Contacting a Doctor out of hours/weekends/bank/public holidays
NHS Leicester City is responsible for Commissioning the out-of-hours service.
For urgent advice and treatment when the surgery is closed, please telephone 111 for very urgent problems requiring an ambulance please telephone 999.
Leicester City Healthcare Hubs
Appointments at the Healthcare Hubs can only be booked by your GP Practice. This applies during practice opening hours.
Your GP practice may book an appointment for you at a healthcare hub if they are unable to see you themselves.
Opening Times:
- Monday to Friday: 8am to 10pm
- Weekends and bank holidays: 8am to 8pm
- Opening times may vary between sites.
If you practice is closed, call NHS 111 for advice.
Find out up to date information about the healthcare hubs, including locations and opening times: www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/healthcare-hubs
Find out more about the healthcare hubs by visiting :
www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/healthcare-hubs
www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/find-a-service/you-and-your-gp-practice
NHS 111
NHS 111 is available to all our patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones - just dial 111. This service will:
- Give medical advice or information when the surgery is closed
- Help you to access the correct local urgent health care service if you need urgent care, at any time.
You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency. When you call 111, a trained advisor will ask you questions to find out what's wrong, give you medical advice and direct you to someone who can help you, like an out-of-hours doctor or a community nurse.
NHS 111 uses Type Talk for people who are hard of hearing, and has interpreters available for callers who do not speak English.
You can call 111 from anywhere in England.
When to use it
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it's not a life-threatening situation. Call 111 if:
- You need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
- You think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- You don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
- You need health information or reassurance about what to do next
For less urgent health needs, contact us at the surgery or your local pharmacist in the usual way.
If a health professional has given you a specific phone number to call when you are concerned about your condition, continue to use that number.
For immediate, life-threatening emergencies, continue to call 999.
NHS Urgent Care/Walk-in Centres
These offer fast and convenient access to a range of NHS services, including health information, advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses (cough, colds, infections) and minor injuries (strains, sprains, cuts). These centres should only be used when the surgery is CLOSED. Patients to be seen within normal surgery hours are encouraged to always contact the surgery first.
Your local Urgent Care Centre provides care 24 hours a day every day and can be found at:
Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester, LE1 5WW
Loughborough Urgent Care Centre, Loughborough Hospital, Hospital Way, LE11 5JY Tel: 01509 611 600
Oadby Urgent Care Centre, 18 The Parade, Leicester, LE2 5BJ Tel: 0116 271 1360 open weekdays 8am to 9pm and weekends/Bank Holidays 8am to 8pm
Walk in Centres:
Merlyn Vaz Health Centre, Spinney Hill Road, Leicester, LE5 3GH Tel: 0116 2429450 open 8am to 8pm 365 days a year.
Accessing the Emergency Department at the Leicester Royal Infirmary
The Leicester Royal Infirmary Emergency Department has been designed with patients in mind and to treat people who are ill or injured and need treatment quickly. There is clear signage around the building that will explain where you need to go and what you can expect.
The Emergency Department has separate adults’ and children’s entrances and waiting areas.
You can access the Adults’ Emergency Department from Aylestone Road. There is a 20 minute drop-off zone outside the main entrance, or you can use the multi-storey car park on Havelock Street. Please follow the signs.
The Children’s Emergency Department entrance is completely separate and can be found on Infirmary Square. There is a 20 minute drop-off zone outside the main entrance, or you can use the short stay car park between the Balmoral, Jarvis and Kensington Buildings. Follow the signs.
When you arrive at the Emergency Department, please report to reception. You will be assessed by a nurse who will decide which member of our team can best treat you. If staff feel you do not need emergency treatment, they will give you advice about where to go or help you make an appointment with your GP if necessary.
If you need treatment, you will be given a unique number and asked to take a seat in the ‘Blue Zone’ where you will wait your turn for treatment. Please watch the screens around the department which will call you when it is your turn to be seen. We understand that waiting can be frustrating; however, patients with a greater medical need must be treated first.
In some instances, if clinical staff feel that you are more ill than you are aware of, you may be taken into another area for treatment.
Staff aim to treat and either discharge or admit you within four hours of your arrival. If at any point your condition gets worse whilst waiting, please inform a member of staff so they can address your concerns immediately.
Visiting an emergency department can be stressful and frightening, that is why the building has been designed to reduce that stress as much as possible. Experienced staff will do their best to reduce anxiety for you or your loved one.
Remember you should only visit the Emergency Department if it is a real emergency. If it is not an emergency but you still need healthcare advice, there are a wide range of suitable alternatives:
- you can visit a pharmacist
- you can visit your GP
- If you are registered with any GP practice in the City you can get an appointment with a GP or prescribing nurse at one of three Healthcare Hubs, including during evenings weekends and bank holidays. Call 0116 366 0560 or NHS 111 to book your appointment for the same day or up to 48 hours in advance. Visit https://www.leicestercityccg.nhs.uk/find-a-service/healthcare-hubs/ for more information
- there are Urgent Care Centres, primary care hubs or walk in centres across LLR, information on how to access these can be found online via NHS Choices or by calling NHS111
- Call NHS 111 for free healthcare advice if you are unsure where to go or what to do, they will be able to assess your needs and arrange onward care including booking appointments or arranging a home visit if this is required.
Download a map of Leicester Royal Infirmary. [EXTERNAL LINK]
View our normal opening hours.