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Get the right care

We want you to be able to get the right care, at the right time and in the right place when you need NHS help and treatment.

Often people go to A&E when you could receive quick and effective help and support closer to home to help you recover as quickly as possible.

Save your A&E teams for those who most urgently need their specialist help this winter.

111

If you need advice, support or information about where you can get urgent medical help, call NHS 111.

Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, you can get advice or directions to the closest, most appropriate NHS service. The trained advisors can also connect you to the GP out-of-hours service.

Calls to 111 are free from landlines and mobile phones.

They can direct you to the nearest minor injury centre, urgent treatment centre, or book an appointment with an out of hours doctor.

Minor Injury Units

Minor Injury Units provide a walk-in service if you need help for conditions including sprains, minor burns, cut and grazes, and minor skin infections.

Minor Injury Units offer effective, expert help when you don’t need to go to A&E. 

You can download a guide to all of the NHS services available locally from the box on the right of this page. 

Evening and weekend GP and nurse appointments

GP and nurse appointments are now available during the evening up to 8pm during the week and during clinics on a Saturday and Sunday for people across Coastal West Sussex.

The appointments are available at local GP access hubs, run from GP surgeries and are for routine and urgent appointments with a doctor, nurse or healthcare professional.

The teams see new illnesses when you urgently need to see a health professional, and offer planned appointments such as family planning and smear tests that can be hard to arrange whilst at work or when you are caring for family or a loved one.

You book into the GP access hubs via your normal GP practice, and you may be offered an appointment at one of the hubs at the weekend if you call NHS 111 for urgent health advice and support.

The hubs may be at your GP practice or they may be at a neighbouring GP practice locally in the community around you.

The teams will have access to your medical records with your consent, and any care they provide will be added to your notes so your GP practice can continue any ongoing care.

Treat yourself better at home

A well-stocked medicine cabinet can help you and your family to get the best treatment as soon as possible for many signs of cold and flu.

If you are unsure, or you have questions about what you can have at home to treat you and your family, visit your local pharmacist for free, effective advice and support.

Common winter ailments can typically last for between one and three weeks - for example, a sore throat can last 1 week; a cold 1.5 weeks; and a cough 3 weeks.

Unsure how long your symptoms will last and when to get further medical advice? Visit a day-by-day symptom checker to know what symptoms to expect and what you can do to treat yourself.

Ask a pharmacist

Pharmacists offer free expert advice on many health issues, support for self-care, and medicines to treat common complaints such as coughs and colds, flu, sore throats, earache, backache, stomach upsets and cuts and grazes.

They are open throughout the week, and run an out-of-hours rota so that there are pharmacies open outside of normal opening hours across the Coastal West Sussex area.

To find your nearest pharmacy, visit the NHS website or call 111.

Need urgent dental treatment?

If you need urgent dental help and advice during normal surgery hours please contact your own dentist or the Dental Helpline on 0300 1000 899.

If you require urgent dental treatment outside of normal surgery hours you may contact the Emergency Dental Service.

Emergency eye conditions

The Sussex Eye Hospital provides a 24-hour service for emergency eye treatment.  This is a walk in service Mon-Fri 9am-5pm but call ahead outside these hours:

  • Sussex Eye Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5BF
  • 01273 696 955

Sexual health advice and family planning - including emergency contraception

Discreet and confidential services are available for sexual health advice and issues and family planning, including emergency contraception. All services can be contacted via the central booking line 0845 111 3456, including for opening times (which do vary). Further details can be found on the Sexual Health West Sussex website.

  • Bognor Regis Shripney Unit, Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
  • Chichester Sexual Health Clinic, St Richard’s Hospital
  • Lancing, New Pond Row Surgery
  • Littlehampton Children and Family Centre, Clun Road
  • Worthing Sexual Health, 45 Rowlands Road

Mental health crisis support

Support services are available for people suffering from mental health problems who are at risk and may not be able to keep themselves safe, or who are considering attending A&E for help with their mental health.

  • Sussex Mental Healthline - 0300 5000 101
    Monday to Friday 5pm – 9am, and 24 hours at weekends and Bank Holidays 
  • Samaritans - 116 123 - call free for emotional support any time day or night

Advice from the NHS website

The NHS website is the biggest health website in the UK and is tried and trusted by doctors. It helps you:

  • Check your symptoms to see if you need further treatment
  • Better understand your health so you can stay well
  • Find out what services are available if you need treatment or support
  • Get advice on how to care for yourself when you do become ill or unwell