BEDOC - Bedford On Call |
05 September 2010 |
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Patient Information Bedoc - Bedford On callWhat we do :Bedford On Call is a group of local family doctors [GPs] whose practices are in the Bedford PCT area. Patints from all 26 practices in the area are covered as is anyone staying with someone registered at one of the Practices. The doctors have agreed to work in shifts from the Bedoc Centre at Bedford South Wing Hospital to provide medical care for their patients outside normal surgery hours.When are we open :Weekdays : Monday to Friday 18.30 - 23.00Weekends and Bank Holidays : 08.00 - 23.00 Nights : 23.00 - 08.00 Centre closed duty doctor available for advice and visits Self help :If the problem is not urgent and can wait until the surgery reopens, please wait. The first step is to treat yourself. The local Pharmacist is qualified to help and can provide advice and information on treating minor ailments at home.NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 can also advise on treating non urgent medical conditions, they will also tell you if your problem is more serious and you need to contact a doctor. How to access our service : Call your own surgery or 0845 850 0734Call to this number are charged at local rate. Think before you call. You should only call the doctor out of hours for urgent medical problems.You can also call your own surgery number and the call will either be transferred to Bedoc or you will be given the above number to ring.Requests for repeat prescriptions and GP appointments cannot be dealt with out of hours. Your call will be answered by an NHS direct call handler who will request a brief description of the problem and record the patient's name, telephone number and address. If your problem is deemed urgent or life threatening they will summon an emergency ambulance. You will be called back by a doctor who will assess your problem. It may be possible for the doctor to give advice on the telephone or they will invite you to be seen at the Bedoc Centre. Calls to NHS Direct and Bedoc are recorded and may be used for monitoring and training purposes. Bedoc Centre :If you do need to see the doctor or nurse you will be given an appointment to attend the Bedoc Centre at Bedford Hospital South Wing. Patients are strongly discouraged / not allowed to just present at the Centre as all calls need first to be triaged by the doctor .You should go to the main Accident and Emergency department on Ampthill Road and ask for Bedoc. You will be seen by the duty doctor or nurse and treated accordingly. Details of your consultation will be forwarded to your own doctor before the next working day. Transport :If you are considered well enough to travel but do not have your own transport you will need to ask a relative or friend to bring you to the Bedoc Centre. Alternatively travel by bus or order a taxi if it is too far to walk.Bedoc does not provide patient transport. Home visits :If you need a home visit the duty doctor will need to decide if a visit is appropriate. Home visits are usually only done for terminal patients or if the patient is too ill to travel.Prescriptions :Bedoc prescriptions will need to be taken to a Pharmacy in town as the hospital pharmacy is only open office hours and not able to take GP prescriptions. For a list of Out of Hours Pharmacies see margin entryIf the Community pharmacies are closed and the doctor agrees that you need treatment before the Pharmacy re-opens then your prescription may be dispensed by the Accident & Emergency department nurses from a limited supply of emergency drugs. Requests for repeat prescriptions cannot be dealt with out of hours. Dental problems:Most dentists provide Out of Hours cover like doctors so the first thing to do is to contact your own dentist.The Dental Access centre at Bedford Hospital North Wing 01234 310210 operates an emergency dental service for people who are not registered with an NHS dentist. Page: patient1 |
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