS CALLS - TELEPHONE: 01202 481901

If you are unwell when the surgery is closed there are a number of options:

• If your injury or illness is severe, or you have had a serious accident, call 999 and ask for an ambulance or you can visit your local accident and emergency department. Please carefully consider if this is appropriate.

• For urgent medical situations that cannot wait until the surgery is open contact the Dorset Emergency Care Services on:

0845 600 10 13

(Between 8.00 and 8.30am, Monday to Friday ring: 01202 481901)

When you ring the Dorset Emergency Care Service your call will go through to the call centre at St. Leonards. A trained member of staff will answer the phone and take some details from you. They will pass the details straight over to a doctor or nurse who will ring you back to ask you more about the problem and, with you, will decide the best option for you. Depending on the seriousness of your condition, this might be:

Advice over the phone, or A visit to a local treatment centre, or A home visit by a nurse, doctor or paramedic

• For general medical information, 24 hours a day, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 or online at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk Their trained nurses can provide you with expert health advice and reassurance any time of the day or night.

• Visit a local pharmacy (chemist). Your local paper will have details of pharmacies open late on weekdays and on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

CARERS

Please tell us if you are a carer or are yourself cared for. We can direct you to the right information, support and services to help you.

FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED

Reserved car parking spaces for the disabled are marked near the front door. If access proves difficult there is a special bell to summon help. The entrance and all internal doors have been designed to cope with wheelchairs and there is a disabled patients' WC.

PARKING

There are parking facilities on site.