How to use urgent care services in North Tyneside
With North Tyneside’s new Urgent Treatment Centre now open at North Tyneside General Hospital (Rake Lane), we have a range of services to meet local people’s urgent care needs.
What is urgent care?
Urgent care services provide medical care for minor injuries and minor illnesses which are not life-threatening.
Examples of urgent care needs include:
- Minor head, ear or eye problems
- Sprains, strains, cuts and bites
- Children’s minor injuries and ailments
- Abscesses or wound infections
There are several ways to get medical help when you feel ill:-
NHS 111
If you have an urgent medical concern, call NHS 111. Fully trained advisors are available 24 hours a day and can put you through to healthcare professionals to ensure you get the right medical attention in the most appropriate place.
Pharmacy
Your local pharmacist is a trained medical professional who can provide free advice on the best treatment for a wide range of minor illnesses including:
- Coughs and colds
- Sickness and diarrhoea
- Aches and pains
- Runny noses
- Hay fever
- Headaches
- Healthy eating advice
- Emergency contraception
- Stopping smoking search www.nhs.uk for your nearest pharmacy.
Getting a GP appointment is easier than ever!
GP practices in North Tyneside are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm.
Your local NHS now provides hundreds of additional GP appointments every week in North Tyneside, including evenings and weekends. These can include telephone appointments, video consultations and face to face consultations.
Call your practice to find out more.
You can access a GP Video Consultation
You can book a GP video consultation if you are registered at a North Tyneside practice with Livi. Just download the app and register to join the service. Appointments area available Monday to Friday 7am – 10pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am – 4pm.
Urgent Treatment Centre
The new Urgent Treatment Centre at North Tyneside General Hospital offers GP-led healthcare for patients with minor injuries and minor illnesses.
North Tyneside’s Urgent Treatment Centre is at:
North Tyneside General Hospital
Rake Lane, North Shields, NE29 8NH
- Walk-in access available 8am to midnight every day
- If you have an urgent medical concern outside these hours, call 111
Emergency care
Emergency care services provide care for people with serious or life-threatening needs.
Examples of serious or life-threatening care needs include:
- Suspected stroke
- Loss of consciousness
- Persistent and severe chest pain
- Severe burns and cuts
- Serious head injuries
If you think you are suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness or injury, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. For North Tyneside residents, the nearest Emergency Department will usually be the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, or the Northumbria Healthcare Specialist Emergency Care Hospital at Cramlington.
From 1 October 2018, our Emergency Departments are for emergencies only. Patients who walk into an Emergency Department with less serious problems, such as coughs, colds, and general aches and pains, will be referred back to an appointment with primary care.
Looking after yourself and your family
Check your first aid kit is well stocked.
Be prepared with basic medical supplies, eg pain relief tablets, plasters and antiseptic wipes.
The NHS website www.nhs.uk can help you understand how to treat some health conditions such as a common cold.
If you are a parent or carer of a child under 5, search ‘NHS child health’ for a free app to help you look after your child’s health.