Getting Help in an Emergency

Getting Help in a Mental Health Emergency

If you are already known to the Trust’s mental health services, and feel you are becoming unwell, contact the named person who is responsible for your care or call the service responsible for your care. Their contact details will be at the top of letters sent to you or on the service leaflet. 

Out of Hours Emergency

If you feel your mental health is deteriorating or if you are in distress and you need to contact a health professional out of office hours, you can call one of the numbers below for the borough you live in:

 Hackney or the City of London  

020 8510 8980

 Newham  

020 7363 9233

 Tower Hamlets  

020 7943 1415

 

Getting Help in a Medical Emergency

It is usually obvious if a person is seriously ill and needs immediate emergency care from the ambulance service or the local accident and emergency department.

Medical experts would probably say that an emergency is 'a critical or life threatening situation'. Some examples would be a person who:

  • has stopped breathing
  • has difficulty in breathing to the point that they cannot complete a sentence,
    is unconscious or fitting continuously
  • has chest pain
  • is bleeding heavily
  • has suspected multiple broken bones
  • has stab wounds
  • has a suspected stroke (usually affecting one side of the face, one arm and speech)
  • has fallen from a height.
     

Local accident and emergency services

If  you live in Tower Hamlets: 

The Royal London Hospital Accident and Emergency service (A&E) runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and includes a dedicated children’s A&E department.

You can find them on the Ground floor, Alexandra Wing, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London E1 1BB

Telephone: 020 7377 7781/7000 ext 2323 or 3595 or visit their website at www.bartsandthelondon.nhs.uk

The Whitechapel Walk-in Centre
is adjacent to the A&E Department at The Royal London. The service is run by Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust and provides primary care services that complement those of local GP services – no appointment is necessary. The Walk-in Centre is open Monday to Friday, 7am-10pm, Saturday to Sunday and Bank Holidays, 9am-10pm.

Whitechapel Walk-in Centre phone number: 020 7493 1333

The Tower Hamlets Doctors on Call (THEDOC) out-of-hours GP co-operative is also based in the A&E Department.

Location:Ground floor, Alexandra Wing, The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel.

Contacts: 020 7377 7781 or 020 7377 7000 ext 2323 or 3595 RLH

If you live in City or Hackney:

Homerton Hospital Accident and Emergency Services (A & E) are located next to the main entrance of the hospital. The A & E is open 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.

PUCC is located within A&E and is open Monday to Friday, 7am to 10pm and weekends between 9am and 10pm.

If you need to contact the department about an appointment or to enquire about a patient call 0208 510 7120 and speak to our reception staff.

Hackney NHS Walk-in Centre

This Walk-In Centre is a nurse led service with two GP sessions daily. It is situated next to the emergency department at the local district general hospital. Open from 8.00am to 10.00pm Monday to Friday, and from 9.00am to 10.00pm at weekends and bank holidays.

Address:Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London,E9 6SR
Telephone:020 8510 5342

If you live in Newham

In an emergency please go to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department
Newham General Hospital, Glen Road, Plaistow, London E13 8SL

The A&E service is a 24-hour, seven day a week service. You do not need to book an appointment. Please remember that hospital accident and emergency departments are designed to treat accidents and emergencies only.

An emergency is a critical or life threatening situation which may include loss of consciousness, severe chest pain or loss of blood. Remember to keep calm, do everything you can to help the person, but don't put yourself in danger and don't give the person anything to eat, drink or smoke.

Newham Walk-in Centre

Next to Newham General Hospital, Glen Road, Plaistow, London E13 8SL is the Walk-in Centre offers healthcare advice, information and treatment - no appointment is necessary. It is open Monday to Friday, 7am-10pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-10pm.

To contact reception call 020 7363 9200


London Ambulance Service: Call 999 

The London Ambulance Service provides a 24-hour accident and emergency service. When you call 999 a telephone operator will ask you which emergency service you need:

  • police
  • fire 
  • ambulance
     

In a medical emergency you should ask for an ambulance. You will be put through to an emergency medical dispatcher in the emergency operations centre. They will ask you: 

  • the exact location of the incident,
    whether the patient is conscious, breathing, has serious bleeding or chest pain, and  the type of injury or illness.
     
  • Ambulance staff either provide care at the scene of an incident and/or transport the patient to the most suitable service.  

NHS Direct
 

NHS Direct is a 24-hour telephone service staffed by nurses and professional advisors. If you or a family member feels ill, or if you need advice on particular health conditions or local health services, call them on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NHS Direct: 0845 4647

NHS Direct is a 24-hour telephone service staffed by nurses and professional advisors.

If you or a family member feels ill, or if you need advice on particular health conditions or local health services, call them on 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk