Doncaster local practices are OPEN and have been open throughout the pandemic. Many practices have adapted their consultation process to keep staff and patients safe from the spread of coronavirus by offering telephone and video appointments. However, if you need to be seen by a health professional, you will be.
During the winter, local practices can be very busy and you may have to wait on hold longer than we would like to get through to speak with a care navigator. Please be patient and understand that the triaging process takes a little longer as practices adapt to the pandemic. Don’t forget, you may be able to book appointments online so make sure you are registered for online services with your practice and it may help you save time.
If you’re worried or unwell and want to speak to an expert about your health, you can also call NHS 111 or visit your local pharmacy. If you are worried about someone else and not sure what to do, use the NHS 111 online service for information about a range of health and care services closer to home.
There’s always a GP or health and care professional available in Doncaster – When your GP practice is closed and you need healthcare advice you can contact the NHS 111 service by phone or online (111 or www.nhs.uk/111) where you will be advised of the most appropriate service for your needs. Calls are FREE from landlines and mobiles. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Alternatively, you can access your local pharmacy for self-care advice or visit www.nhs.uk to find local services for your needs.
Last year, Doncaster’s More Choice, More Appointments service went live. Working with Primary Care Doncaster Limited, the service has created an extra 640 appointments per week, or 160 hours of more GP and nurse appointments than ever before, available to all patients registered with a Doncaster local practice.
The aim of the service is to:
- improve access to routine general practice appointments and other related services
- provide additional ‘same-day’ access to primary care services
- improve links across the different parts of the wider urgent and emergency care system locally and
- improve access for vulnerable people who struggle to access or engage with traditional general practice
The extra appointments provide a mixture of same day and pre-bookable appointments. Saturday morning clinics are also available place across four hubs in Doncaster. They provide routine appointments with GPs, Nurses and Health Care Assistants.
First-2-Physio appointments are also available, providing timely assessment and triage of musculoskeletal problems by a Physiotherapist. Patients are now able to be assessed by a Physiotherapist much quicker as a result of this new service.
Same day appointments are also available at the Same Day Health Centre, providing urgent appointments with a GP or Advanced Nurse Practitioner within 24 hours.
In addition, inclusion health drop-in clinics have resulted in improved access for vulnerable people who traditionally find it hard to access care.
We also have the Health Bus touring the town over the winter period where patients across Doncaster will be able to turn up at the health bus on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at various locations across the borough, which will be parked in easily accessible locations from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
The health bus will be available every week until the end of March 2021 – find out where the bus is each week on our More Choice More Appointments webpage or by following our Facebook or Twitter channels.
Urgent Healthcare
If you need urgent healthcare in Doncaster there lots of options, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Same Day Health Centre, Urgent Treatment Centre and your local pharmacist can offer advice and treat urgent conditions; there is always one of these services open.
Particularly over the cold winter months, it is important to think about the service you choose. A recent survey about Emergency Department (ED) services showed that some people in Doncaster choose to use the ED for minor conditions that could be treated much quicker and efficiently elsewhere. Hospitals and ED departments get very busy during winter, and with the added pressure of coronavirus, we really need you to think before you choose this service. Always call NHS 111 if you are unsure where to go.
If yourself or someone you know is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you should call 999 immediately. If not, please consider other options listed above.
Genuine 999 calls include chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe loss of blood, severe burns and scalds, choking, fitting/convulsions, drowning, severe allergic reaction, heart attack, stroke and major trauma such as a serious road traffic accident, stabbing, shooting, fall from height or a serious head injury.
For all the bank holiday opening hours of heath and care services in Doncaster please visit our Bank Holiday public information webpage.