Out-of-hours GP Service Posted or Updated on 16 Jul 2024

GP Practices across Southend Victoria Primary Care Network are working together to provide the right services at a time which is convenient for you.

We’ve listened to feedback from people in our local area, and we are making changes to our out-of-hours consultations to deliver better services for you.

The new way of delivering out-of-hours consultations will give you:

• Access to more healthcare professionals. This new service will be delivered by professionals including GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants and paramedics.
• More choice about the type of consultation you want. These include a mixture of in-person face-to-face, and remote consultations like telephone, video, or online consultations.
• Make it more convenient for you to travel to out-of-hours appointments. These are being planned and delivered locally, so it is likely they will available closer to your home.

From Saturday 1 October 2022, out-of-hours consultations will be available from 6.30pm to 8.00pm on weekdays, and from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays.

When we asked local people what you wanted from these consultations you told us you told us you would like more on weekday evenings. In response we have made sure there are consultations every weekday evening between 6.30pm and 8.00pm.

Out-of-hours consultations were previously planned by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) on behalf of many GP practices in a bigger area. From Saturday 1 October 2022, this is now being planned and delivered locally by Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

An out-of-hours consultations might not be at your regular GP surgery. When you book a consultations, you will be told where it will be.

These consultations will not be available as walk-in consultations. You will need to book them in advance

To book an out-of-hours consultation, you should contact your regular GP practice in the usual way. They will advise you on what is available, and which healthcare professional is the right person to help you.

If you need medical help now but it's not an emergency, you can also go to 111 online or call 111.