Feeling ill and your GP practice is closed?

There is a multiplicity of services in this increasingly fragmented NHS. Where do you go when you're ill? 
With A&E waiting times typically of several hours and likely to get worse this winter, it seems many choose that option. But is it the best? If you you haven't had an accident and it's not an emergency (chest pain, collapse, loss of consciousness etc) then probably not.  Many people visiting A&E are making the wrong choice and are delaying the care of more urgent cases. Should they instead have chosen a walk-in centre, urgent care centre, GP out of hours service, visited a pharmacist or checked what to do on-line?
So, how to choose, if you're not sure? 
A good starting point is to ring NHS 111 which has a directory of all local services. If it's not urgent and they are busy, you may have to wait a while until someone calls you back. You will be asked about your problem and a computer will help the adviser to decide on the level of urgency and give you advice or direct you where to go or call a doctor to visit or an ambulance to take you to hospital. The computer usually plays ultra-safe so you may be unexpectedly advised to go to A&E anyway! 
Another great place to check is NHS Choices which has more and more information about health problems and how to manage them. 
If you're not sure what might be wrong, try the excellent NHS Choices Symptom Checker 
If you want a more detailed overview of the options for help available and which it is most appropriate to use, try RightCare4U 

Here is some information about local services usefully provided by our Patient Participation Group:

BRENT GP ACCESS CENTRE at WEMBLEY CENTRE FOR HEALTH & CARE  

116 CHAPLIN ROAD WEMBLEY MIDDX HA0 4UZ  Tel 0208 900 6020

This is open to anyone, who lives in Brent. 

Open 8am to 8pm 7days a week no appointment needed, GPs and Nurse Practitioners work at this site and provide the sort of service you'd expect to find at a GP surgery. 

There is now NO minor injuries unit at this site.
More information here. 

EDGWARE WALK IN CENTRE

EDGWARE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL  BURNT OAK BROAD WAY LONDON HA8 0AD 

Tel 0208 732 6459

Open 7am to 9pm 7 days a week

Treats minor injuries and illnesses such as for cuts that require stitches, grazes, strains and sprains, insect bites, minor burns and minor illnesses such as tonsillitis, urinary tract infections and emergency contraception.  Children can be seen but there is no paediatrician on site so you may then have to go to Barnet hosp or Northwick Park. Any fractures again have to go on to A&E dept though there are Xray facilities during the day.
More information here. 

BRENT URGENT CARE CENTRE,  CENTRAL MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL -  

ACTON LANE  NW107NS   Tel 0208 965 5733

Open 24hrs 7 days/ week. Run by GPs and extended nurse practitioners.

It is for minor injuries and illnesses not life threatening conditions. E.g sprains, minor burns, cuts (including those needing stitches ), minor infections and X-rays. If a fracture is discovered you have to go on to an A&E dept. Children can be seen but there is no paediatrician on site and you may have to be referred on to A&E services at Northwick Park.
More information here. 

NORTHWICK PARK HOSPITAL

WATFORD ROAD HARROW MIDDX HA1 3UJ  Tel 0208 864 3232

When you arrive you will be triaged at desk and sent to:

        Urgent Care Centre – for minor injuries or illnesses, including fractures, ( that is where the long wait is  and why sometimes, if appropriate, it is better to go to CMH or Edgware)

        A&E for major problems

        Paediatrics A&E

More details here