Out of Hours Service
Our Out of Hours GP Service is provided by Herts Urgent Care (HUC).
HUC provide telephone advice, home visits and can also arrange for you to be seen at a Primary Care Centre for appropriate medical treatment. If the condition is serious, they will arrange transport to hospital via an ambulance.
HUC provides the NHS 111 service in Hertfordshire (see below). If you are calling from a Hertfordshire phone area, you can contact HUC outside normal surgery hours for free on 111.
NHS 111 Service
Wherever you are in England, if you need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency, you should call 111. This will direct you to your local Urgent Care provider (e.g. Herts Urgent Care).
You should use the NHS 111 service if you urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not a life-threatening situation. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
NHS Walk-In Centres
At NHS Walk-In Centres (WICs), you can see a nurse/GP without an appointment.
They offer advice, assessment and treatment for minor ailments and injuries. Please note, WICs are not designed for treating long-term conditions or immediately life-threatening problems.
Your nearest NHS Walk-In Centres are:
- Edgware NHS Walk-in Centre, Edgware Community Hospital
- West Herts Medical Centre, Hemel Hempstead Hospital
- Finchley NHS Walk-in Centre, Finchley Memorial Hospital
Hospital Minor Injuries Units
If you sustain an injury that is not serious or life-threatening, you should attend a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) rather than going to an Accident and Emergency department.
Your nearest Minor Injuries Unit is:
Integrated Urgent Care Hub
The Integrated Urgent Care Hub treats urgent but not life-threatening health conditions. It offers appointments between 9am and 6pm, seven days a week and provides access to diagnostic services such as x-rays.
Patients are booked into the service, often with same day appointments, through NHS 111 or their GP practice. It is not a walk-in service.
You can see the latest information on all of our Emergency and Urgent services at:
Our services and departments: West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (westhertshospitals.nhs.uk)
There is also a Minor Injuries Unit at:
Urgent Care Centres
You can also visit an Urgent Care Centre if you need urgent medical treatment or advice which does not need a visit to A&E. Urgent Care Centres treat most injuries and illnesses that are urgent but not life-threatening. You don’t need to book an appointment – just turn up and you will be seen by either a doctor or nurse.
Your nearest Urgent Care Centres are:
- Barnet Hospital Urgent Care Centre (located within the emergency department)
Open 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week - Urgent Care Centre, Hemel Hempstead Hospital (Jubilee Wing)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - Watford General Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre
Open 8am to 2am 7 days a week
Accident and Emergency Departments
Accident and Emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to treat serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses. If an ambulance is needed you should dial 999. You can also dial 112, which is the emergency number throughout the EU.
Your nearest A&E departments are at:
Please note: If your injury is not serious or life-threatening, you should attend an Urgent Care Centre or Minor Injuries Unit rather than an A&E department. This will save you a potentially long wait.
