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If you need us, we are here - out-of-hours GP

BBC Dr Silvana McCaffrey smiling, seated in her office. She has a purple lanyard on with space ships and stars. Her hair is pixie cut and grey. She has blue eyes and a kind smile. She is wearing a black turtle neck jumper. BBC
Islanders are being encouraged to still ring their GP if needed over the festive period

Guernsey's out-of-hours GP service is reminding people it is open over the festive period for regular queries while other surgeries are closed.

It is part of a push to avoid overwhelming the Emergency Department during the holidays.

The out-of-hours service sees calls diverted from the usual surgery numbers to an on-call system provided by the island's three Primary Care Practices and based at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Dr Silvana McCaffrey, clinical lead for out-of-hours primary care, said: "We're here. If your surgery is closed, we are open."

She said: "If it's something you call your GP about, call us."

The service is open year round from 18:00 to 08:00 the following morning on weekdays and from midday on Saturday until 08:00 on Monday.

It also provides cover on Bank Holidays.

A telephone line is manned by the Emergency Department Receptionists, which diverts calls from someone's usual surgery.

Costs vary from £25 for all under-18 consultations, to £282 for a home visit between 23:00-08:00.

The Outpatient unit at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. There is a blue symbol of a person with a sling on their arm on the white wall. A small Christmas tree is placed on the reception desk, with gold flowers on it. There are a few leaflets next to the tree. A welcome board is on the wall next to a brown cupboard door.
The GP out-of-hours service operates from the Outpatient Department

The types of appointments available are:

  • Primary Care Centre appointments based at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital
  • Emergency Department (A&E)
  • Telephone Consultations
  • Home visits for the housebound
Dr S McCaffrey, Clinical Lead, Out of Hours Primary Care A blue diagram of six arrows. The first: "If the GP surgery were open, I would be calling for an appointment. The second: "Ring GP Surgery." The third: "Call diverted to Out of Hours Primary Care." The fourth: "details (brief description of the issue, name, dob,address, contact number." The fifth: "3 Types of Consultation Telephone consultation Primary Care Centre face to Face Home Visit for the Housebound." The Sixth: "Your surgery will invoice you for the consultation at a later date."Dr S McCaffrey, Clinical Lead, Out of Hours Primary Care
The service has released a guide to how to access primary care when surgeries are closed

Dr McCaffrey explained what it can be like working on Christmas day: "Generally speaking, the atmosphere in the hospital is always very good at Christmas.

"We may be having a bit of toast in the kitchen in between things... but it's always an important time to be there.

"It is important to recognise the work being done."

The department has also advised islanders to prepare for the holiday season by:

  • Making sure to obtain your regular prescriptions well before the holidays
  • Ensure you have simple pain relief and dressings in your home
  • If you are due for vaccinations arrange to have them

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