Why Contact Your GP First?
- Most problems are best managed by your GP: new symptoms, urgent issues, long-term conditions, prescriptions, fit notes, and mental health.
- We look at your query on the same day and choose the best next step — a call, face-to-face visit, tests, home visit, or referral.
- If it’s urgent, we aim to see or speak to you within 48 hours.
- Seeing the same GP team provides safer, better care over time.
- A&E is only for emergencies. Often, you’ll get better help faster from us than waiting at A&E.
- If English is not your first language, we can help.
GP FIRST – Right Care, Right Time, Right Place – Gower Street Practice
A&E (Emergency Department)
For life-threatening emergencies only.
Call 999 or go to A&E for:
- Chest pain
- Severe breathing difficulty
- Heavy bleeding
- Severe burns
- Bad head injury
- Stroke symptoms
- Seizures that don’t stop
- Major trauma
In hours (08:00–18:30): contact Gower Street Practice first.
Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC)
Use a UTC only when we are closed and the problem cannot wait until we reopen.
- Go to A&E/999 if a bone may be broken or if it’s an emergency.
- For minor illnesses, Pharmacy First may be quicker (see below).
- In hours: always contact Brondesbury first.
In hours (08:00–18:30): contact Gower Street Practice first.
Pharmacy First — Quick Help for Common Illnesses
Local pharmacies can assess and treat several common conditions without a GP appointment.
Pharmacy First – getting the most from your pharmacist
Examples:
- Ear infections (children/young people)
- Sore throats, sinus infections
- Skin infections (e.g. impetigo)
- Infected insect bites
- Shingles
- Urine infections (many adult women)
Walk into a participating pharmacy. They will update your GP afterwards.
Minor Eye Conditions Service (MECS)
Find a Practice – Search for your nearest participating optical practice
Good for:
- Red, painful, sticky or gritty eyes
- New flashes/floaters
- Sudden vision changes
- Something in the eye
- Light sensitivity
- Swollen eyelids
Self-Care and Reliable Information
Many minor illnesses improve with rest, fluids, and simple medicines.
Check trusted sources: nhs.uk and patient.info.
If symptoms worsen or don’t improve, contact Brondesbury.
Remember:
- GP First — In hours (08:00–18:30) contact Gower Street Practice first.
- A&E/999/111 — only for life-threatening emergencies.
- UTC — only when we’re closed and it can’t wait.
- Pharmacy First — quick help for several common illnesses.
- Minor Eye Conditions — specialist eye care.
- Continuity matters — try to see the same GP/team when you can.