How does the emergency out-of-hours GP practice work?

An experienced doctor’s assistant will answer the phone when you call the emergency out-of-hours GP practice. She will ask you about your symptoms. She’ll also ask you about any regular medication and your insurance details. Make sure you have this to hand. Make sure you also take your proof of identity with you to the out-of-hours GP practice. This is compulsory and can be requested. The assistant can (depending on your symptoms):

• give advice without you speaking to the GP yourself. This will concern symptoms which, from a medical perspective, can wait until you can visit your own GP. All advice is carefully checked by the duty doctor at the practice within one hour (self-care advice)
• ask the GP to call you back (telephone consultation)
• make an appointment for you at the emergency out-of-hours GP practice (consultation)
• arrange for a GP to come to your home (visit)