Emergency help for the person you care for

If you care for someone who cannot look after themselves without your support, you may be worried about what you would do and how you would react in an emergency.

There are a number of ways in which you can respond and get the help that you need.

GPs

Always keep the phone number for your local GP handy. Out of normal surgery hours you will be redirected to the urgent GP / Nurse centre which provides cover for GPs from 6.30pm to 8am during the week and all day at weekends and Bank Holidays. Or you can phone them direct, out of normal surgery hours on 01793 646466 and they will advise you if the person you care for has medical needs that cannot wait until your surgery is next open.

Urgent GP / Nurse Centre

When you need medical help fast but it isn't a 999 emergency, call 01793 646466. The Urgent GP / Nurse Centre is a walk-in centre where no appointment is required. It can be accessed directly, if you feel your condition is such that you cannot wait for an appointment to see your own GP.

Accident & Emergency

Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6BB. Phone: 01793 604020

Emergency Services

In an emergency, ring 999 for immediate help from the Ambulance, Fire or Police.

Adult Social Care

Contact the Adult Social Care Team on Careline 0800 085 6666 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm Friday (except on public holidays). In an emergency, out of these hours, phone the Emergency Duty Team on 01793 436699.

Planning ahead for emergencies

Forward planning can take the 'emergency' out of the situation for you.

Carers Emergency Card Scheme is a great scheme that helps you develop a plan for what might happen if you had an emergency yourself and were unable to carry out your normal caring responsibilities. When you register, the plan will be agreed giving details of family, friends or local organisations who can take over from you in an emergency.

You will be given a card which has a 24 hours telephone number and your own ID number to identify your personal emergency action plan. In the event of an emergency or something happening that prevents you continuing to care for your loved one or friend, the service will implement the support detailed on your Emergency Plan. This could mean simply contacting a family member, neighbour or friend who can help support the person you care for.

Click here for Carers Emergency Card Scheme

'Message in a Bottle' is an emergency information scheme that could save someone's life! You place a small plastic bottle in your fridge containing details of any other family, friends or local organisations who can take over your caring role in an emergency. Then you put specially designed stickers on your fridge door and on your front door to let people know it's there. This means that should the emergency services need to come to your house they will know exactly where to look for this important information.

To find out more information, email: [email protected]