Make the Right Choice - Urgent & Emergency Care

Urgent care self-service tool

The urgent care self-service tool is for patients who arrive at our Emergency Department (A&E) with no pre-booked arrival time. Those with life threatening illness or injury will go straight to the Emergency Department. For others, depending on their symptoms they're referred to another more appropriate service. 

How it works

On arrival at our Emergency Department, with support from staff, patients answer questions via a tablet about the symptoms they have, so that the service can direct them to the most appropriate care. 

How we use patient data

Find out what information we collect when you use the urgent care self-service tool along with how we use your information, who we share it with, how your data is kept secure and your rights to see or change the information; here is our privacy statement for the self-service tool.

Take our survey

If you have used the urgent care self-service tool, you can tell us what you think.

Important information: Visiting arrangements on our adult inpatient wards - updated 27.01.2023

From Friday 27 January visiting arrangements on our adult inpatient wards are been revised. 
 
Following a review of our infection prevention and control guidance, we are now allowing two visitors to visit their loved ones at the bedside for up to two hours per day.
 
In order to maintain patient and public / visitor safety; visiting will be subject to the ward not having any active cases of infections that could be passed on. This local guidance could change at any time at short notice.
 
This change is as a result of us continually monitoring infection rates in the hospital and locally.
 
Patients attending outpatient appointments can bring one adult to accompany them, however we would ask patients who are able to attend alone, to please do so.
 
Visitors and staff must continue with mask wearing and infection control guidance.
 
The hospitals’ infection prevention and control guidance to the public includes:
  • Anyone showing any symptoms of COVID-19 or feeling otherwise unwell must not visit.
  • Do not visit if a member of your household has tested positive for COVID-19 or flu
  • Visitors, parents, guardians, siblings will be asked to wear a surgical facemask to visit our wards – including the Emergency Department
  • Symptom /wellness checks will be completed on arrival in our wards
  • Please continue to wash your hands regularly before, during, and after, attending hospital and follow staff instructions relevant to the area being attended.
 
Other actions local people can take to support their hospitals at this difficult time include:
  • Please continue to wash your hands regularly before, during, and after, attending hospital and follow staff instructions relevant to the area being attended.
  • Only going to A&E where this is absolutely necessary and using alternatives such as GP telephone appointments, pharmacies, Corby Urgent Care Centre or NHS 111.
  • Don’t unnecessarily accompany someone to hospital unless your presence is vital for their safety. We have limited socially distanced waiting facilities and cannot allow these to become unnecessarily crowded
  • Please attend your appointments on time – but not too much before time. If you arrive too early, you will be making waiting areas more crowded than they need to be.

Important Information: Where possible please attend A&E on your own

If you or a loved one needs urgent and emergency (A&E) care at Kettering General Hospital you/they are urged to attend on their own, wherever possible. This is to ensure that all patients and staff can safely comply with social distancing guidance. It is vital that we do everything we can to protect everyone at the hospital.
 
This isn’t easy for patients but people infected with Covid-19 can have very mild or no symptoms at all but can still pass the virus to others,  so we must maintain social distancing within the hospital to reduce the risks to other patients and our staff.
 
If you are a carer or there are exceptional circumstances, patients can be accompanied by someone else, but we are asking friends and family to drop patients off and return to collect them later.

We ask everyone to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 by remembering to:

  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Wear a face covering or mask
  • Maintain social distancing.

Emergency Care at Kettering General Hospital

KGH provides 24 hour accident and emergency services (A&E) from our Emergency Department (ED) and supports the treatment of patients presenting with minor, major and traumatic injuries.
 
During busy periods priority will be given to people attending the Emergency Department with serious, life-threatening conditions that need immediate medical attention including persistent severe chest pain, loss of consciousness, acute confused state, severe blood loss, serious burns.
 
Serious traumatic injury patients receive treatment before transfer to the major trauma centre at Coventry. 

You should only call 999 or visit the Emergency Department in a real emergency

This includes a serious injury or life-threatening problem such as loss of consciousness, severe breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, severe chest pain, suspected broken bones, deep wounds (e.g. stab wounds), swallowing something harmful or poisonous or a drug overdose. 
 
For non-emergencies the services below are available and may be able to help resolve your issue much quicker than a visit to the Emergency Department which can be busy and subject to long waits.

If you are not sure which service to access use NHS 111 online or the NHS App

NHS 111 on-line provides advice and guidance. 

 

The NHS App is available now on iOS and Android. To use it you must be aged 13 and over and registered with a GP surgery in England.

Use the NHS App to:

  • get advice about coronavirus – get information about coronavirus and find out what to do if you think you have it
  • order repeat prescriptions - see your available medicines, request a new repeat prescription and choose a pharmacy for your prescriptions to be sent to
  • get health advice - search trusted NHS information and advice on hundreds of conditions and treatments. You can also answer questions to get instant advice or medical help near you
  • view your health record - securely access your GP health record, to see information like your allergies and your current and past medicines. If your GP has given you access to your detailed medical record, you can also see information like test results and details of your consultations
  • register your organ donation decision - choose to donate some or all of your organs and check your registered decision
  • view your NHS number - find out what your NHS number is
  • book appointments - search for, book and cancel appointments at your GP surgery, and see details of your upcoming and past appointments
  • find out how the NHS uses your data - choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning
  • get your NHS COVID Pass – view and share your COVID Pass for places in England that have chosen to use this service and travel abroad

Local Pharmacies

If you need advice for minor health problems you can speak to your local pharmacist for on-the-spot advice and remedies for a wide range of problems such as stomach upsets, coughs and colds, cystitis and emergency contraception.
 
Pharmacists are expert in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

If you have a minor injury please visit Corby Urgent Care Centre?

The Corby Urgent Care Centre, is run by a company called One Medical Group, it is open 8.00am - 8.00pm every day of the year.
 
During these hours, patients with the right need can walk in and be seen without an appointment. The Corby Urgent Care Centre is located on Cottingham Road, Corby, NN17 2UR.
 
The Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is for patients who need help, advice or treatment for most common injuries and illnesses that are urgent but not life threatening.
 
You still need to be registered with a GP practice. It is therefore important to understand when it is right to attend.
 
If you have a minor injury that needs additional immediate treatment or investigation, such as fractures, sprains or soft tissue injuries, minor burns or scalds, bites or stings, ear or throat infections, abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhoea, cuts or grazes and minor head injuries.
  • If you suffer from a medical condition which is getting worse or if you have been directed to do so by your GP
You should not visit the Corby Urgent Care Centre:
  • If you have a life-threatening emergency or serious condition, such as a suspected heart attack, stroke, sepsis (blood poisoning) or major bleeding (call 999 for an ambulance immediately)
  • If you have a minor illness such as a cough or cold. We advise you to seek advice from a local pharmacist or your GP practice .
  • If you have a long term condition which has deteriorated. Contact your GP practice.
If you have a medical problem and you're not sure what to do advise is available on NHS111 on-line or by phoning NHS 111. This service can help you get the right care, first time – including an emergency ambulance if you need one, or the Out if Hours medical service if your GP practice is closed.
 
If you are treated at the Urgent Care Centre, staff can give advice about what you should do next. But please be aware that the Urgent Care Centre cannot:
  • Issue you with a sick note
  • Prescribe routine regular medication
  • Offer routine blood tests
  • Offer vaccinations
  • Arrange follow-up appointments with your GP practice (you must do this yourself)
  • Refer you on to specialist hospital clinics, including for cancer diagnosis (contact your own GP practice)

When to choose Corby Urgent Care Centre

The service is for patients with a pressing health need in very specific circumstances.It is therefore important to understand when it is right to attend:
 
YES
  • A minor injury that needs additional immediate treatment or investigation (such as an x-ray)
  • A medical condition which is getting worse, you have been back to your own GP practice and they have directed you to the Urgent Care Centre
 NO
  • You have a minor illness (contact your GP practice or seek advice from a pharmacist)
  • You have a long term condition which has deteriorated, or some other more significant illness (contact your GP practice)
  • You have a life-threatening emergency or serious condition, such as a suspected heart attack, stroke, sepsis (blood poisoning) or major bleeding (call 999 for an ambulance immediately)
If you have a medical problem and you're not sure what to do, advise is available on NHS111 on-line or by phoning NHS 111. This service can help you get the right care, first time – including an emergency ambulance if you need one, or the Out if Hours medical service if your GP practice is closed. 
 
If you’ve been treated at the Urgent Care Centre, staff can give advice about what you should do next. But please be aware that the Urgent Care Centre cannot:
  • Arrange follow-up appointments with your GP practice (you must do this yourself)
  • Refer you on to specialist hospital clinics, including for cancer diagnosis (contact your own GP practice)
  • Alter the regular treatment of long term conditions (contact your own GP practice)

GP Services - Extended Access and Out of Hours

If you or your family need urgent medical care when your usual GP surgery is closed (Monday to Friday 6.30pm-8.00am; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 24 hours) please contact your GP practice in the usual way to request an appointment. If there is no appointment available at the practice, patinets may be offered an appointment with the GP Extended Access Service if this is right for them. For details of your nearest GP practice please visit the NHS website

Extended GP Access Arrangements by District

The Extended Access Service is available to residents of Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northants and offers more bookable appointments with GPs, making it easier for you to get an appointment at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends. A GP Extended Access appointment is exactly like an appointment at your own GP practice. The service can see babies and children and nurse appointments are available for treatments such as wound care and ear irrigation.
 
You will be seen by experienced Northamptonshire GPs, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals, but it is unlikely that you will be seen by your own GP or nurse. If you would prefer to see your usual GP or practice nurse, please book an appointment with your usual practice during their normal opening hours.
 
For further details about extended access in your area please follow the links below

Dental Emergencies

If you have an urgent dental problem and are unable to wait until your surgery is next open, please contact your nearest NHS 8 to 8 Dental Centre which is open from 8.00am to 8.00pm 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including bank holidays).
The contact details for the 8-8 practices are:
  • Corby -  01536 401925
  • Daventry - 01327 310793
  • Kettering - 01536 525436
  • Northampton - 01604 639296
  • Wellingborough - 01933 224462
For assistance over the phone at any time, call NHS 111.