The Hywel Dda GP Out of Hours Service provides cover for urgent medical problems only, for the whole of Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, as well as between 6.30 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday to Friday.
Residents in Carmarthen, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire can dial 111 for free if they need urgent medical advice when their surgery is closed.
111 is a FREE to call phone number for residents in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire to dial if they require urgent healthcare support and advice. Until now people have had to use different numbers to contact each service. Instead of replacing NHS Direct Wales and GP Out of Hours, the 111 number brings them together with support from additional clinical and non-clinical staff.
People calling 111 will firstly speak to a specially trained call handler who will ask a series of questions. This will allow the service's experienced healthcare professionals - nurses, and during evenings, weekends and bank holidays, GPs and pharmacists - to prioritise calls so the most seriously ill are treated first. Depending on the urgency of their condition, callers will get a call back from a nurse, doctor or pharmacist during the out of hours period.
Crucially, call takers are trained to recognise when there is a threat to life. So people who dial 111 but really need an ambulance will be put straight through to the emergency ambulance service.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing and do not use British Sign Language or have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone, you still contact 111 via Next Generation Text/ Text Relay (previously known as Type Talk) by dialling 18001 111. If you do not have access to a computer, smartphone or tablet you can use InterpreterNow 7 days a week, between 8.00 a.m. and midnight by going to their website.
This service is commissioned by the Hywel Dda Local Health Board.