Definition
Outside normal surgery hours you can call NHS 111 Wales. The out-of-hours period is from 6.30pm to 8.00am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.
NHS 111 Wales is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for medical advice across all of Wales. Telephone consultations and triage (an assessment of how urgent your medical problem is) are an important part of all out-of-hours care. NHS 111 Wales is a phone service giving health information and nurse advice.
Health Boards are responsible for providing a high-quality service for the local population. Some Health Boards provide care themselves. Others provide care through external organisations. This means different areas can have slightly different services. Search for your Health Board for more information on out-of-hours services care in your area.
Types of out-of-hours care
Out-of-hours cover may include some or all of the services below:
- GPs working in A&E departments, or minor injuries units (MIUs).
- Teams of healthcare professionals working in primary care centres, A&E departments or MIUs.
- Healthcare professionals (other than doctors) making home visits, following a detailed clinical assessment.
- Ambulance services moving patients to places where they can be seen by a doctor or nurse, to reduce the need for home visits.
What do I do if I need to see a doctor outside of normal surgery hours?
Outside normal surgery hours you can call NHS 111 Wales to access the GP Out of Hours service.
What do I do if I am ill while I'm away from home?
If you fall ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but you need to see one, you can still contact your nearest surgery to ask for treatment.
You can receive emergency treatment for 14 days. After that you will have to register as a temporary or permanent patient.
Temporary registration allows you to be taken onto the doctor's list for a three-month period. If you have a doctor but are away from your home area, you can register temporarily with a doctor near where you are currently staying and still remain a patient of your permanent doctor.
Try to have the following information available when you see a doctor for the first time:
- Details of your on-going medical problems.
- Details of medical problems you have suffered in the past.
- The name of any medicines that you are currently taking.
- Details of anything you are allergic to.
- Contact details of your regular or previous doctor.
Find out more about 'What to do out of hours – including evenings, weekends and bank holidays'