top of page

Urgent Medical Help

Not sure who to contact about your medication? Choosing the right service can help you get advice more quickly.

Need urgent help?​​

 

Southend Coastal Surgeries can assess many medical problems during our opening hours, but please remember:

A GP surgery is not an emergency service.

​

We do not have the same emergency facilities, equipment or response capability as an ambulance service or hospital Emergency Department (A&E).

​

If someone is seriously ill or injured and their life may be at risk, do not contact the surgery or submit an Anima request.

Call 999.

Call 999 in a Medical Emergency

Examples of medical emergencies can include:

​

  • Signs of a heart attack, such as severe or crushing chest pain, particularly if it spreads to the arm, neck or jaw

  • Signs of a stroke, including sudden facial weakness, arm weakness or speech problems

  • Severe difficulty breathing, such as gasping, choking or being unable to speak

  • Someone who has collapsed, is unconscious or is not responding normally

  • Severe or uncontrolled bleeding

  • Choking

  • A seizure, particularly where emergency assistance is needed

  • A severe allergic reaction with breathing difficulties or swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue or throat

  • A serious accident or major injury

  • Severe burns or scalds

​

Do not wait for the GP surgery to respond if you believe someone's life is at risk. Call 999 immediately.

Urgent, But Not an Emergency?

If you have an urgent medical problem during our opening hours that is not life-threatening, please submit a medical request through Anima.

​

Give us as much information as possible about your symptoms so our clinical team can assess your needs and determine the most appropriate next step.

​

Depending on your symptoms, you may receive advice, treatment, a prescription, an appointment or be directed to another NHS service.

​

​

​​

​

If you are unable to use Anima, please contact the surgery and our Care Navigation team can help you submit your request.

When Should I Use NHS 111?

If you need medical help right now but it is not a life-threatening emergency, NHS 111 can assess your symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate service.

​

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and may direct you to an urgent treatment centre, pharmacy, out-of-hours GP, A&E or another appropriate service.

​

Use NHS 111 if:

​

  • You need urgent medical help and are unsure what to do

  • You think you may need urgent treatment but it is not life-threatening

  • The GP surgery is closed and your problem cannot wait

  • You are unsure whether you need A&E

  • You need advice about where to get the right care

​

USE NHS 111 ONLINE

​

​

What a GP Surgery Cannot Provide

Southend Coastal Surgeries is not an Emergency Department or ambulance service.

​

Please do not use the surgery as an alternative to emergency care when someone requires immediate hospital assessment or emergency treatment.

​

We cannot provide the emergency response required for problems such as:

​

  • Suspected heart attack

  • Suspected stroke

  • Severe breathing difficulties

  • Major trauma or serious accidents

  • Severe uncontrolled bleeding

  • Severe burns

  • Serious head injuries

  • Life-threatening allergic reactions

  • Someone who is unconscious or unresponsive

  • Other immediately life-threatening conditions

​

Calling or visiting the GP surgery first in a medical emergency could delay you getting the emergency treatment you need.

 

Remember

​

Minor ailments → Pharmacy / Self-care
Eye problems → Optician

Minor injuries → A&E

Dental problems → Dentist 

Life-threatening emergency → Call 999

Urgent but not life-threatening → NHS 111 or contact the surgery during opening hours

Routine medical problem → Submit an Anima request

bottom of page