Emergency services

You should always go to A&E for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. These can include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Fits that aren’t stopping
• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulties
• Severe bleeding
• Severe allergic reactions
• Severe burns or scalds.

You can get an emergency supply of a repeat prescription from 111 online (NHS website).

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online (NHS website) if you’re not sure what to do and if you think you need medical help right now. You can also call 111 if our surgery is closed (out-of-hours).

You will be directed to the best place to get help, depending on your medical issue.

111 can’t issue fit notes or book, change or cancel an appointment. You can do these online on our website.

If you need to speak to a doctor or nurse outside of surgery opening hours, then NHS 111 can help. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also do a lot of important things like booking an appointment, getting test results or finding more health and care information on our website.

View our online services

What is a Mental Health Crisis?

The term crisis is when someone reaches breaking point, cannot cope and needs help urgently.

When someone is in a mental health crisis they:

• Lack the ability to form effective decisions
• They may become distressed, confused, emotional, behave erratically
• Think/talk/act on suicidal/self harm

What to do in the event of a crisis? 

Is the person an immediate danger to themselves / others

YES- Immediate help needed

• If you have serious concerns for someone’s immediate safety then they can go to Accident and Emergency or phone emergency services 999 for assistance.
• Call the Mental Health 24/7 Response Line – 0800 953 1919.  This line is open 24 hours a day, every day for crisis support
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services CAMHS emergency helpline - 0800 9539599
• Contact the person’s GP, or the GP out of hours service and explain the problem
• Phone NHS 111 (For a BSL interpreter see NHS 111 - SignVideo) Option 2 to access First Response for mental health services
• The Samaritans: provide 24 hr 7 day week confidential emotional support. They can be contacted on 116 123 (free to call) or 01179831000 (local call rate) or email jo@samaritans.org
• Vita Health Group 24/7 helpline: Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
  24/7 Support & Connect: Immediate emotional and practical support helpline
  Tel: 0800 0126549
  A 24/7 confidential helpline staffed by experienced counsellors, who you can talk to and they will listen. They will offer emotional support and can connect you to organisations available in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

I DONT KNOW - I would like to talk to someone

• Contact the GP practice to arrange mental health support
• Bristol MIND on 0117 980 0370 between 9:30am and 3:30pm​
• Bristol Mindline: who provide up to 30 mins per call emotional support. They are open Wed-Sunday 8pm –midnight. They can be contacted on 0800 808 0330
• Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
• If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.

• The Sanctuary which is at: 1 New St, Bristol BS2 9DX- Telephone them on- 0117 954 2952 or 07709 295 661.
  Bristol Sanctuary is a place to come when in serious emotional distress. They aim to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. The Sanctuary is open between 7pm and 2am, Fridays to Mondays – places can be secured by calling 0117 954 2925 after 5pm, or emailing awp.bmhsanctuary@nhs.net at any time, on the day that a place is needed.

For people who have accessed mental health services before it may be useful to have on your person:

• Crisis card (if you have one)- this will include help lines and what to do in a crisis information
• Personalised Safety Plan- this will include warning signs the person may show, known triggers, distraction techniques, emergancy contacts including health professionals, out of hours and helplines

NO- I am not in crisis but am struggling with my mental health

You can book an appointment to see our Mental Health Nurse or arrange a GP appointment.