Out of Hours Services

Since November 2004, emergency medical cover from 18.30 at night until 08.00, and at weekends and Bank Holidays  has been the responsibility of South Gloucestershire Primary Care services (currently South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group). They currently commission Brisdoc who operate from various bases in the area including Yate and Southmead. The majority of doctors working at Brisdoc are local Bristol GPs including from the Thornbury area.

The reorganisation of the Out of Hours services (OOH), which was previously run directly by the local Thornbury GPs, came about as a result of government-led changes. These have made small OOH GP cooperatives unfeasible, and hence the migration to larger corporate entities with sophisticated telecommunications and teams of receptionists, nurses, doctors and drivers. In line with other governmental NHS policies, these services have been made more corporate  (including 111) and are put out to tender.

If you have an urgent medical problem, and phone our emergency line (281312), you will be put through direct to 111 .  This is the new 24 hour urgent call handling service that has replaced previous ways of contacting the out of hours health system including NHS Direct. You will initially speak to a receptionist who will take your details and triage your condition. If your condition or that of the patient you are calling about is critical, you will be advised to call 999. Otherwise, a nurse or doctor will call back as soon as they are available. If it is decided that you need to see a doctor, you will be asked to attend an out of hours centre run by Brisdoc  in North Bristol unless your condition renders you unfit to travel except by ambulance, in which case a visit will be organised.

For more information on 111, follow the link.

Dental Emergencies

GPs and Brisdoc are not legally qualified or equipped  to deal with dental problems, either during normal working weekdays or out of hours.  If you need urgent dental advice or think you need to be seen for a dental problem that can’t wait during out of hours, there is now a new centralised service for the Avon area run by the Primary Care Trusts on 0845 120 6680. Please note that a charge is made if you are seen by this service (currently £15.50 at the time of publishing this page.)

During working hours, your nearest available NHS dentist can be located through 111.