'Out of Hours' medical cover is currently provided by a local doctors cooperative called HUC (Herts Urgent Care) which provides care to the whole of Hertfordshire. It is one of the few areas in the country where local GPs are deeply involved trying to maintain locally sensitive services to patient during out of hours. Many areas in this country rely on private profit making organisations to do this work.
The aim of HUC Doc is to provide HIGH QUALITY out of hours services to local people and provide continuity of care:
- Weekdays From 18:30 – 08:00 the following morning
- Saturday & Sunday All day
- Bank & Public Holidays All day
The doctors who provide this service include some of your own GP's from Davenport House Surgery and other GPs from other St. Albans & Harpenden practices on a rota basis.
Patients can ONLY attend the Emergency Centre by first contacting HUC on 111.
This allows essential information to be taken and your problem to be prioritised. If needed an appointment time is then given to attend the centre to help reduce unnecessary waiting times for patients.
The centre is not always attended by a doctor even if the minor injury unit is open to minor causalities. There maybe only one doctor at certain times who may be out visiting for some time. To turn up unannounced will only waste time and cause potential inconvenience to you.
How does it work?
Herts Urgent Care is a telephone access service, which means that we expect people to contact us initially by telephone, and to speak to a GP about their health issue. The GP can then decide how best to care for you, which may involve a face-to-face consultation at one of our Primary Care Centres.
When you telephone Herts Urgent Care you will reach one of our highly trained call-handlers. They will take your personal details and a few details about why you are calling. You will be advised that a GP will call you back to discuss your health issue.
A GP will telephone you on the number you have given, and will discuss your health issue in detail. He/she will then be able to make a decision on the best way to deal with your health issue.
Self-care
The GP may be able to advise you how to help yourself/your relative, with over-the-counter medicines or things you can do at home. They may also prescribe a medicine for which you require a prescription. This can be collected from one of our Primary Care Centres, and taken to a pharmacy for dispensing.
Primary Care Centre
The GP may wish to make you an appointment so that you can be seen face-to-face by one of our GPs for a more in-depth consultation, or to undertake some routine tests (such as a urine sample).
Please arrive at the centre on time for your appointment, as this helps us to keep the system running smoothly.
Home Visit
If you are very unwell, or it would be very difficult for you to travel to a Primary Care Centre due to your health issue, you may be offered a home visit. This is when the GP will come to examine you in your own home.
For more information on HUC please visit their website: www.hertsurgentcare.com