NORTH Essex residents are being asked to make sure they know who to contact if they are unwell.
Doctors’ surgeries will be closed for four days over Christmas and research by consumer guide Which? showed people still do not know which healthcare service to call out-of-hours.
A spokesman for NHS North East Essex said: “People have a number of options available to them if they require treatment or advice outside of normal GP hours.
“Ultimately, there is the accident and emergency department at Colchester General Hospital, but this should be used as a last resort, not a first resort.
“Health advice around the clock is available from NHS Direct. Locally, the Colchester Walk-in Centre and minor injury units at Clacton Hospital and the Fryatt Hospital, Harwich, provide services at various times out-of-hours.
“The local GP out-of-hours service can also be used for urgent medical problems, which cannot wait until the patient’s own GP practice re-opens..”
“Half the GP practices across North East Essex now offer extended opening hours, while certain pharmacies are open out-of-hours.”
For more details, visit north eastessex.nhs.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here