Your GP should be your first point of contact for health issues for you and your family that you can’t treat yourself with the help of your local pharmacy or NHS 111.
Surgeries are made up of a team that includes nurses, healthcare assistants and highly skilled doctors who look after the health of people in their local community and deal with a wide range of health problems.
- Illness or pain that won't go away
- Mild to moderate breathing problems
- Recurrent coughs or sore throats
- Abdominal pains
- Skin problems such as eczema
- Migraine
- Joint pains and recurrent back pain
- Mental health problems
- Wound re-dressing
- Travel immunisations
- Chronic disease management
The surgery team is trained in all aspects of general medicine, which includes child health and the management of long-term conditions such as asthma and diabetes and work closely with other professionals such as health visitors, midwifes, mental health services and social services.
Surgeries are usually open throughout the day from Monday to Friday but if you work during the day, many practices are now open early in the morning and in the early evening. You’ll need to register with a GP practice to access their services. When doing so, it’s a good idea to take the time to find a practice that meets your personal needs.
When your regular GP surgery is closed, and you are too ill to wait for it to reopen, you can access help and support from out of hours services. To contact an out of hours service, phone free on 111.
