Emergency Medical Services

Generally for health advice and information at any time, day or night, including over Christmas you can ring NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit the NHS Direct website. They will inform you where the emergency medical treatment is for your area.  (note that NHS Direct will be replaced in march 2014 with 'NHS Choices'.

For non-urgent treatment during the Christmas period, clients can see the medical staff at the nearest 'Crisis Centre'. When the crisis centres are closed the best solution for non-urgent medical treatment would be the homeless medical agencies in section c below if they can get there, otherwise use the nearest A&E or walk-in clinic. 

 a) A&E Departments  

A&E departments assess and treat patients with serious injuries or illnesses. Generally, you should visit A&E or call 999 for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, persistent, severe chest pain, breathing difficulties  and severe bleeding that cannot be stopped.    

Major A&E departments offer access 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, although not all hospitals have an A&E department. At A&E a doctor or nurse will assess your condition and decide on further action.

Less severe injuries can be treated in minor injuries services and NHS walk-in centres, which can treat patients without an appointment.   

The Distance in brackets below is the distance from St. Barnabus. Click on any of the hospital heading below for a map of the relevant hospital. 

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b) NHS Walk in centres

NHS walk-in centres (WICs) offer convenient access to a range of treatment. WICs are managed by primary care trusts (PCTs) and, deal with minor illnesses and injuries including infections and rashes, fractures and lacerations, emergency contraception and advice, stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, stitches (sutures), minor cuts and bruises and minor burns and strains.

NHS WICs are usually managed by a nurse and are available to everyone. Patients do not need an appointment. Most centres are open 365 days a year and outside office hours. Some newly opened centres may offer different opening hours during their first few months.

NHS WICs treat around 3 million patients a year and have proved to be a successful complementary service to traditional GP and A&E services. Some NHS WICs offer access to doctors as well as nurses. However, they are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems.

Click on any of the health centre headings below for additional details

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c) Additional Medical Services (Homeless Specific)

These services are specifically aimed at people who are classified as homeless or on the streets. They do not even  have to be registered with any doctor or 'in the system'.  

Click on any of the headings below for additional details