NHS 24 takes calls from G-MEDS practice patients who need urgent medical advice when their own surgery is closed. A nurse will give advice but if necessary will arrange for a doctor to see the patient.

The service operates from 6.00pm to 8.00am MONDAY to FRIDAY and from 6.00pm FRIDAY until 8.00am MONDAY.

NHS 24 can be contacted on

08454 24 24 24

What will happen when I call the 08454 24 24 24 number?

When you call the NHS 24 telephone number the person who answers will take your name and address. You will then be passed to a fully trained nurse who will ask you about your symptoms, or the symptoms of the person for whom you are calling. The nurse will assess the symptoms and then decide whether advice is all that is needed or whether a doctor should see the patient at a Centre or at home if medically necessary. In a serious or life threatening situation the nurse will arrange an ambulance for you.

Will a G-MED doctor still see me?

YES, if this is necessary. Patients who need to be seen by a G-MED doctor will be. If you, or a member of the family, need to be seen by a doctor when your surgery is closed, then NHS 24 will contact G-MED. The nurse will already have taken details of the illness and the current symptoms. With you permission, the nurse will pass this information to G-MED and arrange for the patient to be seen either at a G-MED centre (most likely Aboyne) or, if medically necessary, at home. Going to a G-MED Centre to see a doctor is accepted to be safe and makes best use of the doctor's time. If a child is so ill that hospital admission is required, the child will have to leave the house at some point, so the sooner the better. Patients who are terminally ill, too frail or so ill they cannot leave the house, will be visited at home, if necessary, by a doctor.

What if I'm not sure whether I need to see a doctor or not?

The advantage of having NHS 24 working with G-MED is that you can call NHS 24 if you or someone you know is worried about a health-related problem but you're not sure if you need to see a doctor.

What information should I have ready when I call NHS 24?

As far as possible you should have details of the illness clearly in your mind before making the call. Any medicines being taken should also be at hand or have a list of them ready, as you will be asked about them

Should I still call 999 in an emergency?

YES. I someone is seriously ill, for example with chest pains, severe bleeding, serious difficulty in breathing, or has collapsed then you should dial 999 as you would normally expect to do.

What about a possible serious illness?

I you are unsure whether an illness is serious or not you can call NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24. NHS 24 will give you advice on what to do and will also arrange an ambulance and a doctor, if this proves necessary.

Should I call NHS 24 during the day?

NHS 24 is a 24-hour, 365 days a year service and you can contact it at any time. However NHS 24 will not be involved with making appointments for daytime surgeries. If you need to see a doctor, telephone the surgery as usual for an appointment or test result when the surgery is open. Please do not call NHS 24 for a repeat prescription, routine appointment or test result