If you are ill or get injured outside normal working hours there are a number of different ways you can be treated. The following information gives advice on where you can get help for health problems outside of normal working hours depending on the nature and severity of your illness or injury.

Call or visit NHS Direct
Visit your local community pharmacy
Visit a walk-in centre
Call the out-of-hours GP service
Call 999 (only if it's an emergency)

Call or visit NHS Direct

This service is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. It gives advice on what to do if you’re feeling ill and you’re not sure what to do. They can also give you details of local services from late night pharmacists to emergency dentists. Visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or call 0845 46 47.

Visit your local community pharmacist

Community pharmacies are open longer than your GP. They are often open at weekends, and can be open late at night or on a bank holiday. Pharmacists are qualified medical professionals and can give you advice about common symptoms, medicines and healthy living. NHS Direct 0845 46 47 can tell you where to find your nearest community pharmacy.

Pharmacies with early and late opening times

The following pharmacies are open 100 hours a week, when many other pharmacies are closed.

• Hexham - Tesco Pharmacy, Tynedale Retail Park. Tel: 01434 654447
• Monday, 8.00am - 10.30pm
• Tuesday - Friday 6.30am - 10.30pm
• Saturday, 6.30am - 10.00pm
• Sunday, 10.00am - 4.00pm

• Hexham - Lloyds Pharmacy, Hexham Primary Care Centre, Corbridge Road, Hexham. Tel: 01434 603596
  
• Monday - Saturday 8am - 11pm
• Sunday 10am - 8pm

• Blyth - Alliance Pharmacy 60-62 Maddison Street. Tel: 01670 546092
  
• Monday - Saturday 7.30am - 11.00pm
• Sunday, 9.30am - 8.00pm

• Ashington - Central Pharmacy, Lintonville Terrace. Tel: 01670 856633
• Monday - Saturday 7.00am - 10.30pm
• Sunday 10.00am - 5.00pm

• Cramlington - Sainsbury Pharmacy, Manor Walks. Tel: 01670 739379
• Monday - Saturday 7.00am - 11.00pm
• Sunday, 10.00am - 4.00pm

• Morpeth - Wellway Pharmacy, The Surgery. Tel: 01670 510005
• Monday - Saturday7.00am - 10.00pm
• Sunday 8.00am - 6.00pm

A list of pharmacies which stock specialist drugs is also available to download below. This list includes details of pharmacy opening times and includes many pharmacies which are open early and late.

• Pharmacies across Newcastle, North Tyneside Northumberland with early and late opening hours

If you urgently need a prescription at a time when no pharmacy is open please call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 who will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Out of hours GP services

GP practices are generally open between 8am - 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The services provided when your GP is closed are called out of hours GP services. If your GP surgery is closed and you need to see a doctor or nurse urgently, please phone the out of hours GP service for the area where you live.

If you live in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland or South Tyneside call Northern Doctors Urgent Care on:

0300 123 4343

When you ring the out of hours GP service, you will be asked to give your details and to describe how you are feeling. The out of hours service advisor will tell you what care you need based on this information. A doctor or nurse may need to talk to you over the phone, you may be asked to go to an out-of-hours centre or a doctor may come to see you at home.

A doctor will visit patients who are seriously ill or who cannot leave the house because of their health or other issues. The out of hours service advisor will tell you about home visits and what time you can expect the doctor or nurse at your home.

The out of hours GP service will not issue repeat prescriptions. These need to be ordered from your own GP and pharmacy and collected during normal working hours. If you do run out of medication your local community pharmacist will provide an emergency supply. Please take empty prescription medicines with you to show the pharmacist what you been prescribed and some identification.

NHS walk-in centres and primary care access centres

At walk-in centres and access centres you can be seen for minor injuries such as coughs, cold, flu, cuts, sprains, minor burns and broken bones.

At most walk-in centres you do not need to make an appointment but it is worth telephoning in advance to check that you can be treated - particularly for young children. At nurse led clinics you can be treated for minor conditions, have dressings changed and wounds checked. Call ahead for a full list of the services available.

There are walk-in centres and drop in services at:

• Newcastle - Westgate Walk-in Centre, at Newcastle General Hospital, open 8am -10pm, seven days a week including bank holidays. No appointment is needed. Telephone 0191 256 3163.

• Newcastle - Molineux Street Walk-in Centre, based at the Molineux Street NHS Centre, off Shields Road, Byker. Open 8.00am - 8.00pm, seven days a week, including bank holidays. No appointment needed. Tel:  0191 275 5862

• Newcastle - Ponteland Road Health Centre,169 Ponteland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 3AE. Open 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Tel: 0191 271 9030 or visit www.pontelandroadhc.co.uk

• Northumberland - Wansbeck Primary Care Access Centre, based next to accident and emergency on the Wansbeck General Hospital Site, is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm but closed on bank holidays. Please call ahead to make an appointment on 01670 529 205. 

• North Tyneside – Battle Hill Walk-in Centre, Battle Hill Health Centre, Belmont Close, Wallsend, NE28 9DX. Open 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Tel: 0191 295 8520 or visit: www.battlehillhc.co.uk

There are minor injuries units at:

• Northumberland - Minor Injuries Units at Alnwick Infirmary and Berwick Infirmary treating minor illnesses and injuries are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tel: 08448 118111 and ask for either Alnwick minor injuries or Berwick minor injuries

• Northumberland - Rothbury Minor Injuries Unit at Rothbury Community Hospital. Tel: 01669 620 555. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  

• Northumberland - Blyth Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit. Tel: 08448 118111 and ask for Blyth Minor Injuries. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 

• Northumberland - Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital Minor Injuries Unit. Tel: 01434 320225 and ask for Haltwhistle Minor Injuries Unit. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Northumberland - Wansbeck Primary Care Access Centre, based next to A&E at Wansbeck General Hospital site. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, closed on bank holidays. Please call ahead to make an appointment on 01670 529205.
  

• Newcastle - Royal Victoria Infirmary Minor Injurys Unit, Richardson Road. Open 8am - 4pm - seven days a week. No appointment needed. Tel: 0191 282 0531

• North Tyneside - Minor Injury Clinic, Shiremoor Health Rescource Centre, Earsdon Road, Shiremoor open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5.45pm, not including Bank Holidays. No appointment is needed but it's worth calling in advance. Minor injury enquiries telephone: 0191 297 9000.

Out of hours dentistry

If you are experiencing severe dental pain outside of normal working hours please contact the out of hours dentistry service on 0845 608 0324. This service is available Monday to Friday from 6.30pm to 11pm, at all times during the weekend and on bank holidays from 9am to 10pm.  

Accident & emergency and 999 services

Please only dial 999 or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency if the illness or injury is life threatening or can’t wait. Unless you need urgent medical attention it is best to avoid A&E as it keeps the service free for those with critical injuries and illnesses.

You should dial 999 immediately if you or someone else is seriously ill, for example if someone:

• Has had a major accident
• Has problems with breathing
• Has severe chest pains
• Is unconscious
• Has lost a lot of blood

You local accident and emergency departments are based at the following hospitals.

• Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)l - 0191 233 6161
• North Tyneside General Hospital - 0844 811 8111
• Hexham General Hospital - 0844 811 8111
• Wansbeck General Hospital - 0844 811 8111
• University Hospital of North Durham - 0191 333 2333