The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR) is raising awareness of the healthcare support that is available for those who need it over the weekend, when GP practices and other routine services are closed.
Professor Damian Roland, Urgent and Emergency Care System Clinical Director, in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “We routinely see many more patients on a Monday in our Emergency Department (ED) at the Leicester Royal Infirmary than over the weekend. Over the autumn and winter period last year (September 2024 to March 2025) there were around 6,000 more attendances on Mondays over the period compared to the weekend. This equates to approximately 200 more attendances on a Monday compared to the weekend each week. We want to reassure patients that if they need medical assistance, they don’t need to wait until Monday; health services and guidance are available seven days a week and importantly over the weekend. Seeking care promptly is important to prevent health problems deteriorating and becoming more serious.”
Professor Roland continued: “What is also really important is getting the right care, in the right place, including at the weekend, which often might not be the Emergency Department. We ask that people please keep the Emergency Department free for life and limb-threatening emergencies. For less serious health conditions there are other weekend options and patients are advised to follow the local NHS’ Need Help Fast approach to help match them to the care you need. If you do go to the emergency department and you don’t need to be there you will be redirected to an appropriate service, so it’s best to use NHS 111 before setting out.”
Potrzebuję szybkiej pomocy at the weekend?
- Krok 1: Try to manage the problem yourself or get help from a local pharmacy, NHS 111 online, or the NHS App.
- Krok 2: If that doesn’t work, or the problem is more serious, contact NHS 111 (or your GP practice Monday to Friday 8am to 6:30pm). If you need to be seen, they will help book you the right appointment in the right place. At the weekend, this could be at:
- apteka (w ramach programu Pharmacy First)
- centrum leczenia pilnego
- another GP practice, health centre or urgent care centre*.
*For patients registered at GP practices in Leicester City, new evening, weekend and bank holiday appointments were introduced on 1 October 2025, replacing what was previously available at the healthcare hubs. These GP appointments can be booked at the weekend by NHS 111, if you need to be seen. They are available at ten locations across the city each day, from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 2pm on Sundays.
For patients registered with practices in Leicestershire or Rutland, NHS 111 can continue to book an appointments at the weekend at an urgent care centre.
You can use some urgent care centres, urgent treatment centres and minor injury units on a walk-in basis, but you are advised to use NHS 111 before setting out, to make sure it is the right place for you to go, and so an appointment can be arranged to reduce your waiting time.
Need mental health help fast?
W przypadku kryzysu zdrowia psychicznego, całodobowa pomoc telefoniczna jest dostępna pod numerem NHS 111 i można ją uzyskać, wybierając opcję „zdrowie psychiczne”. Numer jest czynny 24 godziny na dobę, całkowicie bezpłatny i poufny. Można również wysłać SMS-a pod numer 0748 063 5199, aby otrzymać odpowiedź w ciągu czterech godzin.
Need dental help fast?
If you need urgent dental care at the weekend, contact NHS 111, either online or by phone and they will help arrange the right dental treatment out-of-hours.
Więcej informacji na temat usług dostępnych w weekend znajdziesz na stronie: https://leicesterleicestershireandrutland.icb.nhs.uk/need-help-fast/
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