It is extremely important that our expert teams prioritise the most critically ill patients, so please only come to our EDs in a real emergency, for example, choking, chest pain, black outs or severe blood loss.

Due to the high numbers of sick people, there are very long waits for patients who attend our EDs and do not need emergency care. We expect this to continue throughout the weekend so please help us to help those who need it most, and make sure you get the right care for you and your family.

There are lots of ways you can get the care you need much more quickly, and without putting additional pressure on our teams.

Unless it’s an emergency, your GP should always be your first port of call. If you can’t get an appointment with your GP, you can get an appointment at one of our GP hubs up until 10pm on weeknights, and 8pm at the weekend.  Call 020 3770 1888 between 2pm and 9pm during the week, and 9am and 6pm at the weekend.

You can also call the NHS’s freephone number 111 for advice on where to get the care you need; NHS 111 can also book you a GP hub appointment if you need one.

For many more minor ailments you can self-care at home, or your local pharmacist can provide help and advice.

More information is on our get the right care for you page.