Acute Care Team Criteria

Please note that if you are experiencing any of the following, you are strongly advised to call 999 or go to A&E now.

Signs of a heart attack – chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heart-attack/symptoms/
Signs of a stroke - face drooping on one side, cannot hold both arms up, difficulty speaking

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stroke/symptoms/
Sudden confusion or delirium (unsure of own name or age).
Suicide attempt (by taking something or self-harming).
Severe difficulty breathing (not being able to get words out, choking or gasping).
A serious accident or severe injuries (e.g.road traffic accident, burns or scalds)
Heavy bleeding - spraying, pouring or enough to make a puddle.
Severe injuries (after a serious accident or assault).
A seizure or fit – shaking, jerking, or unconscious & cannot be woken up.
Sudden, rapid swelling of the lips, mouth, throat, or tongue.

The following medical issues will be prioritised and dealt with by our nurse led Acute Care Team (ACT) within 24 hours of submitting your request *

*Some of the following issues can be dealt with by a pharmacist. If you are contacting us about one of these issues and have not indicated that you have already sought advice from a pharmacist, our triage team may refer you to a local service. If you do not wish to be redirected to a pharmacy, or you have already sought advice from them and they have asked you to contact us, please specify this when submitting your request.

Acute abdominal pain (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Acute constipation/loose stools (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Acute genital issues
Acute ear pain
Acute eye issues
Acute cough (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Acute breathing issues (consider calling 999 or attending A&E in first instance)
Acute musculoskeletal issues
Animal/Insect bites/Skin infections (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Acute pregnancy & postnatal issues (seek advice from midwife or maternity ward if over 28 weeks in first instance)
Acute rashes (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Chest pain (always consider calling 999 or attending A&E in first instance)
Colds/Flu/Sore Throat (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Emergency contraception (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Exacerbations of Asthma & Chronic Obstructive Airways/Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Fever (both adults and children)
Mental health crisis (consider calling 999 or attending A&E in first instance)
Minor Injuries (if you suspect you may have a fracture, please attend an A&E department, we do not have X-ray facilities at the medical centre)
Nail infections (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Post-operative issues
Shingles/Cold Sores/Herpes (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Sinus infections (seek advice from pharmacy in first instance)
Urinary issues or suspected urinary tract infections