Get To Know Where To Go - Choosing Where To Go For Your Healthcare

If you are feeling unwell and need help, make sure you know how to use your local health services
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Using your GP 

You should always contact your GP practice first if your concern is not an emergency. If you cannot get an appointment then call NHS 111 or use your local pharmacy for advice. 

If you need to see a doctor when your GP is closed, then call the out of hours service: – 

BARDOC - on 0161 763 8940 – from 6.30pm to 8.00am weekdays and all weekend.

Using NHS 111

Dial 111 if you need help with a health concern and advice and information on how to manage it. They can also arrange for you to attend an Urgent Treatment Centre at your local hospital if necessary. An urgent treatment centre helps with minor illness and injuries.

Using your local pharmacy

Sometimes there is no need to contact your GP as your local pharmacist can help you with health issues, such as some minor infections, and in some cases issue prescription medicine without seeing a GP. See the following Information:

  • Acute earache, for ages 1-17 years
  • Impetigo (itchy rash), for ages 1 year and over
  • Infected insect bites, for ages 1 year and over

  • Shingles, for ages 18 years and over
  • Sinusitis (blocked/bunged up nose), for 12 years and over
  • Urinary Tract Infections (burning feeling when peeing), for women 16-64 years

When to use Accident and Emergency (A & E)

Accident and emergency should only be used for life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks, serious road traffic accidents, and if you are having chest pain, shortness of breath, broken limbs, heavy bleeding, suspected stroke. Dial 999 if you need an ambulance. Try your GP, NHS 111 or pharmacist first before attending A & E.

Urgent Dental Care

If you don’t have a regular dentist then the urgent dental care service can help you. This is for emergency dental treatment only. 

Call 0333 332 3800. The service is available from 8am to 10pm every day and is by appointment only. The service is free for children, but there is an NHS charge of £26.80 (exemptions may apply).

Mental Health Support

The Bolton Single Point of Access Team is based at the Lever Chambers Centre for Health. The function of the Single Point of Access team is to take referrals for Bolton residents and direct them to the most appropriate service. The service accepts referrals from General Practitioners, social care professionals, and other health professionals for service users with mental health and psychological needs. 

Members of the public can self-refer for talking therapies to help with anxiety and depression-related difficulties.

You can contact the Single Point of Access Team by telephone on 01204 483101 from 9am to 5pm. 

Bolton Listening Lounge

The Bolton Listening Lounge provides a safe space for people who are experiencing mental distress or feel they are going through a personal crisis. Our service staff can support people with low level calming interventions and make referrals to a variety of supportive services. Open from 3pm to 10pm everyday including weekends and bank holidays.

How to contact Bolton Listening Lounge

 01204 917739 

 boltonll@family-action.org.uk

Support for Carers

Bolton Carers Support is a charity that provides confidential information and support to unpaid carers over the age of 18.

01204 363056

Email – info@boltoncarers.org.uk

·Bolton Carers Support, Thicketford Centre, Thicketford Road, Bolton, BL2 2LW

Urgent/Crisis Pathways

If you are a service user in crisis, please use the following advice:

Where Do I Go For My Healthcare?

If you feel unwell and you need help - download our handy printable guides in English, Punjabi, Urdu and Gujarati. You can also view the video below which is verbally translated into Urdu.

Handy Guide in English
Handy Guide in Urdu
Handy Guide in Punjabi
Handy Guide in Gujarati