! No matter how busy our Emergency Department is, the most seriously ill and injured patients will always be seen immediately.

Get urgent medical help

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Get urgent medical help

When you use the right NHS service, you get the right treatment sooner.

Call 999 in an emergency

No matter how busy our Emergency Department is, the most seriously ill and injured patients will always be seen immediately. If you choose to visit us and do not need urgent or emergency treatment, you will be safely supported to access an alternative service.

Major emergencies include:

  • Blacking out or losing consciousness
  • Severe chest pain that won’t go away
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Heavy bleeding that won’t stop
  • Severe burns or scalds
  • A severe allergic reaction
  • Stroke symptoms (e.g. face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech)

If you’re not sure what to do or where to go, go to NHS 111 online.

Coming to the emergency department

The emergency department (A&E) is for serious medical emergencies. If your condition is not life-threatening, other services may be more suitable.

Who can come with you?

  • You can bring one adult with you.
  • If the waiting area is full, they may be asked to wait outside.

Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)

 

You may be referred to our UTC if you attend our Emergency Department with a minor condition, where you will be offered a pre-booked appointment.

Appointments can be made by calling 111. Please arrive within 10 minutes of your allocated appointment. We cannot always guarantee you will be seen immediately.

If you feel your condition changes or worsens, we would advise you return to the Emergency Department for re-assessment, or call/ visit 111 or 999.

If you need to change or cancel your appointment, please call 01204 390300 to speak to our team.

If an urgent care service is not right for your problem, there are alternative services below.

Self-care/ Pharmacy

Pharmacists (or chemists) are healthcare professionals who can give you expert advice on treating minor illnesses and injuries, including:

  • Coughs, colds and sore throats
  • Tummy upsets
  • Aches and pains
  • Earache
  • Skin rashes
  • Baby teething
  • Nappy rash
  • Emergency contraception (not provided by all pharmacies)

You don’t need an appointment to see a pharmacist, and many are open late and at weekends.

Find your nearest pharmacy.

GP

Your GP (doctor) practice can help with lots of different health issues, including:

  • Persistent cough (3 weeks or more)
  • Ongoing sore throat (1 week or more)
  • Continuing earache (3 days or more)
  • Headaches that keep coming back
  • Cystitis (water infection) that won’t go away (3 days or more)
  • A breast lump
  • Blood in your wee or poo
  • Worries about the menopause
  • Feeling low or anxious
  • Ongoing or long-term conditions

Your GP out-of-hours service is for health problems that can’t wait until the next day.

For details on how to contact the service, call your practice and listen to the recorded message, or, you can phone BARDOC directly on 0161 763 8940.

  • Mon – Fri 6.30pm – 8am
  • Sat and Sun 8am – 8am (24 hours)

You can also access a number of different appointments for routine care and the management of more complex, long terms conditions.

Find your local GP practice

Urgent Dental Service

If you have pain in your mouth, teeth or gums, contact your regular dentist, if you have one.

If they’re closed, or you do not have a regular dentist, call the Greater Manchester Urgent Dental Care Service on 0333 332 3800.

Bolton has one urgent dental care site, but you can access any of the 13 in Greater Manchester.

Urgent Eye Service

If you are experiencing a range of recently occurring conditions such as a sudden loss of vision, red or painful eyes or eyelids, flashes and floaters or a foreign body in the eye, and you are registered with a Greater Manchester GP practice, you can contact this service.

They can assess and treat you depending on where you are based.

More info

Mental Health

Call NHS 111 and select option 2 (mental health) if you, or someone you know, is in a mental health crisis. It is available 24/7, and you’ll speak to a mental health professional who can help you find the right support.

If there’s an immediate risk to life ring 999 or go to ED.

Sexual Health Services

If you need help for an urgent sexual health issue, including emergency contraception, or you think you have been exposed to HIV, please contact the team as soon as possible on 01204 390771.

If we are not open, you can get emergency contraception from your GP or local pharmacy.

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