Browse the siteLast updated: March 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can advise if you, or someone you care for, need medical help and tell you what to do. Here is the link: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 If you are unsure as to whether you need to call 111 or even if you should take your child to A&E have a look at this traffic-light guide from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Out of hours services
Out of hours is defined as weekdays from 6.30pm to 8am the following morning, Saturday and Sunday all day and on bank/public holidays.
For emergencies dial 999.
If it's not a 999 emergency but you need medical help fast and you are calling from within Hertfordshire you can call 111. This replaces the former NHS Direct number. Calls from landlines and mobiles are free. More information about this service can be found at www.nhs.uk/111
Calling 111 will put you through to Herts Urgent Care (HUC). HUC is a local doctor’s cooperative which provides out of hours medical cover to the Hertfordshire area. The doctors who provide the service include several of the GP’s from the doctor’s surgeries in Harpenden.
Should you find yourself in an emergency situation requiring one, community defibrillators Bretherton Law have a list of the locations of publicly accessible defibrillators in St Albans on their website. Call 999 and the call handler will give you the code required to open the unit. The 999 call handler can also give you details of known units near yo.
If you require a pharmacy out of hours (DURING THE COVID-19 SITUATION PLEASE DOUBLE-CHECK OPENING HOURS BEFORE TRAVELLING):
- The in-house Pharmacy in Parkbury Surgery in the centre of St Albans (AL1 3HD) is open 7am-10pm on Monday - Friday, 9am-10pm on Saturday and 9am-9pm on a Sunday.
- The pharmacy in Morrisons on Hatfield Road (AL1 4SU) is open 8.30am - 8pm Monday to Friday , 8am - 7pm on Saturdays and 10am - 4pm on Sundays.
- Lloyds Pharmacy inside Sainsburys in London Colney (AL2 1BA) is open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 6pm on Saturday and 10am - 4pm Sunday.
- Boots on Harpenden High Street is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm on Saturdays and 10am-4pm on Sundays.
- Tesco Hatfield Pharmacy open 8am - 9pm Monday to Friday, 8am - 8pm on Saturday and 10am - 4pm Sunday.
Details of all our local pharmacies, including their opening hours, are listed in this section of the website under Chemists. You can also find more details of these and other options further afield on the NHS website Services Search.
The NHS Services Search also enables you to quickly locate your nearest minor injuries unit, urgent care centre or A&E department, simply by entering your postcode.
If you require urgent dental advice and your dentist is closed (6pm - 10.30pm weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) or require urgent dental treatment at weekends and bank holidays call Herts Urgent Care on 111.
