Feeling unwell?

Making the right choice helps us all.

To help you choose the right healthcare service, we have compiled this guide to ensure you get the right care from the right people.

A&E

Accident and Emergency Departments are for serious and life threatening illness and injuries.

Hospital accident and emergency departments are for people with serious injuries or illness, or life-threatening emergencies such as severe chest pains, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness or bleeding that can’t be stopped.

For patients 16 years and older. The Accident and Emergency Department at Southport and Formby District General Hospital is open 24 hours a day seven days a week for serious injuries or illness and life-threatening conditions that cannot be dealt with by your pharmacist, GP or at a NHS walk-in centre.

For patients 15 years and younger. The children’s Accident and Emergency Department at Ormskirk District General Hospital is open between 08.00am and midnight, seven days a week for serious injuries or illness and life-threatening conditions that cannot be dealt with by your pharmacist, GP or at a NHS walk-in centre.

Please watch this video and help us to reduce waiting times so we can get the quickest and best care to those who need it most.

Concerns about children

Doctors at Alder Hey hospital have produced a brilliant symptoms checker which gives detailed information on a growing number of children’s illnesses and conditions.

For children over three month’s this booklet, When Should I Worry – your guide to coughs, colds, ear ache and sore throats, provides useful information if you are concerned about the health of a child. You should not rely on it for children aged three months or less. Babies younger than this can respond differently to infection.

Ormskirk children’s A&E is open 08.00am to midnight. More information here.

NHS 111

Residents in Southport, Formby and West Lancashire who are in need of urgent – but not emergency care – are being asked to contact NHS 111 first, before travelling to hospital.

Use the online service: www.111.nhs.uk or freephone 111

Trained advisors are available 24/7 for urgent medical help or advice.

They can also arrange appointments for you to see the right health care professional in the right place.

111.nhs.uk can help you with: 

• where to get help for your symptoms, if you’re not sure what to do 
• how to find general health information and advice 
• where to get an emergency supply of your prescribed medicine 
• how to get a repeat prescription 
• get emergency dental appointments 

You should still ring 999 if you experience: 

• signs of a heart attack like pain like a heavy weight in the centre of your chest 
• signs of stroke such as your face dropping on one side 
• difficulty breathing 
• heavy bleeding that won’t stop 
• seizures 
• or sudden and rapid swelling of the eyes, lips, throat or tongue

Your Local Urgent Treatment / Walk-in Centres

No matter where you live, there are local centres to choose from.

They are open 365 days a year, including Christmas day and bank holidays, to treat all sorts of urgent illnesses and injuries.

West Lancashire Urgent Treatment Centre is to the left of the main entrance to Ormskirk hospital and Skelmersdale Walk-in Centre is at The Concourse. These services are provided by HCRG Care (formerly Virgin Care) who ask you to contact NHS 111 before travelling to either centre.

Litherland Walk-in Centre, between Aintree and Seaforth and operated by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, has a telephone triage and appointment system. Book an appointment before visiting by calling 0151 475 4667.

Your GP

If you are feeling unwell with a non-urgent health concern, contact your GP practice.

All local GP practices are open and face-to-face appointments are available for those who need them. Evening and weekend appointments are also available across all areas.

Contact your local GP practice directly online or by telephone.

Your Pharmacist

Search online for 'find a pharmacy'

Pharmacists are experts in medicines. They can offer advice and treatments for a wide range of illnesses and injuries.

They are also trained to tell you when your symptoms mean you need to see a doctor.

With early morning and late night opening times, 365 days a year, there will always be a pharmacy open near you.

Emergency Dental Treatment

• In West Lancashire, call 01772 777 397
• In Southport and Formby call 0161 476 9651

Mental health and wellbeing

If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse or deteriorates, this can be called a ‘mental health crisis’. In this situation, it is important to get help quickly. 

If you need help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support is available for children, young people and adults

If you live in Liverpool or Sefton:

If you feel you are in crisis:

Mersey Care provide telephone support for people aged 16 and over experiencing a mental health crisis via the freephone number below.

For urgent mental health support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Freephone: 0800 145 6570

If you live in Lancashire or South Cumbria:

If you are in need of wellbeing and mental health support but don’t feel you are in crisis contact:

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Wellbeing and Mental Health Line

Monday to Friday 7.00pm until 11.00pm. Saturday to Sunday 12.00pm until Midnight.

Freephone: 0800 915 4640

If you feel you are in crisis:

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) Mental Health Crisis Line

24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need urgent help as you are in mental health distress, then there is always someone you can call.

The Mental Health Crisis line is staffed by trained mental health professionals who are able to provide assessment and referrals to appropriate services – ring it if you need to access services or for advice about someone who needs treatment/support.

Freephone: 0800 953 0110

Self Care

• Remember to order your repeat prescriptions well in advance so that you don’t run out!
• Speak to your pharmacist about what to keep in your medicine cabinet or search online for NHS medicine cabinet
• A basic first aid kit is essential, you can buy one in most pharmacies or supermarkets.

Search ‘NHS medicine cabinet’ or use this QR code