What to do in an emergency

If you have chest pain or a life-threatening emergency you should always call 999.

The emergency GP service operates when your GP surgery is closed. If you have a medical condition that isn't life-threatening but cannot wait until the surgery opens, you should telephone your usual doctor's surgery and a recorded message will inform you of the number to call to speak to the doctor on duty.

The duty doctor will offer you medical advice over the telephone or advise you to attend a consultation at the out-of-hours surgery. In exceptional circumstances, the doctor may arrange a home visit. The out-of-hours doctor's surgery, based at Noble's Hospital is not a drop-in service and patients should note that they will not be seen by the duty doctor without an appointment.

The service is available from 6pm to 8am Monday to Friday, with 24-hour cover over weekends and bank holidays.

This present emergency GP service changed in two respects from 1st April 2003: First, the present service, which applies to the patients of all GPs except patients registered with the Ramsey, Laxey and Port Erin group practices, will be extended to include those patients and thus become an all-island service; Second, responsibility for operating the service passes from MannDoc (a GP run co-operative) to the Primary Health Care Division of the Department of Health and Social Security.