What to do in an Emergency

When it comes to your health or the health of someone in your family, it is often very obvious if the person is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care. An emergency is a critical or life-threatening situation.

If you think there is an emergency please dial 999.

Should I call for an Ambulance?

RING 999 for an Ambulance if you answer YES to any of the questions below or are in any doubt about anything of concern:

Severe chest pain:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?
• Is the pain a crushing pain like a band around the chest?
• Is the pain moving into the jaw or arms?
• Does the patient feel sick?
• Is the patient sweating or clammy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Unconscious:

• Is the patient unconscious?

Semi-conscious (or ‘floppy’ baby or child):

• Is the patient semi-conscious or floppy with any other of the following symptoms
• Difficult to wake? Stiff neck? Severe headache? Child with a high pitched whimpering cry? Purple or blood coloured rash? Photo-phobic?
• Is the patient a diabetic? Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient having chest pains?
• Has the patient got a history of heart problems?

Overdose and Semi-conscious:

• Is the patient unconscious or very drowsy?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?

Overdose and fully conscious:

• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient a danger to himself?
• Is the patient a danger to others?

Severe breathlessness or collapse:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient semi-conscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?
• Is the bleeding uncontrollable?

Serious head injury / Road accident:

• Is the patient unconscious?
• Is the patient having breathing difficulties?
• Is the patient fitting?
• Has the patient received a crushing or penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdo or thigh?

Epilepsy / Fitting:

• Is the patient still fitting? Is this the patient’s first fit?
• Has the patient received a serious injury to the head?

If you need a doctor urgently

Day or Night: If you need a doctor urgently phone: 01935 474353 but please note we are not an emergency service and will get back to you as soon as we are able. If in doubt please ring 999.  

The receptionist will take appropriate action to contact a doctor.

Out of Hours: If you need a doctor urgently and you call us out of hours, a recorded message will explain how to access help or advice.

If you require general medical advice you can telephone NHS 111 24 hours a day on 111 or visit the NHS 111 website. this si the Out of Hours Number. 

If you need to be seen you will be asked to go to the Primary Care Centre based at either Taunton, Yeovil or Bridgwater, or if you are too unwell to attend you will be visited at home.