Out of Hours Emergencies
For out of hours emergencies (18:30 to 08:00, and at weekends) patients need to ring 111 for the NHS out of hours service.
If you need to be seen you will be asked to visit the emergency clinic which is based in Stowmarket Health Centre, Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket or Riverside Clinic, Landseer Road, Ipswich.
On dialling 111 a team of fully trained advisers and experienced nurses will assess your condition and direct you to the local service that can help you best, when you need it. That could be your GP surgery, an out of hours GP, A&E, a local urgent care centre, emergency dentist or a late opening pharmacist.
Remember the Out of Hours Service is for urgent problems only. Please do not contact the service for a second opinion or for anything which can wait until the next working day.
If you have a minor ailment you could visit your local pharmacy who will be able to provide you with some help or signpost you onto the next available service.
In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency.
Mental Health Crisis?
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you, or someone you know, experiences a life-threatening medical or mental health emergency. These are cases where there is immediate danger to life or physical injury. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a medical emergency. If you feel like you may be close to acting on suicidal thoughts or have seriously harmed yourself, you should call 999 or go to A&E directly if you need immediate help and are worried about your safety.
You can go to any hospital’s Emergency Department; in East Suffolk please go to Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich or for the West of Suffolk you can go to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds. The number for Ipswich Hospital 01473 712233 and the number for West Suffolk Hospital is 01284 713000.
Both Hospital’s have a Psychiatric Liaison Team, based in the Emergency Department. Both Ipswich Hospital and West Suffolk Hospital are 24/7 services. The Emergency Department will assess you and can call the mental health assessment team, known as the Access & Assessment Team, who will see you in the Emergency Department, to assess your mental health and well-being needs. The direct phone number for Ipswich Hospital Psychiatric Liaison Team is 01473 702323 and for West Suffolk Hospital Psychiatric Liaison Team the number is 01284 713386.