'Please use Our of Hours responsibly' says Trust

21/12/04

Health chiefs have today issued a request for patients to use the new Out of Hours service responsibly over the Christmas and New Year period.

Out of Hours lead for Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust, Justine Rawlings, explained that the NHS needed to make sure that every member of the team working in the new Out of Hours service was making the best use of their time by responding to urgent medical enquiries only.

The new Out of Hours Service officially went 'live' across the county in October and provides urgent treatment or care to patients who, for medical reasons, cannot wait until their GP surgery re-opens. It is a service run by dedicated Out of Hours staff including doctors and specialist nurses.

Ms Rawlings said: "We are still receiving some inappropriate calls from members of the public who do not require urgent medical help.

"It is even more important during the Christmas and New Year period that the service is not having to handle routine enquiries - such as requests for repeat prescriptions or test results. The public can play their part by using the Out of Hours service responsibly."

The PCT is reminding patients that their GP surgery is no longer routinely open on a Saturday morning and is closed on public holidays.

Over Christmas, GP surgeries will be closed for four consecutive days (Dec 25, 26, 27, 28) and will also be closed for three consecutive days over the New Year period (Jan 1,2,3).

Patients are advised to plan ahead and ensure they have ordered and collected repeat prescriptions in advance from their GP surgery and have sufficient medication to meet their needs.

If patients are not sure whether they need to see a doctor or not they should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.