NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.

To get help from NHS 111, you can:

• Go to nhs.uk (for those aged five and over only)
• Call 111

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service:

• England – NHS 111 (BSL) interpreter service

You can also call 18001 111 on a textphone.

If you are registered with a Wakefield District GP practice, and feel unwell when they are closed, you can get help from GP Care Wakefield’s evening and weekend clinics.

Call your GP surgery telephone number. If your practice is closed, your call will be diverted through to GP Care Wakefield when they are open.

All calls are answered by a friendly care navigator who works in Wakefield, usually within a few minutes.

Explain your symptoms as clearly as you can so the care navigator can book you into the relevant clinic or advise you to contact your practice if more appropriate.

Evening and weekend clinics are available by appointment only. If you are asked to come in for a face-to-face appointment, this will be at Trinity Medical Centre, Pontefract Hospital or Elizabeth Court Surgery.

Monday to Friday: 5pm – 9:30pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: 9am – 1pm
Bank Holidays: 9am – 3pm

More information about GP Care Wakefield is available on the Conexus Healthcare website.

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. It’s free to register.

You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.

GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem. They can treat many conditions and give health advice. They can also refer you to other NHS services.

Find a GP that suits what you need. Some GP surgeries offer more services than others. You can look up GP surgeries to see what they offer and how they compare.

You can:

• check the GP surgery website to see if you can register online
• call or email the GP surgery and ask to be registered as a patient

You can download a GMS1 registration form on GOV.UK if you’re asked to complete one.
You do not need proof of ID to register with a GP, but it might help if you have one or more of the following:

• passport
• birth certificate
• HC2 certificate
• rough sleepers’ identity badge
• hostel or accommodation registration or mail forwarding letter

If you’re homeless, you can give a temporary address, such as a friend’s address, a day centre or the GP surgery address.

More information about registering with a GP can be found on the NHS website.

King Street Walk In Centre, Wakefield

King Street Walk in Centre is a nurse-led service, open seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 10am to 10pm.

The service has a dedicated team of experienced practitioners including nurse practitioners, advanced nurse practitioners and paramedics who are trained to diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries.

Pontefract Urgent Treatment Centre

Pontefract Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) is available and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It is led by a team of GPs with experience in emergency medicine, who work alongside advanced nurse practitioners and emergency nurse practitioners to see and treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries.

To book an appointment, please ring NHS 111.

Turning Point Talking Therapies

Feeling anxious, low or stressed? Turning Point can offer free help.

If you are aged 16 years or older and are registered with a GP surgery in the Wakefield District, you can access NICE recommended therapies at Turning Point Talking Therapies by contacting them directly on 01924 234 860 or by emailing Wakefield.talking@turning-point.co.uk.

24 hour mental health helpline

For anyone registered with a GP in Wakefield, the service supports people who are:

• At risk of developing mental health problems
• Diagnosed with common mental health problems
• Accessing mental health support
• Experiencing mental health distress
• Seeking information, advice and support

You can now use this service by calling 0800 183 0558.

Emotional health and wellbeing service for children and young people

Children and young people can get more early help for their emotional health and wellbeing via a service offering short-term support to those within the community with mild, emerging difficulties.

Issues may include low mood, anxiety and managing emotions like anger and being scared, bullying or online bullying, friendship problems, loneliness and sadness.

The Compass charity has launched the Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Service across the whole area.

To access free, confidential support 24/7, text BUZZ to 85258.

Choose Well for mental health

Guides to help adults and children and young people in Wakefield District have been launched to help people of all ages ‘choose well’ when looking after their mental health and wellbeing.

The guide for adults helps people to know:

• How they can look after their own mental health and wellbeing
• Who else can help and provide mental health and wellbeing support
• Where to go for help and support.

The guide for adults is available on the South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust (SWYPFT) website.

The guide for children and young people helps:

• Support people in looking after their mental health and wellbeing
• Inform people about how to access the right support when they need it
• Help people know what to do if experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency.

The guide for children and young people is also on the SWYPFT website.

Here For You

Here For You helps people in mental health crisis to find support and help in a non-clinical setting. It is based on the ground floor of Prosper House, Upper Warrengate, Wakefield, WF1 4JZ. Prosper House is based in a convenient location, near to public transport links and also has a large car park, outdoor space and garden.

If you or somebody you know are struggling with thoughts of feeling down, worried, overwhelmed, or may have thoughts of self-harm and suicide, Here For You has a local team available every night of the year from 6pm until midnight.  The service offers free, safe, and confidential face-to-face support for anybody aged 16 years or older in Wakefield district.

1-to-1 support is available, if you have something you feel you need to talk about privately, or if you prefer support around other people, they offer a social space for up to six people each evening.

To access support, call your local team on the same night you want support on 07776962815.

If you don’t have credit or feel worried about calling, you can text first and one of the team will give you a call back.

More information about Here for You is available on the Touchstone website.

Night OWLS

A confidential support line for children and young people in crisis. Helping them, their parents and carers living in Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.

Night OWLS can help you if you…

• Feel you have nowhere to turn
• Feel you can’t go on living
• Are in a crisis
• Are finding it hard to cope with life
• Are feeling angry, lonely, anxious or depressed
• Are feeling confused or finding it hard to think straight
• Are feeling unsafe
• Are caring for a young person
• Just want to talk

Open 8pm – 8am every day, you can contact Night OWLS on 0800 148 8244; text on 07984376950 (charges may apply) or chat online at wynightowls.org.uk

Online consultations are a way for patients to contact their GP practice without having to queue on the phone or take time out of their busy lifestyles to come into the practice.

Find out more on the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership website.

The Together We Can website also highlights the range of services available to us and when best to use them, depending on our circumstances.

Community Wakefield provides a cross-sector directory which is available online.

For volunteering opportunities, head to the Volunteer Wakefield directory.

If you are having a recent problem with your eyes such as soreness, redness or visual disturbances, you can be assessed and treated by the Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS).

On 1 April 2023, the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) took over responsibility from NHS England for the commissioning of NHS dentistry services across West Yorkshire.

You can find out more information on dental care, including where to get treatment in an emergency, on the West Yorkshire Health & Care Partnership website.