Your Local Health Services
Need a local health service?
Looking for a local health service in Barnsley? Simply click on the links at the side of this page to take you to the latest information.
Choose Well
The Choose Well guide below helps you select the most appropriate NHS service if you fall ill.
Choose Well can be used whenever you need help, so that you can judge the best place to go for help and reduce pressures on NHS services.
Using the wrong services not only costs the NHS millions of pounds each year, but also prevents urgent appointments being available to those who need them most.
Choosing Well will make sure you receive the best possible treatment, leaving emergency services to those who need them most.
Self Care
A lot of illnesses and symptoms can be treated in your own home by using a well stocked medicine cabinet, keeping warm, eating well and by getting plenty of rest.
Essential items for your medicine cabinet include paracetamol or aspirin, anti-diarrhoea medicine, cough medicine, indigestion remedy, plasters,thermometer and antiseptic cream.
When and why?
Self Care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries.
Your local pharmacist can advise on useful items for your medicine cabinet. Use our online service directory to find your local pharmacist.
NHS Direct
NHS Direct provides a 24 hour service. Confidential advice and information is available from nurses and professional advisors. Information is also available from the internet. Telephone 0845 4647* www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
When and why?
Contact NHS Direct at any time if you are ill and need advice about your symptoms or condition, information about your local health services (Doctors, Dentists or Pharmacies), information about self help or support organisations or if you have any questions about health issues.
Call 0845 4647 to speak to them or visit them online at the NHS Direct website.
*For patient safety calls to NHS direct are recorded.
Pharmacist (Chemist)
Your local pharmacist is a highly trained health professional and can give you advice on medicines and how to take them, coughs, colds, aches and pains and other health issues such as healthy eating and giving up smoking.
Most pharmacists now have a quiet area away from other customers where you can speak to the pharmacist privately.
When and why?
Visit your local pharmacy when you are suffering from common health problems that do not require a nurse or a doctor.
Use our online service directory to find your local pharmacist.
GP (Doctor)
Of course, sometimes you will need to go the doctors. You can make an appointment with a doctor or a nurse at your practice for medical advice, examinations, treatment, prescriptions and immunisations.
Out of hours medical assessment and treatment is also available. If you need this service telephone your local surgery and follow the recorded instructions.
When and why?
Make an appointment with your local GP (doctor) when you have a common illness or injury that will not go away. Out of hours medical assessment is always available. Use your GP (doctor) service when you need treatment or advice that does not need a visit to A&E.
Use our online service directory to find your local GP.
A&E or 999
The Accident and Emergency Department at Barnsley Hospital provides immediate emergency care for people who show the symptoms of serious illness or are badly injured. If you call 999 for an ambulance, the telephone advisor will arrange for appropriate assistance for the patient based on the information provided about their illness or injury.
A&E departments tell us that around 4 in every 10 people who go to A&E don't need to. This wastes valuable time and resources needed for real emergencies. It is often very obvious if someone is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care.
When and why?
Emergency Services are very busy. You should only go to A&E or call 999 in serious life threatening situations where emergency care is needed.
