Who should I See?
Please consider what the best options for your healthcare are, based on the urgency of your condition and nature of your ailment. General Practice work in conjunction with other Primary Care providers such as Opticians and Pharmacists, who can deliver advice and treatment within the Community, so make sure you get to see the right person, at the right time, in the right place.
This may save you time in getting the help you need, and avoid arranging an unnecessary appointment with your Doctor.
Have you tried self-care?
A range of common illnesses such as cold and flu and minor injuries can be treated at home simply by combining a well-stocked medicine cabinet with plenty of rest. Many patients attend with conditions that would get better with self-care. Studies show that 25-40% of consultations with a GP are unnecessary so it would help if patients only booked an appointment with a GP if they really need to.
Examples of the ailments best treated by yourself are:
- Upset stomach
- Grazed knee
- Common cold
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Colds & Flu
There are a wide variety of helpful Self Care information and resources available which could help you to treat your illness without the need for an appointment:
Self-Referral Services – No need to see a GP or Nurse you can refer yourself!
We have provided our patients with a list of services that you can self-refer to without the need to see a GP or Nurse. You can normally self-refer by phone, attend a drop in clinic or by completing a self-referral form which you can send via email or post to the service of your choice.
Get immediate help from your local Pharmacy
Visit a Pharmacy for healthcare advice without an appointment
It is estimated that every year, 50 million visits to the GP are made for minor ailments such as coughs and colds, mild eczema, and athlete’s foot. By visiting your pharmacy instead, you could save yourself time and trouble.
Your local Pharmacist is able to help with minor cuts, sprains, aches and pains, colds and flu, headaches, rashes, cystitis, emergency contraceptive (most Pharmacies now offer this service) and other common conditions.
No appointment is necessary and your local Pharmacist is usually open late, is available at weekends and many public holidays. It will also save you making an appointment with your GP.
Over the Counter Medicines
A GP, nurse or pharmacist will generally not give you a prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a range of minor health conditions.
New Medicine Service
The New Medicine Service is available at Pharmacies to give you extra help and advice if you’re just starting on a new medicine for one of the following conditions:
- asthma
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- type 2 diabetes
- high blood pressure
- people who have been given a new blood-thinning medicine
More about the New Medicine Service.
Treat Yourself Better
We support the campaign to encourage people to self-treat minor ailments such as colds and flu. The Treat Yourself Better Without Antibiotics website is full of information to help people understand when how long they can expect their symptoms to last for, when they need to see a doctor and when they would be better off visiting their local pharmacist for advice.
Eye Problems?
Whatever your eye problem your first port of call should be an optometrist. An optometrist is the best person to assess urgent eye problems, check for eye disorders and treat eye conditions. They have the professional training and necessary equipment to assess most eye problems.
Oxfordshire Minor Conditions Services (MECS)
Oxfordshire CCG has set up a service know as Oxfordshire Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS) to allow patients living in Oxfordshire to see a local and specially trained optometrist for minor eye conditions instead of their GP. This service is a free service, and is not an sight test.
If you have a red, sticky, itchy, dry or gritty eye, or a red patch has appeared in the last week or so, they advise that you contact a pharmacy.
Contact a MECS optometrist if you have: • Recently occurring flashes and/or floaters • Painful eye including pain with bright lights • Ingrowing eyelashes • Recent problems with your vision • Foreign body in the eye
Our local participating opticians are Robert Stanley and Patricia Hayselden in Wallingford.
The MECS optometrist will be able to suggest treatments and if they feel that you need to be seen in the Eye Casualty, they will be able to arrange this for you.
Eye emergencies should be seen at the Oxford Eye Hospital Eye Casualty, or Royal Berkshire Hospital Eye Casualty or in A&E when the Eye Casualty is closed.
What is an eye emergency?
- Chemical liquids splashed in the eye.
- An injury to the eye in which the eye ball or lids are lacerated or objects enter the eye, such as sharp instruments or metal.
- A suddenly blind and painful eye which causes sickness and general feeling of being unwell.
- After an eye operation, a suddenly painful, red, swollen eye in which the vision has unexpectedly deteriorated.
- Patients following corneal graft surgery in which there is no pain, but for whom vision has rapidly deteriorated.
- Shadows or ‘curtaining’ in the field of vision which is painless but may be associated with flashing lights or an increase in seeing black specks or blobs (floaters).
- A red and painful eye associated with wearing contact lenses.
- Painful eyes.
- Sudden loss of vision with no other symptoms.
If your optician is closed and you can’t wait until it reopens call 111
If you sustain an eye injury that requires immediate emergency treatment go to your nearest Accident and Emergency.
Dental Problems including dental emergencies?
For dental problems including dental emergencies, call the dentist with whom you are registered. You should receive a recorded message advising you of the arrangements that have been made for emergency cover. If you have not registered with a dentist, please try to do so as soon as possible. Dentist’s can perform an appropriate assessment and advise on necessary intervention including use of any antibiotics. GPs do not have dental training and it is inappropriate for them to give treatment for dental problems. Dentist are able to prescribe painkillers and antibiotics if they recommend them.
If you require emergency treatment, you should contact NHS 111
Dental emergencies are: acute dental pain, facial or oral swelling, bleeding from the mouth or trauma.
Do you need Social Care & Support?
If you or someone you know needs help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability, this website explains your options and where you can get support.
Need to speak with someone when the surgery is closed?
Call 111
Call 111 when we are closed to speak to an NHS professional on any urgent health or medical issue.
Calls are free from landlines and mobiles.
Urgent Care Centre
Urgent treatment centres are a facility you can go to if you need urgent medical attention, but it’s not a life-threatening situation.
At the moment, the NHS offers a mix of walk-in centres, urgent care centres, minor injury units and urgent treatment centres, all with different levels of service.
If you have an emergency please call 999
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren’t stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can’t be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Mental Health Crisis?
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis at the weekend, you can get help by calling the Oxford Safe Haven on 01865 903037 from 5-9 pm.
The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day to provide support at times of mental health distress.
It’s important to use A&E only for serious injuries and major emergencies.
Get immediate help for minor injuries
Use your local minor injuries unit if you need medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to A&E or a medical appointment.
There is a First Aid Unit run by Wallingford Medical Practice during surgery opening hours. Please contact the practice on 01491 835577 and we will be able to advise you on whether your injury is suitable for the First Aid unit or whether you need to attend a Minor Injuries Unit or the Emergency Department.
Arrange an appointment with one of our Nursing team
Book an appointment with a member of the nursing team by calling 01491 835577
See a Nurse about: anticoagulation checks, blood tests, blood pressure checks, cervical smears, dressings, family planning advice, contraceptives, coil and implant fitting, minor illness clinic, immunisations, injections, diabetes management, asthma care, COPD care, heart and stroke reviews, free health checks for 40-70 year olds, travel advice, removal of stitches and clips etc.
Need medical advice or treatment from one of our doctors?
Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems, may need an appointment with a doctor.
