Accident and Emergency
Only if you have a severe injury or in the event of a serious accident should you call 999.

There is an Accident and Emergency (A & E) Unit at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and a Minor Injuries Unit at Mexborough Montagu Hospital.

For other accidents and emergencies, GP's operate an emergency out-of-hours service. If you need to see a doctor through the night or at the weekend, the answerphone service on your G.P.'s telephone will give you the number to ring or your call will be transferred to the emergency out of hours service.
PLEASE NOTE- This is not a 'Drop in' service, you must telephone your GP's surgery first to access this service.

Contacts:
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Tel: 01302 366 666 (main switchboard)
Mexborough Montagu Hospital
Tel: 01709 585 171 ext. 5330
Your own GP

Blood Donors
The National Blood Service is very reliant on regular donors to maintain it's blood supplies. Potential donors are always being sought, as are donors of bone marrow and tissue.

Contact:
Tel: 0300 123 23 23
Website: www.blood.co.uk

Chequer Road Clinic
This clinic, near to the centre of the town, provides health services in, breast screening, speech and language therapy and hearing aid services.

Contacts:
Breast Screening:       01302 320112
Speech & Language:   01302 347429
Hearing Aid Services:  01302 347403

Complaining about Health Services
For complaints about the NHS Doncaster, GPs, Dentists, Pharmacists or Opticians and services provided by NHS Doncaster contact:

The Complaints Manager
NHS Doncaster
White Rose House
Ten Pound Walk
Doncaster
DN4 5DJ
Tel: 01302 566 135

The Independent Complaints & Advocacy Service (ICAS) can also help you. ICAS is a free, impartial and independent service for people who want to pursue a complaint about the NHS. Contact: 0300 456 8349

Community Urology and Bowel Health Service
This service is provided through NHS Doncaster. Assessments are made by community nurses who will discuss the products required. A home delivery service is provided and staff of the Service are available on a regular basis for consultation and to arrange reassessments etc.

Contact:
Holly Bush Health Centre
Edenthorpe
Doncaster
DN3 2PP
Tel: 01302 890 444

Dental Treatment
If you need emergency treatment and are registered with a dentist, you should contact your own dentist for advice, if this is possible. In all other circumstances, including emergency care for those who are not registered, you should contact NHS Direct or the local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

A Dental Access Centre at Mexborough Montagu Hospital provides dental services on a 'phone and go' basis to patients who are not registered with a dentist. Contact: 0845 155 0845. Please note that this is not a walk-in service, by appointment only.

Further information is available on Factsheet: Dentists.

Contacts:
Tel: 0845 4647 (NHS Direct)
Tel: 01302 768 550 (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)
Your own dentist.

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
The Trust specialises in:

Contact:
Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
St. Catherine's
Tickhill Road
Doncaster
DN4 8QN
Tel: 01302 796 000

NHS Doncaster
NHS Doncaster is concerned with all NHS services based in the community, such as GP practices, district nurses, pharmacists, opticians, health visitors, dentists etc. It also arranges the provision of hospital services.

The area covered comprises of all Doncaster Metropolitan Borough.

Contact:
NHS Doncaster
White Rose House
Ten Pound Walk
Doncaster
DN4 5DJ
Tel: 01302 565 656
Fax: 01302 730 362
E-mail: enquiries@doncasterpct.nhs.uk
Website: www.doncasterpct.nhs.uk

Exercise for Health Scheme
GPs who are part of this scheme may be able to refer you to a local Gym or Leisure Centre if you might benefit from being fitter or by losing weight. An initial consultation with a qualified instructor will be free and you will pay half price for training or exercise sessions. These facilities are available at St. James, The Dome, Dearne Valley Leisure Centre, Adwick Leisure Centre, Armthorpe Sports Centre, Campsmount Fitness Club and Thorne Sports Centre.

Contact:
Your own GP.

Health Costs
If you fulfil certain age criteria (i.e. under 18 or over 60), are in receipt of certain Benefits, or you have a qualifying medical condition, you may be entitled to exemption from some NHS charges or help towards the costs. These include dentists' and opticians' charges, prescription fees and the cost of travelling (by the cheapest means available) to and from a hospital.

Subject to eligibility, as indicated above, you may be entitled to relief from all or part of the costs. The rules are varied and detailed, but full information is available in Government leaflets or from your own dentist, optician etc. For hospital fares you can get forms HC1 and HC5 from the hospital or the Department of Work and Pensions to establish your entitlement and to actually claim a refund from the hospital. Information on the scheme relating to opticians is available in the Factsheet:Opticians. If you normally require large quantities of prescriptions and you are not entitled to free prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC), available for 4 months or a year, will save you money.
You can apply for a PPC on-line at http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk, by post using form FP95 (available from your local pharmacy) or from a pharmacy which is registered to sell PPCs.
Further information is available on Factsheet: Prescriptions.

Contact:
Tel: 0845 850 1166 (Health Costs Advice Line)

Healthy Eating
Your GP practice can offer advice about healthy eating.

Contact:
Your own GP

Hospices
St. John's Hospice
The Hospice, purpose built in 1992 for the care of adult patients with a terminal illness, is located within the grounds of Tickhill Road Hospital. It has ten in-patient beds and provides day care facilities and at-home care.

Contact:
Weston Road
Balby
Doncaster
DN4 8JS
Tel: 01302 796 666

St. John's Information and Support Centre
Located adjacent to the Hospice, offers help for people affected by cancer and other life threatening illnesses. It offers a library with Internet access, complimentary therapies, support for carers, benefits advice and general support, information and advice.
The Centre is open Monday to Friday, 9:30 am till 4:00 pm, although some services are by appointment only.

Contact:
Weston Road
Balby
Doncaster
DN4 8JS
Tel: 01302 796 600
Minicom: 01302 796 939
Website: www.stjohnshospiceandinformationandsupportcentre.co.uk

Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice 
The Hospice offers care and support to children with life limiting conditions, both in their own home and in the hospice. 

Contact:
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
Cramfit Road
North Anston
Sheffield
S25 4AY
Tel: 01909 517 369 (Care Enquiries)
E-mail: info@bluebellwood.org
Website: www.bluebellwood.org

Hospitals
See Factsheet: Hospitals for a list of the main NHS Hospitals in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Humberside, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Hospitals in the Doncaster area are, Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Mexborough Montagu Hospital and Tickhill Road Hospital.

Contacts:
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
Tel: 01302 366 666
Fax: 01302 320 098

Montagu Hospital
Adwick Road
Mexborough
S64 0AZ
Tel: 01709 585 171
Fax: 01709 571 689

Tickhill Road Hospital
Weston Road
Doncaster
DN4 8QL
Tel: 01302 796 000

Choose and Book
A national service that gives you a choice of where and when it suits you to be treated, so that you can fit your hospital appointment in with your daily life.

Hospital Transport
A free park and ride scheme is available for Doncaster Royal Infirmary. A regular shuttle bus now runs between DRI and Doncaster Racecourse (Car Park A).There are 500 spaces available and the shuttle service is available between 6.30am-10.00pm Monday to Friday. There is a free inter shuttle service operating non-stop between Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Montagu Hospital from 9.00am-4.40pm Monday to Friday. To guarantee a seat on this bus there is a FREEPHONE booking service:
Tel: 0800 953 6633.
More information can be found at www.dbh.nhs.uk

Medical Emergencies
If you have a medical emergency (that is not life threatening) and need to see a GP through the night or at the weekend, the answerphone service on your GP's telephone will automatically divert you to the GP out of hours service, located at Doncaster Royal Infirmary or, you can use the local rate number of 08451 22 21 20 if no divert is available. Your details will be taken by a call handler and if your condition requires the need for out or hours care, you will be passed either to a GP or a nurse for an assessment. You may receive advice or be asked to attend an out of hours centre for a consultation. If appropriate, a visit from a doctor will be organised for you.

NHS Direct
A 24 hr confidential health advice and information service, staffed by information officers and qualified nurses.

Contact:
Tel: 0845 4647
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

Organ Donors
A donor can donate a heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver and the small bowel. There is now a National Organ Donor Register which replaces the old donor card. If you decide to register, you should discuss your decision with those closest to you, so they know your wishes should the time ever come.

Contact:
Tel: 0300 123 23 23
Website: www.uktransplant.org.uk

Orthopaedic Services
The Barnborough NHS Treatment Centre located in Chesterfield, provides a wide range of Orthopaedic treatments e.g. hip & knee replacements.

Contact:
Your own GP

Park Hill Hospital
This private hospital, within the grounds of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, provides a wide range of surgical procedures. It is recognised by all major medical insurers.
Patients who do not have private medical insurance can still be treated at the hospital under its Fixed Cost Care scheme.

Contact:
Park Hill Hospital
Thorne Road
Doncaster
DN2 5TH
Tel: 01302 730 300
Website: www.ramseyhealth.co.uk

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS can provide free information and advice on:

• Local Services and how to use them
• Waiting times for NHS treatment
• Diseases, conditions and treatments
• How to improve health
• Patients rights including help to make a complaint and listen to your comments on services

Contact:
You can access PALS through your local surgery, the PALS Drop-In information centre, Doncaster or at your local hospital.
Tel: 01302 768 550
E-mail: pals@doncasterpct.nhs.uk

Patient Information
In order to provide you with health care and treatment, your GP and others need to keep information about you. But everyone working for the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential, and measures are taken to protect your identity wherever possible. At the same time you are, by law, allowed to access your own medical records. To view your records you should make your request in writing to the surgery. You may be asked to pay a fee.

Contact:
Your GP or practice staff.

Prescription Charges
See also the section headed Health Costs or Factsheet: Prescriptions for details of costs.

Smoking and Health
Assistance to help you stop smoking is usually available from your GP or from your NHS Trust. You can contact the 'Doncaster Stop Smoking Service'.
Contact:
Doncaster Stop Smoking Service
Tel: 01302 640 064

Wheelchair and Special Seating Services
People with a long term disability which makes walking difficult can be assessed for the provision of a wheelchair free on loan. Or vouchers can be obtained which would help towards the cost of a more expensive wheelchair. The service is operated by the NHS and can be accessed via your own doctor or nurse or through a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. For those with short term mobility problems or for whom the availability in this way is not possible, you may hire for short term use, from one of a number of organisations and firms providing this service. This includes the hiring of wheelchairs available from Dial Doncaster.
Further information is available on Factsheet Wheelchair Hire.

Contact:
Your own GP or other Health Professional.
Wheelchair and Special Seating Services (for information only)
Tel: 01302 566 301

DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press,
DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.