Who should I See?
The team at Albany need your help!
Before you book an appointment with a GP please look through the list of services below.
Choose the best option based on the urgency of your condition and nature of your ailment. Our GP’s work in conjunction with other Primary Care providers such as Opticians, Physiotherapists and Pharmacists, who can deliver advice and treatment within the Community, so make sure you get to see the right person, at the right time, in the right place.
This may save you time in getting the help you need, and avoid arranging and waiting for a GP appointment that might not always be necessary. Thank you! 🙂
EMERGENCY?
If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 999 immediately.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency contact the crisis team immediately.
Worcester crisis team – 01905 681 915 (24 hrs a day 365 days a year)
Very urgent, but not sure if it is an emergency? Contact 111 for advice.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
For immediately serious conditions such as the following, go to the Emergency Department (A&E) IMMEDIATELY
A fever and lethargic (drowsy) child
A feverish and floppy (unresponsive) infant
Difficulty breathing
Sudden, severe abdominal pain
Accidental or intentional overdose of medication
Trauma (including falls) and possible broken bones or road traffic accident
For real life-threatening emergencies such as those below – RING 999
Chest pain (suspected heart attack)
Anaphylactic shock (severe allergy)
Heavy bleeding or deep lacerations
Fluctuating levels of consciousness or completely unconscious
Difficulty breathing or stopped breathing with a change in colour
New seizure, fit or uncontrollable shaking
Get immediate help for minor injuries
Use your local minor injuries unit if you need medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to A&E or a medical appointment.
Some examples of problems they deal with:
- sprains and strains
- suspected broken limbs
- minor head injuries
- cuts and grazes
- bites and stings
- minor scalds and burns
- ear and throat infections
- skin infections and rashes
- eye problems
- coughs and colds
- feverish illness in adults
- feverish illness in children
- abdominal pain
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- emergency contraception
Get immediate help from your local Pharmacy
Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment
It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
Your local Pharmacist is able to help with minor cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraceptive (most Pharmacies now offer this service) and other common conditions.
No appointment is necessary and your local Pharmacist is usually open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP.
Over the Counter Medicines
A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.
New Medicine Service
The New Medicine Service is available at Pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you’re just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- people who have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
More about the New Medicine Service.
Treat Yourself Better
We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.
Dental Emergency?
Please do not book an appointment with your GP for dental treatment.
For dental emergencies, call the dentist with whom you are registered. You should receive a recorded message advising you of the arrangements that have been made for emergency cover. If you have not registered with a dentist, please try to do so as soon as possible. Dentist’s can perform an appropriate assessment and advise on necessary intervention including use of any antibiotics.
If you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 111
Dental emergencies are: acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth or trauma.
Eye Problems?
Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an optometrist. An optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.
In Worcester, we have access to “MECS” – the minor eye condition service. The service is designed for recently occurring medical eye conditions such as:
- Reduction in vision in one or both eyes
- Red eye(s)
- Pain and/or discomfort in the eyes, around the eye area or temples
- Recent onset or sudden increase in flashing lights and/or floaters in one or both eyes
- Suspected foreign body in the eye
See the link below to see the list of local opticians providing this service.
If your optician is closed and you can’t wait until it reopens call 111
If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.
Have you tried self-care?
A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest. Many patients attend with conditions that would get better with self-care. Studies show that 25-40% of consultations with a GP are unnecessary so it would help if patients only booked an appointment with a GP if they really need to.
Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:
- Upset stomach
- Grazed knee
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Colds & Flu
There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:
Self-Referral Services – No need to see a GP or Nurse you can refer yourself!
We have provided our patients with a list of services that you can self-refer to without the need to see a GP or Nurse. You can normally self-refer by phone, attend a drop in clinic or by completing a self-referral form which you can send via email or post to the service of your choice.
Looking for Worcester Physiotherapy?
Back pain warning signs: Rarely, the discs in your back can press on part of the spinal cord that is responsible for bowel and bladder function. If you suffer from any of the symptoms below, you should visit A&E.
- Loss or decreased sensation around the buttock area.
- Inability to hold on to your urine or bowels.
- Inability to pass urine or get an erection.
- Pain into both legs.
- Progressive weakness in the legs.
Do you need Social Care & Support? ( care/housing/blue badge etc)
If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, this website explains your options and where you can get support.
Need to speak with someone when the surgery is closed?
Call 111
Call 111 to speak to an NHS professional for any urgent health or medical issue.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
If you have an emergency please call 999
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren’t stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Mental Health Crisis?
Worcester crisis team – 01905 681 915 (24 hrs a day 365 days a year)
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
It’s important to use A&E only for serious injuries and major emergencies.
Arrange an appointment with one of our Nursing team
See a Nurse for: blood pressure checks, cervical smears, dressings, contraceptive pill checks, minor injuries and ailments, immunisations, diabetes management, asthma care, COPD, free health checks for 40-70 year olds, travel advice, removal of stitches and clips and B12 injections.
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO COVID-19 OUR NURSE APPOINTMENTS CAN ONLY BE BOOKED BY TELEPHONE
Need medical advice or treatment from one of our doctors?
Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems, may need an appointment with a doctor.