Due to the current COVID-19 situation, changes have been made to local services, including how and when you can access them. You can find out what services are available to you below.

GP practice

Your GP practice is open as normal, but certain measures are still place to ensure vulnerable patients are kept safe.

GP services remain very busy, delivering more appointments than ever before.

Telephone your GP practice and you will be advised accordingly and will receive a telephone or video appointment. Following this you will be advised of the next steps.

If you’re looking to order repeat prescriptions, you don’t need to call your GP practice to do this. You can now do this online or through the NHS App. Download the NHS App here.

Pharmacy

Local pharmacies are open as normal. You can find your nearest pharmacy here. 

To see if your pharmacy is open throughout the upcoming festive bank holidays, please click below:

• 25.12.21
• 26.12.21
• 27.12.21
• 28.12.21
• 01.01.22
• 03.01.22

Do not attend a pharmacy if you have any Coronavirus symptoms. Please call NHS 111 or go online at https://111.nhs.uk/

Urgent care or urgent treatment centres

To access urgent care or urgent treatment centres, you will need to call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 online first to speak to a professional who, if appropriate, can make an appointment for you.

Do not attend a urgent treatment centre if you have any Coronavirus symptoms. You can order a coronavirus test by clicking here or by calling 119.

NHS 111

Call NHS 111 or go online at https://111.nhs.uk/ if you’re not sure what NHS service you need or you need urgent advice about your medical issue.

A&E

Use the Ask A&E app to check whether you need to go to an A&E department. You should only attend A&E for life threatening situations (e.g. loss of consciousness, persistent chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or severe allergic reactions).

A&E departments are available here:

• Good Hope Hospital 
• Heartlands Hospital
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital (no Children's A&E available)
• Birmingham Children's Hospital (children's A&E only).

Mental health

A range of new, easily accessible mental health support is now available for patients in Birmingham and Solihull. You can find out how to access support for your mental wellbeing here.

Those who are struggling with bereavement and are in need of support, there is help available. You access it here.

Dental

People seeking help with dental problems should contact their dental practice as normal for appointments and advice. 

For out of hours advice, please contact NHS 111. NHS111 will refer patients to the urgent care providers who will then clinically triage and book appointments as necessary. Services will be available 9am to 1pm.

Most practices are also offering telephone or video-link consultations and can prescribe pain killers and antibiotics if needed. You can read the Access to NHS Dentistry - patient leaflet.

Advocacy information

You can find a number of advocacy resources and support agencies which patients, relatives and carers can access across Birmingham and Solihull here.

Domestic abuse

A range of resources and support is available for domestic abuse survivors, which can be found here.

Sexual health

Some of umbrella clinics, including Whittall Street, are open for pre-booked telephone appointments only. They are not seeing walk-in patients at this time so do not turn up in-person without an appointment.

If you have symptoms of an STI, need emergency or routine contraception, or have any sexual health concerns and need to speak to somebody, please call 0121 237 5700 (Monday to Thursday: 9am–6:30pm / Friday: 9am–4:30pm / Saturday: 10am–4pm).

Further information is available on the Umbrella website.

Drugs and alcohol

If you are worried about your drug and alcohol use, or someone else’s, visit https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-and-alcohol-service-birmingham

Change Grow Live also has a Prevent app. Find out more here.